The Naturalization Process

In the United States, before 1952, the naturalization process began with a Declaration of Intent to become a citizen. This declaration is also referred to as "First Papers." Three years after this declaration was filed, and five years after arriving in the country, a Petition for Naturalization ("Second Papers") could be filed in the same or a different court. A Certificate of Citizenship could then be issued.

Until 1922, a foreign-born woman married to a naturalized citizen was automatically made a citizen. Until 1940, a child under the age of 21 was granted citizenship based on the status of his father. After 22 Sept 1922 an alien woman who married a US citizen could skip the Declaration of Intention and file for a Naturalization Petition. But if an alien woman married an alien man she would have to start her naturalization proceedings at the beginning with a Declaration of Intention.

Jill Cruse provided the images of indexes to original Declarations of Intent from 20 Dec 1855 to 2 Mar 1880. They were transcribed by Don Kelly (A-K) and edited and formatted by Richard Harrison. Original images are included when available. Volunteers are needed to transcribe the remaining documents.

Copies of Naturalization papers or Declaration of Intent can be obtained from the Des Moines County Genealogical Society, PO Box 493, Burlington, Iowa, 52601, for a modest fee, or from the Des Moines County Courthouse.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


SURNAME
GIVEN NAME
BIRTHPLACE
FILE DATE
NOTES
ABELGeorge HenryGermany4 Aug 1856 
ABELELouisWurtemberg23 Sep 1871 
ABELSJohannOldenburg28 May 1868 
ABRAHMSONC.Sweden26 Feb 1874 
ACOTTJohnEngland20 Dec 1870 
ACOTTJohn A.England21 Mar 1870 
ACRESWilliamGibraltar26 Jun 1858 
ACTONGeorgeCanada West5 Oct 1866 
ADELHELMChristianWurtemberg23 Sep 1856 
ADOLHELMJacobWurtemberg23 Sep 1856 
ADOLPHSONJohn PetterSweden4 Jun 1869 
AGENMichaelIreland31 Oct 1868 
AHENPatrickIreland21 Oct 1856 
AHLERSCharlesPrussia28 Nov 1876 
AITKENJohnScotland1 Dec 1866 
ALBERTSENAlbertPrussia1 Mar 1878 
ALBRECHTChristian PaulWurtemberg14 Nov 1856 
ALEXANDERSONAlexSweden30 Jan 1875 
ALGRENJ. W.Sweden15 Jan 1875 
ALLENWm. W.Ireland8 Oct 1866 
ALLISONJohnIreland20 Nov 1868 
ALLISONWm.Ireland8 Oct 1888 
ALLSENAndrewSweden4 Mar 1875 
ALTHIFFAugustPrussia28 Sep 1866 
AMBILLJacobFrance2 Nov 1858 
ANDERSENBert C.Sweden15 Sep 1870 
ANDERSONA. F.Sweden7 Oct 1874 
ANDERSONAndersSweden29 Jan 1869 
ANDERSONAndrew JohnSweden28 Jul 1856 
ANDERSONA. P.Sweden29 Aug 1864 
ANDERSONAugustSweden19 Jan 1870 
ANDERSONAxel LudwigSweden3 Sep 1879 
ANDERSONC.Sweden28 Sep 1875 
ANDERSONCharlesSweden27 Oct 1876 
ANDERSONCharleySweden13 Jun 1876 
ANDERSONChristianDenmark20 Sep 1878 
ANDERSONFredSweden12 Mar 1873 
ANDERSONG. H.Sweden23 Dec 1869 
ANDERSONHialman T.Sweden2 Sep 1870 
ANDERSONJohnDenmark28 Mar 1870 
ANDERSONJohnSweden7 Aug 1876 
ANDERSONJohnSweden1 Sep 1879 
ANDERSONL. G.Sweden31 Oct 1870 
ANDERESONNels P.Sweden2 May 1872 
ANDERSONNilsSweden13 Oct 1856 
ANDERSONOscar F.Sweden2 Sep 1870 
ANDERSONPaulDenmark2 Feb 1870 
ANDERSONPeterSweden1 Oct 1859 
ANDERSONSolomonSweden29 Sep 1877 
ANDERSONS. P.Sweden25 Sep 1878 
ANDERSONSwan P.Sweden1 Mar 1875 
ANDERSSONJohn A.Sweden27 Mar 1876 
ANDERSSONSamuelSweden5 May 1875 
ANHALTChristPrussia31 Oct 1868 
ANHALTWilhelmPrussia12 Mar 1877 
ARDENCharlesSweden2 Feb 1870 
ARMBRUSTERChristianWurtemberg19 May 1863 
ARMFIELDWilliamEngland3 Nov 1856 
ARNSONJacobPoland31 Aug 1867 
ARONSONCharley A.Sweden17 Sep 1874 
ARONSONHenryPoland31 Aug 1867 
ARONSSONC. J.Sweden26 Dec 1874 
ASHOFFConradPrussia30 Dec 1856 
ASHOFFFrederickPrussia2 Feb 1857 
ASPELMIEIERChristianPrussia2 Feb 1857 
ASPERGRENHenrySweden20 Oct 1874 
ATZJohnSwitzerland20 May 1873 
AUGUSTTAWilliamEngland8 Apr 1856 
AULERFerdinandPrussia23 Feb 1875 
AULMANGottfriedPrussia5 Mar 1861 

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