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
DAEHN Fredrick Prussia 26 Apr 1879  
DAGHERTY Patrick Ireland 10 Oct 1856  
DAILY Patrick Ireland 3 Dec 1873  
DALSTAT Andrew P. Sweden 16 Mar 1861  
DALEY Patrick Ireland 9 Oct 1856  
DALEY Patrick Ireland 17 Dec 1857  
DAMN Charles Mecklenburg–Schwerin 3 Jan 1857  
DANCH F. E. Prussia 22 May 1874  
DANEHAY John Ireland 29 Aug 1872  
DANEHAY Patrick Ireland 29 Aug 1872  
DANIELSON Erlan Sweden 21 Apr 1874  
DANIELSON John Sweden 21 Sep 1874  
DANKWARDT Charles Germany 25 Sep 1856  
DANUSER Stephen Switzerland 11 Aug 1873  
DARIUS Johan Saxony 6 Nov 1876  
DAUBENDIEK Fred Prussia 4 Nov 1879  
DAVIS John Wales 21 Dec 1855  
DEHN George Hesse–Darmstadt 3 Jan 1874  
DEINHARD John Saxe–Weimar 3 Jan 1857  
DEJON Lours Barim 7 Jan 1859  
DELANG Leberecht Prussia 15 Aug 1860  
DEMPSEY Wm. H. Ireland 10 Oct 1871  
DENNIES Frederick Prussia 14 Nov 1873  
DEPPERMAN Frederick Prussia 2 Oct 1860  
DESGRANGES Daniel Prussia 28 Jan 1863  
DETERING Fred H. Prussia 2 Feb 1874  
DETERINY Henry Prussia 27 Jan 1869 (Deteryiny?)
DEVAR Martin H. Ireland 30 Jul 1856  
DEVONEY Peter Ireland 25 Feb 1870  
DICKIE James Scotland 24 Oct 1868  
DICKSON Peter Scotland 14 Oct 1873  
DIEDRICH Carl Prussia 8 Oct 1868  
DIEDRICK Ferdinand Stralsund, Germany 4 Mar 1878  
DIEDRICH Nicholas France 25 Jan 1862  
DIENER Carl Fred'k Wurtemberg 9 Jan 1875  
DIERS Henry Hanover 8 Oct 1856  
DIESTELHORST Daniel Prussia 3 Nov 1856  
DIETSCH Casper Saxe-Meiningen 8 Sep 1869  
DIETSCH Louis Prussia 25 Sep 1872  
DIETZ John Nassau, Germany 5 Feb 1872  
DILLON Bart Ireland 7 Oct 1866 Came to U.S. 1849.
DIMENEN Louis Julius Denmark 31 Jul 1860  
DIMLING Nicholas Bavaria 24 Apr 1857  
DITTNER Wilhelm Prussia 17 Oct 1876  
DOBELMANN Charles Wurtemberg 13 Jun 1871  
DODEN Hermann Prussia 16 Nov 1868  
DOHERTY James Ireland 25 Oct 1856  
DONAHUE Maurice Ireland 3 Jan 1857  
DONAVAN Benjamin Ireland 3 Jan 1857  
DORAN Finton Ireland 30 Jul 1856  
DOREN John Ireland 15 Aug 1857  
DORMHEUFNER Franz Charles Bavaria 14 Oct 1858  
DOWLING Samuel Ireland 9 Oct 1866  
DOYLE Owen Ireland 15 Aug 1856  
DRAGER Henri (Henry) Prussia 12 Oct 1857  
DREBENSTEDT Christian Prussia 13 Apr 1876  
DRECKMEYER Fred'k Prussia 29 Aug 1872  
DREIER Ch. W. Prussia 3 Jun 1871  
DRINKALL Thomas England 1 Oct 1878  
DRINKALL William England 19 Feb 1876  
DROGIMEIER Henrich Prussia 31 Oct 1856  
DUFFY Michael E. Ireland 16 Apr 1868  
DULAHY Michael Ireland 30 Jul 1856  
DUMMLER John A. Germany 2 Aug 1856  
DUNGEN William Ireland 1 Feb 1858  
DURMEYER Henry Prussia 6 Jan 1869  
DURNBACH Anton Hassan Germany 1 Sep 1856 (Massan?)

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