{"id":79953,"date":"2021-08-23T13:47:31","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T17:47:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=79953"},"modified":"2021-08-24T10:01:53","modified_gmt":"2021-08-24T14:01:53","slug":"genealogy-tip-what-if-your-grandparents-came-from-another-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/genealogy-tip-what-if-your-grandparents-came-from-another-country.html","title":{"rendered":"Genealogy Tip: What if Your Grandparents Came from Another Country?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, the first of two, Jessica Edwards gives tips for researching your grandparents if they came from another country. Jessica has had a lifelong interest in her family\u2019s history \u2013 especially on her father\u2019s side, which goes back to the first settlers in Pennsylvania, Jamestown and New England \u2013 and has documented and added more than 21,000 people to her family tree!<\/em><\/p>\n

A person born in another country can become an American citizen through a process called \u201cnaturalization.\u201d The decision to become naturalized is voluntary \u2013 it is not required. If your grandparents became naturalized, there is a good chance some important records exist that could help with your family history research \u2013 the challenge is knowing where to find such records.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: \u201cWith Grandparents\u201d by Adolph Artz, 1898. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Naturalization<\/strong><\/p>\n

From the National Archives<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cPrior to September 27, 1906, any \u2018court of record\u2019 (municipal, county, state, or federal) could grant United States citizenship. Often petitioners went to the court most geographically convenient for them. As a general rule, the National Archives does not have naturalization records created in state or local courts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, a few indexes and records have been donated to the National Archives from counties, states, and local courts. Researchers should contact the\u00a0National Archives facility<\/a>\u00a0serving the state in which the petitioner resided to determine if records from lower courts are available. In certain cases, county court naturalization records maintained by the National Archives are available as\u00a0microfilm publications<\/a>. Records from state and local courts are often at state archives or county historical societies.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeginning September 27, 1906, U.S. naturalization law imposed a fee structure that encouraged the transfer of naturalization to Federal courts. It took time for the lower courts to let go of the practice, so researchers may need to look at lower courts if the National Archives does not maintain a record of naturalization from the early-mid 20th\u00a0century.\u201d<\/p>\n

Naturalization was a two-step process* that usually took a minimum of five years. After an alien resided in the United States for two years, he\/she could file a \u201cdeclaration of intention\u201d (sometimes called the \u201cfirst papers\u201d) to become a citizen. After three more years, they could \u201cpetition for naturalization\u201d (the \u201csecond papers\u201d). If the petition was granted, a certificate of citizenship was issued to the petitioner. These two steps did not have to take place in the same court.<\/p>\n

[*Exceptions can include cases of derivative citizenship (which is given to children who have green cards and whose parents become naturalized U.S. citizens \u2013 or in recent years, to foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizen parents, if certain conditions are met), processes for minor aliens 1824-1906, and special consideration for veterans.]<\/p>\n

More from the National Archives<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a naturalization took place in a Federal court, naturalization indexes, declarations of intention (with any accompanying certificates of arrival), and petitions for naturalization will usually be in the National Archives\u00a0facility\u00a0serving the state in which the\u00a0Federal\u00a0court\u00a0<\/a>is located.\u00a0No central index exists.\u201d<\/p>\n

How can you make use of naturalization documents? In the rest of this article (and in Part II, tomorrow) I will explain how, including links that show examples of other documents you may come across, and terms you will need to understand.<\/p>\n

Some Terms You Will Need to Know<\/strong><\/p>\n