Looking for grandfather naturalization paperwork

ShelleyJenkins 

Thank you for posting your question on History Hub!

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has custody of historical naturalization records issued by federal courts in the United States. These records are held at different NARA research facilities, depending on the state in which the court is located. For example, the National Archives in Washington, DC, only has historical naturalization records issued by federal courts in the District of Columbia prior to the 1980s. There is no central index to NARA's naturalization records.

If your ancestor naturalized in a federal court, you can contact the NARA research facility that has records of that court to request a search for the record. In your request, please make sure to include the following information:

• name of petitioner (including known variants);
• date of birth;
• approximate date of entry to the US;
• approximate date of naturalization;
• where the individual was residing at the time of naturalization (city/county/state);
• and country of origin

Please see NARA's Naturalization Records page for more information about the records.

If you do not know the court in which your ancestor naturalized, you might consider contacting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Genealogy Program. The USCIS has exclusive authority over matters concerning citizenship records after 1906, and their Genealogy Program has Certificate Files that document naturalizations from September 27, 1906, to March 31, 1956. For more information about the USCIS Genealogy Program and the services they offer, please see their Genealogy Records Help page.

We hope this assists you with your research!

Sincerely,
Archives 1 Reference Branch (RR1R)
(RR1R-24-53523-RB)

ShelleyJenkins 

Thank you for posting your question on History Hub!

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has custody of historical naturalization records issued by federal courts in the United States. These records are held at different NARA research facilities, depending on the state in which the court is located. For example, the National Archives in Washington, DC, only has historical naturalization records issued by federal courts in the District of Columbia prior to the 1980s. There is no central index to NARA's naturalization records.

If your ancestor naturalized in a federal court, you can contact the NARA research facility that has records of that court to request a search for the record. In your request, please make sure to include the following information:

• name of petitioner (including known variants);
• date of birth;
• approximate date of entry to the US;
• approximate date of naturalization;
• where the individual was residing at the time of naturalization (city/county/state);
• and country of origin

Please see NARA's Naturalization Records page for more information about the records.

If you do not know the court in which your ancestor naturalized, you might consider contacting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Genealogy Program. The USCIS has exclusive authority over matters concerning citizenship records after 1906, and their Genealogy Program has Certificate Files that document naturalizations from September 27, 1906, to March 31, 1956. For more information about the USCIS Genealogy Program and the services they offer, please see their Genealogy Records Help page.

We hope this assists you with your research!

Sincerely,
Archives 1 Reference Branch (RR1R)
(RR1R-24-53523-RB)