I've lost track of my ancestor Brita Persdotter after she emigrated to America in 1869 and I'm desperate for help!

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! We regret the delayed response.

For general advice, we suggest reading the web page How to Begin Genealogical Research, the History Hub Blog Suggestions and Advice for Family History Researchers, and the FamilySearch Blog Beginning Genealogy: How to Get Started the Right Way.

Please see Resources for Genealogists for an overview of National Archives records commonly used for genealogical research. The most popular records for genealogy include military service records, military pension application records, census records, ship passenger arrival lists, and land entry records (for federal lands only). We also have passport applications (for certain time periods) and naturalization records. Naturalization records are held in the National Archives regional facilities. 

The web page Browse Available Records by Port of Entry provides a list of ports of entry from this time period for which there are records. In addition, we suggest that you review the information and resources available on the National Archives website, including Immigrant Records at the National Archives, Immigration Records, and Passenger Arrival Records. We also suggest that you review the History Hub blogs Passenger Arrival Records at the National Archives, Passenger Arrival List Research Tips, and Immigration and Naturalization Records: Where are they?.

Some of the arrival records have been digitized and are available online using the National Archives Catalog. Please note that these records are usually NOT name searchable using the National Archives Catalog. Others are available from sites like Ancestry and FamilySearch, which often provide an option for searching by name. The “Browse by Port of Entry” page provides links to Catalog descriptions and digitized records. 

Prior to September 27, 1906, any "court of record" (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. However, a few indexes and records have been donated to the National Archives from counties, states, and local courts. Researchers should contact the National Archives facility serving 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 microfilm publications.  Records from state and local courts are often at state archives or county historical societies.

In general, naturalization was a two-step process* that took a minimum of five years. After residing in the United States for two years, an alien could file a "declaration of intention" ("first papers") to become a citizen. After three additional years, the alien could "petition for naturalization" (”second papers”). After the petition was granted, a certificate of citizenship was issued to the alien. These two steps did not have to take place in the same court.  [*Exceptions can include cases of derivative citizenship, processes for minor aliens 1824-1906, and special consideration for veterans.]

If 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 facility serving the state in which the Federal court is located. No central index exists. To ensure a successful request with the National Archives, your email should include: the 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.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that there will be naturalization records for her. Prior to 1922, all women who were not U.S. citizens acquired their husband's nationality upon marriage. Therefore, if her husband was a citizen or naturalized before they were married, she would have become a citizen upon marriage. See Prologue article titled “Any woman who is now or may hereafter be married . . .” - Women and Naturalization, ca. 1802–1940 for more information. Given that, we suggest that you search for naturalization records for her husband as well.

We also suggest searching for her in Census records. The web page Search Census Records Online and Other Resources provides information about accessing these records online. If you have already searched without success, we suggest that you read Twenty Reasons You May Have Trouble Finding an Ancestor in the Census. For information about the U.S. Census, see the Decennial Census of Population and Housing Technical Documentation as well as NARA’s page on Census Records.  You may also contact the National Archives in Washington, DC - Textual Reference (RR1R) via email at archives1reference@nara.gov.  

There may be a fee for using Ancestry. We suggest that you check for access at your local library as many library systems subscribe to these sites, making them free for their patrons. You may also view Ancestry for free at one of the National Archives’ facilities. For the nearest National Archives location, please consult our Visit Us webpage.  FamilySearch can be accessed with a free account. 

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics website tells how to obtain death records from state and territorial agencies. For more information and resources on vital records please visit our Vital Records webpage.

Additional guidance and lists of resources are provided on the Archives Library Information Center Genealogy page, the FamilySearch Research Wiki (to include the pages for United States Genealogy; Illinois, United States Genealogy; and Cook County, Illinois Genealogy), the Library of Congress pages on Frequently Asked Questions: Local History & Genealogy and Local History and Genealogy Research Guides, and the webpage of the National Genealogical Society.

If you can provide more information about what that you already know, what you are seeking to learn, and where you have already searched, there may be persons in our community who are able to give more specific advice.

We hope this is helpful with your research!

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! We regret the delayed response.

For general advice, we suggest reading the web page How to Begin Genealogical Research, the History Hub Blog Suggestions and Advice for Family History Researchers, and the FamilySearch Blog Beginning Genealogy: How to Get Started the Right Way.

Please see Resources for Genealogists for an overview of National Archives records commonly used for genealogical research. The most popular records for genealogy include military service records, military pension application records, census records, ship passenger arrival lists, and land entry records (for federal lands only). We also have passport applications (for certain time periods) and naturalization records. Naturalization records are held in the National Archives regional facilities. 

The web page Browse Available Records by Port of Entry provides a list of ports of entry from this time period for which there are records. In addition, we suggest that you review the information and resources available on the National Archives website, including Immigrant Records at the National Archives, Immigration Records, and Passenger Arrival Records. We also suggest that you review the History Hub blogs Passenger Arrival Records at the National Archives, Passenger Arrival List Research Tips, and Immigration and Naturalization Records: Where are they?.

Some of the arrival records have been digitized and are available online using the National Archives Catalog. Please note that these records are usually NOT name searchable using the National Archives Catalog. Others are available from sites like Ancestry and FamilySearch, which often provide an option for searching by name. The “Browse by Port of Entry” page provides links to Catalog descriptions and digitized records. 

Prior to September 27, 1906, any "court of record" (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. However, a few indexes and records have been donated to the National Archives from counties, states, and local courts. Researchers should contact the National Archives facility serving 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 microfilm publications.  Records from state and local courts are often at state archives or county historical societies.

In general, naturalization was a two-step process* that took a minimum of five years. After residing in the United States for two years, an alien could file a "declaration of intention" ("first papers") to become a citizen. After three additional years, the alien could "petition for naturalization" (”second papers”). After the petition was granted, a certificate of citizenship was issued to the alien. These two steps did not have to take place in the same court.  [*Exceptions can include cases of derivative citizenship, processes for minor aliens 1824-1906, and special consideration for veterans.]

If 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 facility serving the state in which the Federal court is located. No central index exists. To ensure a successful request with the National Archives, your email should include: the 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.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that there will be naturalization records for her. Prior to 1922, all women who were not U.S. citizens acquired their husband's nationality upon marriage. Therefore, if her husband was a citizen or naturalized before they were married, she would have become a citizen upon marriage. See Prologue article titled “Any woman who is now or may hereafter be married . . .” - Women and Naturalization, ca. 1802–1940 for more information. Given that, we suggest that you search for naturalization records for her husband as well.

We also suggest searching for her in Census records. The web page Search Census Records Online and Other Resources provides information about accessing these records online. If you have already searched without success, we suggest that you read Twenty Reasons You May Have Trouble Finding an Ancestor in the Census. For information about the U.S. Census, see the Decennial Census of Population and Housing Technical Documentation as well as NARA’s page on Census Records.  You may also contact the National Archives in Washington, DC - Textual Reference (RR1R) via email at archives1reference@nara.gov.  

There may be a fee for using Ancestry. We suggest that you check for access at your local library as many library systems subscribe to these sites, making them free for their patrons. You may also view Ancestry for free at one of the National Archives’ facilities. For the nearest National Archives location, please consult our Visit Us webpage.  FamilySearch can be accessed with a free account. 

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics website tells how to obtain death records from state and territorial agencies. For more information and resources on vital records please visit our Vital Records webpage.

Additional guidance and lists of resources are provided on the Archives Library Information Center Genealogy page, the FamilySearch Research Wiki (to include the pages for United States Genealogy; Illinois, United States Genealogy; and Cook County, Illinois Genealogy), the Library of Congress pages on Frequently Asked Questions: Local History & Genealogy and Local History and Genealogy Research Guides, and the webpage of the National Genealogical Society.

If you can provide more information about what that you already know, what you are seeking to learn, and where you have already searched, there may be persons in our community who are able to give more specific advice.

We hope this is helpful with your research!