Seeking naturalization information for my great-grandparents

Hi Cheryl Zeller

Welcome to History Hub

I found some information for you on familysearch.org. It is a free website, you just need to register to search.

I found the following 1933 Naturalization record for a Mike DiTerlizzi. It appears that your great-grandfather may have been using Mike or Michael as a first name instead of Mauro. Mike Terlizzi, "Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977" (familysearch.org)

There is more information about the family on familysearch.org. if you are searching for more information about your family.

Your great grandparents are also on findagrave.com with photos.

Alice Lane

Research Volunteer.

In the 1940 US census it states that Michael and Lucy had filed their first papers (Declarations of Intention) to become citizens.

He became a citizen in 1944.  His naturalization petition file (certificate of arrival, declaration, & petition) can be found at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C33W-G39X-S?i=517&cat=3029447  [4 pages].

Lucy's file can be found at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C33W-G3M3-W?i=545&cat=3029447 [5 pages]

familysearch.org is a free research site, you just need to sign up for a username and password

I tried to follow Mauro & Lucia’s trail to see if there were any clues about naturalization.  (I had to make sure to search both with and without a space between the Di and the Terlizzi.)

Mauro Di Terlizzi’s passenger list which you mentioned:

New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924

There is a handwritten number from 11-20-1939 above Lucia’s entry.  Sometimes this number corresponds to a naturalization document number.  I’m not certain what this particular one is indicating.  This image is found on image number 365.  (FamilySearch can be viewed for free, you just need to register.)

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6H5-XJQ

Over on image 471, the Record of Aliens Held for Special Inquiry has Manro Di Ferlizzi listed as well as Lucia and Nicola Sacucci. (Here is the direct link to that image.)

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9T4-G342-L?i=470&cc=1368704

Ancestry.com has a record set called U.S., Subject Index to Correspondence and Case Files of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1903-1959.  (You can access Ancestry.com with a paid subscription, a free trial, or possibly with your local library card through your library website.)

**Note the dates on these cards could indicate the date the card was compiled, for instance, not necessarily the date of the action.

Two results came up for Mauro Di Terlizzi.

--The first is dated 5-5-1920 and is a list of illiterates at Ellis Island.  Mauro and his wife Lucia Saccucci are on this list, with file number 54,766-486.   (from NARA RG85, T458, Roll 16)

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=VDH9618&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&dbid=1946&gsln=Di%20Terlizzi&new=1&rank=1&uidh=tre&redir=false&msT=1&gss=angs-d&pcat=40&fh=0&h=217141&recoff=&ml_rpos=1&queryId=a171e6999394a036412215ca65c6cb2a

--The second is dated 5-10-1920.  The card is for the SS ARGENTINA.  One entry involves a fine for Mauro and has the same file number as above.   (from NARA RG85, T458, Roll 27)

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=VDH9617&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&dbid=1946&gsln=Di%20Terlizzi&new=1&rank=1&uidh=tre&redir=false&msT=1&gss=angs-d&pcat=40&fh=1&h=236015&recoff=&ml_rpos=2&queryId=a171e6999394a036412215ca65c6cb2a

NARA has a page that says what to do with the entry number found on the above cards.

https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/ins-subject-and-policy-files?_ga=2.23101626.1841575315.1609009459-1592867694.1550671227

The 1930 Census states Mauro had filed his first papers.  Lucia is listed as an alien. 

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X44V-CVC

The 1940 Census states both he and Lucia had filed first papers. 

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWDS-VS8

Mauro’s 1942 WWII Draft card doesn’t ask about citizenship.

If both censuses are correct, there should petitions out there—Mauro may have filed between 1920-1930 and Lucia between 1930-1940.  Looking at where the family lived, I would suggest Ohio as the first place to try.  It is possible they turned in petitions but were not naturalized. 

If they did not naturalize, it is possible they had to register as enemy aliens during WWII.  (I’m not sure how citizens from Italy were handled, or how someone with first papers filed would have been viewed.)

Hope this helps.  Happy Hunting!