February 13 Workshop

Maureen and Annie collaborated this week on the subject of naturalization. Annie began with an overview of the naturalization process, including examples of both declarations of intent and citizenship papers. It is helpful to use the census to determine whether an ancestor had become a citizen or had started the process. Both FamilySearch and Ancestry have some of the records.

Maureen continued the presentation with information about women and naturalization. In most cases the wife (and children) became citizens when the husband naturalized. During certain time periods a woman could lose her citizenship if she married an alien and would have to make an oath of allegiance to regain it. 

Paying attention to the laws of the time is an important part of researching naturalization records.