Series 83895
DISTRICT COURT (FIRST DISTRICT) [273]CERTIFICATES OF CITIZENSHIP RECORD BOOKS, 1890-18920.6 cu. ft. (1 vol) and 1 microfilm reel
DESCRIPTION: To become a citizen of the
United States, an individual normally filed a "declaration of intention to
become a citizen" at least two years prior to applying for citizenship. The
next step was the naturalization hearing at which the candidate and witnesses
either made oral statements or filed written petitions and affidavits attesting
to the applicant's character, worthiness to become a citizen, and the validity
of statements made to the court. If the judge found the applicant eligible to
become a citizen, an oath was administered and the individual renounced his
former citizenship. At this point a certificate of citizenship was issued
documenting the fact. This volume contains copies of certificates of
citizenship issued to newly naturalized United States citizens.
Certificates of citizenship are on preprinted forms which briefly
summarize the naturalization hearing and contain blanks for the date,
individual's name, previous country and kingdom, and current county of
residence:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TERRITORY OF UTAH
Be it Remembered, That on the_______day of_______in the year of our
Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety_______, _______late of_______in the
Kingdom of_______at present of _______, in the Territory aforesaid, appeared in
the First District Court of the United States, in and for Utah Territory, and
applied to the said Court to be admitted to become a Citizen of the United
States of America, pursuant to the directions and requirements of the several
Acts of Congress in relation thereto. And the said having thereupon produced to
the Court such evidence, made such declaration and renunciation, and taken such
oath as are by the said Acts required; thereupon it was ordered by the said
Court that the said be admitted, and he was accordingly admitted by the said
Court to be a Citizen of the United States of America.
Attest:___________Clerk, By the Court, ___________Judge.
Along the margin of the volumes, the clerks has also written the names
of the witnesses at each naturalization hearing. The forms have not been signed
by either the clerk or judge.
ARRANGEMENT: Entries are chronological.
RELATED RECORDS: The location of any
citizenship certificate volumes from the First District from 1892 to statehood
in 1896 is undetermined. Some of certificates of citizenship and declarations
of intention for the First District Court from the territorial period were
recorded in volumes used by other courts. Volume A of the DECLARATIONS OF
INTENTION AND CERTIFICATES OF CITIZENSHIP RECORD BOOKS,
series
3942, of the Supreme Court contain these records recorded from 1852 to
1856. DECLARATIONS OF INTENTION RECORD BOOKS,
series
85169, from the 4th District Court includes 1st District declarations
recorded in Weber County from 1880 to 1892 in volume A. Also likely to contain
the declarations of intention for those whose citizenship certificates are in
these series is the First District Court's DECLARATIONS OF INTENTION RECORD
BOOKS,
series
85113, covering the years 1884-1896. First District Court minutes may
contain more details about specific naturalization hearings.
DECLARATIONS OF INTENTION RECORD BOOKS from the other district
courts from this period might also contain declarations of some of these
individuals: Second District Court,
series
85174 and the Third District Court, series 85111. County probate
courts held concurrent jurisdiction in citizenship cases during this time and
their records could also be checked. At statehood in 1896, the district court
began keeping separate series of naturalization records and declarations of
intention in each county. For other possible sources consult the Research Guide
to Naturalization records.
PROCESSING NOTE: Transferred to the
Archives in 1989 and archivally processed by A.C. Cone the same year.
Microfilmed in 1998.
