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.

These books contain copies, or rarely, originals, of the signed statements of individuals' intentions to become citizens of the United States (1851-1895). The first volume also contains a record of certificates of citizenship issued to newly naturalized citizens (1851-1869). The records were kept by the court clerk in volumes of preprinted forms.

The declarations of intention have blanks for the insertion of the individual's name, his former sovereign, date, and signatures of the individual and/or the court clerk witnessing the statement.

The certificates of citizenship which constitute the second half of volume A document aliens' applications for citizenship. Each form gives the date, applicant's name, ruler's name, names of those testifying, and a standardized summary of the procedures. The applicant swore that he had filed his declaration of intention to become a citizen, or if a minor when he entered the U.S., that it had been his intention for three years. Two U.S. citizens testified that the applicant had resided in the territory for a year and in the United States for at least four years prior to that. They further swore that he was of good moral character and attached to the principles of the U.S. Constitution. The applicant then took an oath to support the U.S. Constitution and renounced allegiance to any foreign sovereign, and particularly to the ruler whose subject he had been. The court clerk served as witness.

In the first volume, interspersed among the declarations and certificates recorded by the Supreme Court, are those recorded by the First District Court (1852-1856) and the Third District Court (1859-1860). The presence of these district court records probably results from the fact that the Supreme Court consisted, during the territorial period, of all of the district court judges sitting together. One of the judges may have recorded his district business in it as well.