They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records & amp; Ethnic Origins

Unless you are descended from Native-Americans or very early American colonists, there is a good chance that you had immigrant ancestors who naturalized. This book is an outstanding guidebook to lead you through the changing laws, the processes, and documents of naturalization. Using dozens of examples and illustrations, as well as clearly written text, the author will help you discover what is available, why you want to find it, where you should look for it, and what you may learn once you do locate your ancestors’ naturalization papers. Most important, this book will lead you through the maze of naturalization laws and how they may have impacted your family. There are seven chapters, beginning with the historical background of the naturalization process and continuing with how to find information, the courts, published records and indexes, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), records available in the National Archives (NARA) and those available on the Internet. There are three appendices: a timeline of dates/events, contact information for many ethnic groups and government agencies, and a copy of a form that can be used to obtain records from the government. (OF NOTE: the INS was replaced by the Office of Homeland Security after 9/11, so this form is now obsolete; newer forms can be obtained on the Internet.)

Written by Loretto Dennis Szucs, Published by Ancestry Publishing Co., Provo, Utah 1998, 292 pgs., softcover.