Series 83326
District Court (Fifth District). Millard County Naturalization record books
Dates: 1896-1906.
0.50 cubic foot and 1 microfilm reel
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Scope and Content
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 volumes contain documentation of the final steps of becoming a United States citizen.
The first volume contains only preprinted certificates of citizenship with blanks for insertion of the date, name, country of origin, current county of residence, and judge's signature admitting the individual to citizenship.
The next volume has a more expanded form. The preprinted application forms consist of an applicant's affidavit and witness affidavits, as well as a certificate of citizenship. The applicant's affidavit gave his name, birthplace, date and place of declaration of intention, date of arrival to the United States, and sovereign. The affidavit included an oath of renunciation of allegiance to his former sovereign and a declaration that the applicant is not insane, epileptic, a pauper, beggar, contagious, a felon, guilty of moral turpitude, a polygamist, anarchist, or pimp. The affidavits of two witnesses confirmed the applicant's statements and declared his worthiness to become a citizen. A copy of a certificate of citizenship form was then completed reiterating this information and ordering his admittance as a citizen.
In 1906, a uniform federal naturalization law was enacted requiring that each court use pre-printed forms in volumes furnished by the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization of the Department of Commerce and Labor.
Arrangement
Entries are chronological. The fiche was filmed with the camera head upside down so pairs of pages appear in reverse order.
Related Records
Certificates of citizenship record books from the District Court (First District), Series 83895, may contain records of Millard County residents during the territorial period as the county was part of the 1st judicial district from 1859-1896.
Declarations of intention record books from the District Court (First District), Series 85113, may contain records of Millard County residents during the territorial period as the county was part of the 1st judicial district from 1859-1896.
Custody History
These records were kept and maintained by the Millard County Clerk as clerk of the court. The 1903-1906 volume was transferred to the State Archives in 1988.
Additional Forms
This series is available on microfilm.
Access Restrictions
This series is classified as Public.
Preferred Citation
Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.
Processing Note
Transfer of the series to the State Archives and scheduling by Pat Scott occurred in 1989. Archival processing by A.C. Cone finished the same year. The volume was microfilmed in 1999. A piece of fiched jacketed film covering 1896 to 1903 was located in 1999 and this inventory updated.
Indexing Terms
- Naturalization--Utah--Millard County.
- Emigration and immigration--Utah--Millard County.
- Citizenship--Utah--Millard County.
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.