Series 83896
District Court (Second District : Weber County) Declarations of intention record books
Dates: i 1906-
1.00 cubic foot and 3 microfilm reels
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 declarations of intention for Weber County residents to become United States citizens.
The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization of the Department of Commerce and Labor (later the Naturalization Service of the U.S. Dept. of Labor) furnished the court clerks with the necessary blank forms. The forms were furnished in bound volumes as a court record. Each volume was to be indexed and the declarations numbered consecutively beginning with number 1 in volume 1. Loose sheets were also furnished so the duplicate copy could be given to the declarant and the triplicate copy mailed to the Bureau of Naturalization.
The forms contain blanks for the name and location of the court; the individual's name, age, occupation, color, complexion, height, weight, hair color, eye color, visible distinctive marks, birthplace, birthdate, and current residence; the location from which he emigrated to the United States and the vessel name; his last foreign residence; the name and title of the ruler to whom he would be renouncing allegiance; and the port and date of arrival in the United States. By 1916, additional blanks were inserted to record his marital status, and if married, his wife's name, birthplace and birthdate. He was to take an oath that he was not an anarchist or a polygamist, and that it was his intention to become a United States citizen and make the country his permanent residence. Blanks were provided for his signature and for the date and signature of the court clerks who served as witness.
Naturalization regulations were revised again in 1929 and new forms were issued. The old form books became obsolete and the remaining blank forms in volume 6 were cancelled.
Arrangement
Entries are arranged numerically by case number within consecutively numbered volumes.
Related Records
Naturalization memorandum books from the District Court (Second District : Weber County), Series 83454, may be used as a partial index to this series.
Naturalization record books from the District Court (Second District : Weber County), Series 83892, of the 2nd District Court-Weber County contain the final naturalizations recorded by the court, including some individuals whose declarations were recorded earlier in this series by the same court.
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
The series was transferred to the Archives in 1989 and scheduled by Pat Scott. Archival processing by A.C. Cone was finished the same year. Filming was completed in 1998.
Finding Aids
Indexes: Each volume has a name index at the beginning with entries indexed under the initial letter of the alien's surname, covering from June 23, 1906 thru 1929. Indexes: The Naturalization memorandum record book, series 83454, can also be used as an index. Locate the individual's name in the memorandum index then consult the memorandum to find the declaration number. The declaration can then be located by number in this series. , covering from 1906 thru 1929.
Indexing Terms
- Declaration of intention--Utah--Weber County.
- Naturalization--Utah--Weber County.
- Emigration and immigration--Utah--Weber County.
- Citizenship--Utah--Weber County.
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.