Series 85110
District Court (Third District) Certificates of citizenship record books
Dates: i 1880-1895.
2.00 cubic feet and 4 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
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 copies of certificates of citizenship issued to newly naturalized United States citizens.
The volumes have preprinted forms which briefly summarize the naturalization hearing and contain blanks for the date, individual's name, previous country and kingdom, current county of residence, and the judge's signature as witness:
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 Eighty ________, ________ late of ________, in the Kingdom of ________, at present of ________, in the Territory aforesaid, appeared in the Third 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 the the said ________ be admitted, and he was accordingly admitted by the said Court to be a Citizen of the United States of America.
By the Court: __________ Judge.
Someone has later gone through the volumes in conjunction with the creation of a card index and scribbled on the forms the names of the witnesses at each naturalization hearing. The witnesses names were obtained from the court's TERRITORIAL MINUTE BOOKS, series 1649. No card index is extant.
Arrangement
Chronological.
Related Records
Territorial minute books from the District Court (Third District), Series 1649, of the 3rd District Court contain summaries of the naturalization hearings which resulted in the certificates of citizenship recorded here.
Declarations of intention and certificate of citizenship record books from the Territorial Supreme Court, Series 3942, Third District Court certificates are in this series. Since an individual could apply for citizenship in any court during this period, series created by the other two district courts and individual county probate courts should also be consulted.
Declarations of intention and certificates of citizenship record book from Salt Lake County (Utah). Probate Court, Series 85109, also has records of third district residents during the territorial period as Salt Lake County was part of the third judicial district.
Declarations of intention record books from the District Court (Third District), Series 85111, contain declarations filed earlier with the same 3rd District Court, perhaps by some of the individuals whose final naturalizations are entered in these certificates.
Declarations of intention record books from the District Court (Fourth District), Series 85169, include declarations filed in Weber County from 1878-1879 when that county was part of the 3rd judicial district; some individuals who filed declarations there may have their final naturalizations recorded in this series.
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. The series was microfilmed in 1998.
Finding Aids
Indexes: The first volume has an index at the beginning. The other volumes are indexed in separate volumes. Entries are alphabetical by surname, covering from December 3, 1880 thru January 3, 1896.
Indexing Terms
- Naturalization—Utah.
- Emigration and immigration—Utah.
- Citizenship—Utah.
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.