Series 85111

District Court (Third District) Declarations of intention record books

Dates: i 1869-1895.

2.00 cubic feet and 5 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 declarations of intention of individuals to become United States citizens only.

In the declaration an applicant vows that he plans to later become a U.S. citizen and to renounce his current citizenship. The volumes have standardized forms allowing for insertions of the individual's name, sovereign, date, and signatures of the individual and the court clerk witnessing the statement.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Related Records

Declarations of intention and certificate of citizenship record books from the Territorial Supreme Court, Series 3942, of the Supreme Court includes declarations and certificates from the 3rd District Court from 1859-1860.

Declarations of intention and certificates of citizenship record book from Salt Lake County (Utah). Probate Court, Series 85109, from the Salt Lake County Probate Court will also contain records of 3rd district residents during the territorial period as Salt Lake County was in the third judicial district since 1856.

Certificates of citizenship record books from the District Court (Third District), Series 85110, of the 3rd District Court contain final naturalizations issued by the court, perhaps to some of the same individuals whose earlier declarations of intention are recorded in this series.

Declarations of intention record books from the District Court (Fourth District), Series 85169, include records of the 3rd District Court filed in Weber County from 1878-1879 when Weber County was a part of the 3rd judicial district.

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.

Finding Aids

Indexes: All volumes except the first have indices at the beginning. Entries are alphabetic by the first letter of the alien's surname, covering from December 20, 1871 thru December 12, 1895.

Indexing Terms

• Declaration of intention—Utah.
• Naturalization—Utah.
• Emigration and immigration—Utah.
• Citizenship—Utah.

Container List

REEL	BOX	FOLDER	DESCRIPTION
1	1	1	Apr. 22, 1869-Dec. 13, 1871
1	1	2	Dec. 20, 1871-Apr. 29, 1874 (p. 1-164)
2	1	2	Apr. 29, 1874-Jan. 10, 1876 (p. 164-end)
3	1	3	June 20, 1876-Dec. 12, 1876
4	2	1	Dec. 19, 1876-Mar. 10, 1881
4	2	2	Mar. 11, 1881-July 6, 1883 (p. 1-157)
5	2	2	July 6, 1883-Oct. 7, 1887 (p. 157-end)
5	3	1	Oct. 7, 1887-Sept. 14, 1894
5	4	1	Sept. 19, 1894-Dec. 12, 1895