Series 85113
District Court (First District) Declarations of intention record books
Dates: i 1880-1896.
0.20 cubic foot and 1 microfilm reel
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. This book contains signed statements of individuals' intentions to become citizens of the United States. The records were kept by the court clerk on preprinted forms.
The declarations of intention have blanks for the insertion of the individual's name, his former sovereign, date, and signatures of the individual and the court clerk witnessing the statement. Declarations of intention document the applicant's intention to later become a U.S. citizen and to renounce his current citizenship.
Arrangement
Chronological.
Related Records
Declarations of intention and certificate of citizenship record books from the Territorial Supreme Court, Series 3942, include First District Court declarations recorder from 1852-1856.
Declarations of intention record books from the District Court (Fourth District), Series 85169, contains 1st District Court declarations of intention recorded in Weber County from 1880-1892.
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 1884-1896 volume was microfilmed in 1966 by the LDS Genealogical Society. Archivally processed by A.C. Cone in 1989. The 1880-1883 volume was located in State Archives holdings in 1998 and the series inventory updated.
Indexing Terms
- Emigration and immigration—Utah.
- Naturalization—Utah.
- Citizenship—Utah.
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.