FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Oct. 10, 2007
CONTACT:  Chelle Somsen, (605) 773-5521

Naturalization Records available at the State Archives

PIERRE, S.D. -- In recognition of Archives Month 2007 the State Archives of the South Dakota State Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center is issuing press releases on various topics relating to archives, research, and genealogy. The four topics covered during Archives Month include “How to write a Useful Obituary,” “Naturalization Records,” “South Dakota State Censuses,” and “Care of Family Collections.” 

“Finding your Ancestors’ Naturalization Records at the State Archives” is the second of four topics. 

“Naturalization papers are the forms immigrants filled out to become United States citizens,” said Chelle Somsen, State Archivist for South Dakota. “They needed to file both First and Second papers to be naturalized. The immigrant went to the nearest courthouse and filled out their First papers. Anywhere from two to five years after, they returned to the courthouse, filed their Second papers, took an Oath of Allegiance, and became a United States citizen.”

Naturalization records are microfilmed and available for viewing at the State Archives. The State Archives holds Naturalization records from the South Dakota County Courts from the 1850s to the 1970s. The forms varied from court to court until all the forms were standardized in 1906. Some county naturalization records have detailed information, others are somewhat scarce.

Later naturalization forms include information such as physical description, birth date, birthplace, occupation, name of the ship they traveled on, name of spouse, and names of children. Some of the later naturalization records also contained photographs of the immigrants.

An online index to all the naturalization records is found at the State Archives website. Visit the State Historical Society’s website at www.sdhistory.org and click on the link to the “Archives.” On the Archives main page click on “For Genealogists,” and find the Naturalization Index. The online index has both First and Second naturalization papers.  

Naturalization Laws have changed over time. The first naturalization law was created on March 26, 1790. It allowed for aliens to apply for citizenship if they had lived in the United States for two years, plus one year in their current state of residence. The Act of 1795 required aliens live in the United States for five years and to complete a “Declaration of Intent” or First papers.

In 1802, law required that two witnesses verified an alien’s five years of residency. An 1855 act allowed for alien women to become naturalized if they married an American husband, or to become citizens when their husband became naturalized. This act tied both the naturalization of women (and their children) to the naturalization of their husband (or father).

By 1862, veterans who served the country during war time could become naturalized (without a formal declaration). An American born woman would have her naturalization revoked if she married an immigrant. By 1922, women’s naturalization was considered separate.

The Naturalization Act of June 29, 1906 declared standard fees and forms and created the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization. The act also required proficiency in the English language to become naturalized. Jurisdiction of naturalization has changed hands over the years, moving from the Secretary of Treasury, to the Department of Labor, and to the Department of Justice.

In 2003, the office of Immigration and Naturalization Services moved to the Department of Homeland Security and is currently named the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The State Archives is open Monday through Friday and the first Saturday of each month from 9-4:30. You can contact the archives by phone at (605) 773-3804 or by email at archref@state.sd.us