THE PROCESS
Naturalization was, and still is, a voluntary act. Ancestors may have taken out their first papers (Declaration) but never completed the naturalization process. Declarations were waved for those who enlisted during the Civil War. Women and children were naturalized along with the husband/father. After 1922 a woman was no longer naturalized through marriage.

These are generalizations and specific laws can be researched in John Newman's American Naturalization Processes and Procedures 1790–1985, (Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Historical Society, 1985), and his new book, American Naturalization Records, 1790–1990 (North Salt Lake, UT: Heritage Quest, 1998); John P. Colleta's They Came in Ships, (Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry, Inc., 1993); and Loretto Dennis Szucs' They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins, (Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry, Inc., 1998). For more specific information on St. Clair County records see St. Clair County, Illinois Research and Resources: A Genealogist's Guide, available from SCCGS.

In general the steps taken toward naturalization include
1. Declaration of intent filed after two years residency (varies), also called first papers.
2. Petition to Naturalize filed after a waiting period of at least two years, also called second papers.
3. Naturalization Final Oath taken (formally naturalized)

PRIOR TO 1906
Any court of record could naturalize a person. Courts with power to naturalize include supreme, district, common pleas, chancery, probate, superior and equity, to name a few. Because scant information is given in the records, it is virtually impossible to distinguish your "John Smith" from someone of the same name. The declaration and naturalizations before 1906 in St. Clair basically provide the name, date of court term, and renunciation of allegiance to the foreign sovereignty, not the town of birth.

EXTANT RECORDS
St. Clair courts which naturalized men before 1906:

1. County Court 1864 – 1906

a.) Declarations for this court appear in SCCGS Quarterly volume 20 number 4 (hereafter 20:4), 1997, pp 147-150.
b.) Naturalizations for this court appear in SCCGS Quarterly 21:1, pp 1-15 for surnames A-J; 21:2, pp 45-54 for surnames K-Q; and 21:3, pp 102-112, for surnames R-Z.

Check the surname index for County Court Declarations and Naturalizations online here. Look in Vols 11-20, and/or 21-25 and then your surname in one of the specific issues and pages cited immediately above.

Original papers have been destroyed. All that remains is the court Record, now stored at the Belleville Public Library. They can provide a photocopy of the page but will need the information from the quarterly article to do so.

This court's Record has been published by Robert Buecher as St. Clair County, Illinois [Circuit Court] Naturalization Index, 1816–1905, (Thomson, Ill.: Heritage House, 1976). The Belleville Public Library and others have this book. The Record contains the court term naturalized, the number, and the name. The original court Record is now housed at the Illinois Regional Archives Depository IRAD. The original papers have been destroyed. Occasionally a record has been mentioned in various court minutes but give no additional information than that found in the Record.

Filby took Buecher's book and published the same information in Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, (Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1981).

Naturalization papers for about 60 men whose surname begins with the letter G are extant at IRAD. This list appeared in St. Clair County Research and Resources: A Genealogist's Guide, and in SCCGS Quarterly 4: 4, pp 201 and 202. Check the quarterly surname index for your family name online here.

3. East St. Louis City Court 1874–1906

An index is available 1874–1906 only on the Illinois State Archives web site. IRAD can provide the documents but be sure to explore the ISA site thoroughly for important information. These court papers (to 1906) have been microfilmed and are available at the Belleville Public Library (search the index first).

The Felony Division of the courthouse has East St. Louis City Court declarations and naturalizations on microfilm. Check with their office for access since procedures have changed (2005).

BEGINNING IN 1906 the naturalization process was standardized for all courts. These particular records provide a wealth of genealogical information including the name of the ship, date of arrival, town and date of birth, and names of wife and children or siblings.

St. Clair courts which naturalized men from 1906 - forward:

1. Circuit Court 1906 - c1957

These records are on microfilm in the Felony Division of the courthouse.

2. East St. Louis City Court 1906 - c1950

These records are on microfilm in the Felony Division of the courthouse.

Declarations 1904-1950, Petition Records 1903-1947, and Naturalization Order Books 1929-1949 are also available at IRAD

3. Federal Court in East St. Louis 1906 to present

Apparently the declaration and naturalization papers from 1906 through 1944 are only available at the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Washington, D.C. The Federal District Court can help you obtain these records. Because of the lengthy wait (nine months or more), exhaust all other possible naturalization resources before tackling this one. There is no index available locally. Newspaper articles might serve as a substitute. Inquire at the Belleville Public Library and ask for the East St. Louis newspaper subject index on microfilm (WPA index)

An index to Declarations and Petitions, 1944–present, is available on-site, 750 Missouri avenue, East St. Louis, IL 62201.

This court still naturalizes people today. Recent records may be closed for privacy reasons.

HINTS FOR LOCATING YOUR ANCESTOR'S NATURALIZATION RECORD

1. Know the year of naturalization.

Check the full population schedule (image online or microfilm, not an index or extract) of the appropriate federal census records, 1830, 1870, 1900, and 1910. Naturalization related questions were asked for each person.

Check World War I Draft Registration Cards. Those for St. Clair county are on microfilm at the Belleville Public Library. The St. Louis County Library web site has a great explanation of the questions asked, online document examples, and more. Click here to explore WWI Draft Cards.

2. Determine your ancestor's place of residency during the time he would have filed a declaration or petition.

Many St. Clair county immigrants spent a few years in St. Louis or elsewhere prior to settling here. The St. Louis County Library has 99 reels of federal and local court naturalizations 1816-1941 for St. Louis.

3. If your ancestor applied for federal land in states to our west under/after the 1862 Homestead Act, naturalization papers may be part of his land entry case file. Read more about The Homestead Act (off site at NARA).

4. Passport Records also include information about naturalization. The St. Louis County Library has U.S., Index to Passport Applications, 1810–1817; 1830–1831; 1834–1906 on Film shelves - 1A.
Read more about Passports as a genealogical resource (off site at NARA).

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