Colorado Naturalization Records

What is Naturalizaton?

Naturalization is the process by which a foreign-born person becomes a citizen of the United States. 

• Before 1906, any "court of record" (municipal, county, state or federal court) could grant U.S. citizenship 
• After the Basic Naturalization Act of 1906 was enacted, naturalization forms were standardized and state and local courts were encouraged to pass their naturalization jurisdiction to federal courts

What can I find in Naturalization Records?

Records generated through the naturalization process can be a rich source of information for researchers, offering insight into an immigrant's place of origin, original name, former residence and date of arrival into the U.S. 

From 1906 to 1952, naturalization was a two-step process which yielded two types of records especially meaningful to genealogical researchers:

1. Declaration of Intention (known as "First Papers")
   • Pre-1906 records contain little biographical information
   • Post-1906 records can contain name, address, occupation, birthplace, nationality, country of origination, birth date or age, physical description, marital status, number of children, and the name of the applicant's spouse 
2. Petition for Naturalization (known as "Second Papers" or "Final Papers")

• The petition could occur two years after a Declaration of Intent was filed, assuming that residency requirements had been met (generally five years). Information that may appear in this petition includes: petitioner's name, current residence, occupation, birth date and place, personal description, date of arrival in the U.S, arrival and departure port locations, date when U.S. residence began, length of residence in the state, name changes, marital status (and possibly spouse's name), dates and places of birth and residence of the petitioner's children

Where can I find Colorado Naturalization Records?

• If your ancestor may have pursued naturalization in a federal district court in Colorado, check out the following:
  • Naturalization Records, 1877-1952 – U.S. District Courts, Denver & Pueblo (INDEX): an index to select records available on microfilm; certified copies of records can be ordered through the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA)  
  • Colorado, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1868-1990 on Ancestry Library Edition (**available on all DPL computers) 
  • Colorado naturalization records, 1876-1990 available through FamilySearch (create a free account to view database)
  • The National Archives at Denver holds naturalization records created in the federal district court at Denver (1877-1972) and Pueblo (1903-1949) in 21.7.2 Records of the U.S. District Court; certified copies of records can be ordered online  
• If your ancestor may have pursued naturalization in a county court in Colorado, check out the following:
  • Naturalization Records, 1867-1964 – Colorado County Courts (INDEX): an index to records held by the Colorado State Archives
  • ​Colorado State Archives' list of naturalization record holdings (organized by county) 
  • Colorado, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1868-1990 on Ancestry Library Edition (**available on all DPL computers)