General
The Adams County Naturalization Records consist of Declarations of Intention, 1853-1945; Petitions, 1859-1949; Certificate of Naturalization Stub Books, 1907-1929; Orders Granting and Denying Petitions, 1931-1949; and indexes to these records. This series does not contain any pre-1907 certificates.
The original system of identifying volumes by number or letter was retained because the indexes are often keyed to this system. To eliminate confusion when requesting a particular volume, the researcher should specify not only the volume number but also the type of volume (e.g. Declarations or Petitions) and dates.
For preservation purposes some volumes have been dismantled and placed in boxes. For these volumes the contents list below gives the volume in parentheses ( ) for identification purposes, and the box number for circulation purposes. Volume numbers that appear in brackets [ ] are numbers that were assigned by the archivist. All records are available in both original format and on microfilm.
Indexes
The CARD INDEX TO CITIZENSHIP, 1859-1949, is the first place to look for an individual's record. It is arranged alphabetically by last name and may list country of birth; age; date and port of arrival; local address; witnesses; petition number; date of naturalization; date of order of admission; certificate number; and certificate volume and page number. The cards consist of official Immigration and Naturalization Service forms intermixed with unofficial typed index cards. On the official cards filed prior to 1930 (indexing Volumes 5-7 and Box 4 of petitions), the “file number%rdquo; corresponds to the file number written on the petition (e.g. “File Number 35”). The unofficial cards also have a File number at the top right hand corner. All index entries are keyed to the file numbers until they stop (about 1933) and then the petition numbers are used, as indicated in the container list. If the entry does not specify “file number,” assume it is the petition number.
If you can not find an individual in the card index, use the volume indexes described below.
The INDEX TO DECLARATIONS AND PETITIONS, 1853-1887, lists the name of the applicant; month, day, and year of document; type of document and other remarks. Types of documents are declarations and full citizenship: “full citizenship” refers to the petitions. The INDEX TO DECLARATIONS AND PETITIONS (Volume 2) is duplicated in INDEX TO CITIZENSHIP (Volume 1) but there are occasionally names omitted from one volume or the other and also the spellings of names sometimes vary between the two volumes.
The INDEX TO CITIZENSHIP, 1853-1937, indexes declarations and petitions. It lists name; month, day, and year of document; type of document and other remarks. Types of documents are declarations and full citizenship: “full citizenship” refers to the petitions. Since entries to petitions/full citizenship gives the date and the petitions are arranged by file number, this index is not helpful for finding petitions.
If you can not locate documents using the above volume indexes, consult the index at the front of each volume of declarations and petitions.
Records
The DECLARATIONS, 1853-1905 (Box 2), are filed by year and thereunder alphabetically by last name. The DECLARATIONS for 1905-1945 (Volumes 4-5 in Box 3) are filed chronologically and each volume contains an index at the front. In addition, Declarations for the years 1874, 1880, 1881, 1883-1886, and 1895 contain documents filed by Native Americans resigning their status as members of the Winnebago tribe. Individual's names, such as %ldquo;White Wolf,” are filed under the first word (e.g. “White”).
The whereabouts of the declarations for 1930 are unknown.
PETITIONS, 1859-1949, often have declarations attached. PETITIONS, 1859-1906 (box 3), are arranged by an assigned file number which appears on the back of the document. The Card Index to Citizenship refers to this file number. PETITIONS, 1907-1949 (Volumes 5-7 and Box 4), are arranged chronologically, and each volume has an index at the front. Volumes 5-7 and some petitions in Box 4 also have file numbers written at the top of each page. PETITIONS, circa 1933-1949, have petition numbers assigned instead of file numbers. All index entries are keyed to the file numbers until they stop (about 1933) and then the petition numbers are used, as indicated in the container list.
Petitions for 1930 are not in archival custody.
CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION STUB BOOKS, 1907-1929, may list the number of the certificate; name, age, date, volume, and page number of declaration; date, volume, and page number of petition; name, age, and address of wife and children; and date, volume, and page number of order (certificate).
ORDERS GRANTING AND DENYING PETITIONS, 1931-1949, are arranged chronologically and contain lists of petitions noting petition numbers granted or denied and name change if applicable.
