General
The Kewaunee County Naturalization Records, 1850-1950, consists of Naturalization and Intention indexes, Declarations of Intention, Petitions, Certificates of Naturalization, and Ancillary Documents such as Petitions of Minors, and Naturalizations/Petitions Declarations of Intention Granted.
The original system of numbering volumes was retained because the indexes are often keyed to that system. When requesting a particular volume, the researcher should specify not only the volume number but also the type of volume and dates. For preservation purposes some volumes have been dismantled and placed in boxes. For these volumes the list gives the volume number in parentheses ( ) for identification purposes, and the box number for circulation purposes.
Indexes
The Naturalization Index, A-Z, circa 1856-1906, 1930-1948, indexes the Certificates of Naturalization volumes, 1876-1928. It is a card index, which lists the page number and sometimes the volume of the certificate. It also lists the date of citizenship. Citations also refer to a “Volume I, Minute Book” and “Volume 1” possibly of certificates. These two volumes are not in archival custody. Similarly, entries from 1930 to 1948 give the date of certificate and petition number, but these records are not in archival custody. The Declarations of Intention/Naturalization Index, circa 1855-1948 (volume 1), lists the name, volume number, and date of the declaration. Although the index refers to declarations through 1948, post-1929 records are not in archival custody at this time. The Declarations of Intention/Naturalization Index, circa 1856-1897 (volume 2), gives the name of applicant and date of intention. Portions of the Declaration of Intention/Naturalization Index, circa 1855-1948 (volume 1), cover the same time period as portions of the circa 1856-1897 index (volume 2), however volume 1 is the more comprehensive index and should be consulted first. Both volumes 1 and 2 index the volumes of Declarations of Intention for 1875-1929. The Declarations of Intention/Naturalization Index, circa 1850-1879 (volume 3), gives the name of applicant and date.
Records
The DECLARATIONS OF INTENTION, 1859-1896, are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the applicant. The DECLARATIONS OF INTENTION, 1875-1906, are arranged chronologically by date filed. Each volume includes an alphabetical name index listing the applicant's name and page number of the Declaration. The 1907-1929 Declarations are arranged chronologically by date filed and are indexed by Declarations of Intention/Naturalization Index volumes 1-3.
PETITIONS, 1870-1906, are arranged alphabetically by last name of petitioner. PETITIONS, 1908-1929, are arranged chronologically by date filed. The 1908-1929 petitions are indexed by volume 1 of the indexes. The 1930-1948 cards in the Naturalization Index, A-Z also gives the petition number.
CERTIFICATES OF NATURALIZATION, 1876-1928 (Volumes A and 3), contains certificates granting citizenship. Volume 1 of the indexes provide the best access to the certificates. The Certificate Stub Books, 1908-1926, likely duplicate the basic information found in Volume A. The original certificates and all certificates after 1928 must be obtained from the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service.
The Ancillary Documents contains Petitions of Minors and Naturalization/Petitions/ Declarations of Intention Granted. The PETITIONS OF MINORS, 1903-1906, is petitions granted to minors and arranged chronologically by date filed. The petitions are indexed by an index at the front of the volume, which gives the name of the petitioner and page number of the petition.
NATURALIZATIONS/PETITIONS/DECLARATIONS OF INTENTION GRANTED, 1925-1950, consists of Declarations, Petitions, Affidavits of Witnesses, Interrogatories in Depositions of Witnesses. These are indexed by the Naturalization Index, A-Z. There is also an incomplete index at the beginning of the volume.
Suggestions for Finding Records
The researcher searching for pre-1906 declarations and petitions should search the Declarations and Petitions arranged alphabetically by last name. For post-1906 declarations the researcher should begin by finding the document number in the Declaration of Intention/Naturalization Index, circa 1855-1948, it being the most comprehensive Declarations index. Next the researcher should look in Declarations indexes volumes 2 and 3.
