General
The Shawano County Naturalization Records consist of Declarations of Intention (1858-1949), Certificates of Naturalization (1864-1906), Petitions (1906-1949), indexes to these records, and Petitions Granted and Denied (1929-1949).
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 of Intention) and dates.
For preservation purposes some volumes have been dismantled and placed in boxes. These volume numbers are designated by parentheses in the list below for identification purposes; the box number is listed for circulation purposes.
All records are available in both original format and on microfilm.
Finding Records
To find the records of individuals naturalized before approximately 1910, first use the INDEX TO NATURALIZATION [DECLARATIONS], 1861-1910, to find the Declaration. Be aware that entries from 1906 through 1910 may be incomplete. This volume indexes Volumes 1-5 of Declarations covering 1858-1906 and the portion of Volume 1 covering 1906 through 1910 (the index refers to this volume as “Vol. 6”. If you do not find the entry, try the typewritten INDEX TO DECLARATIONS, circa 1861-1904, in Box 5. The court did not generate this index. Volunteers at the Green Bay Area Research Center created it as an attempt to reconcile conflicting handwriting and spelling. It includes the same entries as INDEX TO NATURALIZATION [DECLARATIONS], circa 1861-1910, through 1904 and indexes Declaration Volumes 1-4.
Next, consult the index cards to find the individual's final papers. The data field labeled “certificate no. (vol. 8 page)” refers to Volumes 1-4 of the Naturalization Certificates.
To find records for individuals naturalized about October 1906 and later, use the index cards. Use the petition number to go to the appropriate volume. Usually the declarations are attached. If not, the petition gives the date of the declaration which then can be used to find the declaration in “Declarations” Volumes 5, and 1-(3).
Petitions can also be found for almost the entire time period (1861-1949) using the INDEX TO CITIZENSHIP, circa 1861-1949. This index provides access to Naturalization Certificates, 1864-1906 (Volumes 1-4) and Naturalization Petitions, 1906-1949 (Boxes 3-5 and Volumes 1-6).
DECLARATIONS, 1858-1949, are arranged by Declaration number which is assigned roughly by date filed. This number is the key to finding Declarations. Note that two separate sequences of Declaration numbering result in some numbers being used twice. As seen on the list below, Declarations in Volumes 1-5 (1858-1906) are numbered 1-1593 and Volumes 1-(3) begin numbering again with number 1 and continue through 830. Thus, for example, if the index indicates the desired Declaration is numbered “750” and was filed in 1882, the researcher must be sure to request Volume 2, 1869-1882 of Declarations and not Volume 2, 1919-1929.
Declaration volumes through September 1906 (Volumes 1-5) do not include individual volume indexes. Access to entries is through the “Index to Naturalization [Declarations], circa 1861-1910.” There is no master index for Declarations after September 1906 (Volumes 1-[3]), however the front of each volume contains an index to that particular volume. Entries are arranged in alphabetical segments and give the page number.
NATURALIZATION CERTIFICATES, 1864-1906, are in volumes titled either “Record of Citizenship” or “Naturalization Record.” Entries are arranged chronologically by date filed. These certificates act as petitions as well as certificates. It should be noted that an individual's petition for citizenship was usually granted shortly after filing. Thus certificates are part of the petition papers. Access is through the index cards that refer to documents in these volumes in the “certificate no.” field. Volume 3, 1903-1906, has many declarations attached to the certificates. Each volume contains a name index.
NATURALIZATION PETITIONS, 1906-1949, are arranged chronologically by date filed. Declarations are usually attached as are related documents such as Certificate of Arrival, Affidavit of Witnesses and correspondence. Each volume contains a name index.
Ancillary documents consist of ORDERS GRANTING AND DENYING PETITIONS, 1929-1949, which are arranged chronologically which is roughly by petition number. The Orders list petition number granted or denied, name, and name change if applicable. There is no name index to these documents.
