General
The Barron County Naturalization Records, 1874-1954, consist of indexes, Declarations of Intentions, Petitions, Certificate Stub Books, Oaths of Allegiance, Orders Granting and Denying Petitions, and miscellaneous documents.
Some volume numbers have been changed. The original volume numbers are set off in parentheses in the contents list. For preservation purposes some volumes have been dismantled and placed in boxes. For these volumes, the list gives the original volume number in parentheses ( ) for identification purposes, and the box and reel number for location purposes.
Indices
Researchers should begin by using the Naturalization Card Index (1874-1954). The index was partially compiled by the University of Wisconsin-Stout Area Research Center staff with cards compiled by Barron County Circuit Court staff interfiled. The index should be complete and covers all Barron County Naturalization Records except Orders Granting and Denying Petitions. Information in the cards varies, but always includes the name of the individual, date, and type of document. Other information on the cards may include petition and certificate number, volume and page number, and other miscellaneous information.
Other index volumes exist but are incomplete and should be consulted only as a last resort. For the most part, entries duplicate those in the card index and the volumes overlap and duplicate each other. Volume No. 1, 1874-1954 indexes volume 23(A) and 24(B) of Certificates and Volumes 11-22 (original volumes 1-12) and boxes 9, 11, and 12 (original volumes 13-22) of petitions. Volume No. 2, 1874-1903, also indexes volume 23(A) of certificates. Volume No. 3, 1874-1943, also indexes volume 23(A) and 24(B) of certificates (duplicating volume No. 1 and No. 2) and original volumes 14-19 of petitions. Volume No. 4 indexes original volumes 1-15 of petitions.
Individual volumes [of declarations, petitions, and certificates] may also contain an index in the front of each volume. These indexes are arranged in alphabetical segments by surname and chronological thereunder.
Declarations of Intention
The Declarations of Intention date 1874-1954 and are arranged chronologically. Beginning in 1907 each Declaration was assigned a unique number.
Petitions
Petitions date 1880-1954 and are divided into three segments. Declarations from 1880-1903 are arranged alphabetically in one sequence and declarations from 1902-1906 are arranged alphabetically in another sequence. Post-1906 petitions are arranged by filing date and assigned a unique number.
Naturalization Certificates
Certificates date 1874-1927. Certificates issued before October 1906 exist as pre-printed forms in bound volume marked “Naturalization Record.” Post-October 1906 records consist of the certificate stub retained by the circuit court. All certificates are arranged chronologically.
Ancillary Documents
Supplementary documents consist of Oaths of Allegiance, 1940-1950 (including an alphabetical name index); Naturalization Orders, 1929-1954; and a small number of miscellaneous documents, circa 1935-1942 which are primarily Declarations of Intention never signed by the court.
