General
The Burnett County Naturalization Records, 1859-1953, consist of Declarations of Intention, Petitions for Naturalization, Final Papers/Certificates, an index to these records and ancillary records such as Depositions of Witnesses, Orders Granting or Denying Citizenship, and Applications to Take the Oath of Allegiance.
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 archives 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 contents list for identification purposes; the box number is listed for circulation purposes.
Except for correspondence, all records are available in both original format and on microfilm.
Records
Indexes
Researchers should begin with the INDEX TO CITIZENSHIP, 1870-1945. Although the index begins in 1870 and refers to documents created 1870-1887, it is assumed that these records were lost in the courthouse fire of 1887. The Archives does not have Declarations or Petitions before 1888. Nonetheless, copies of Final Papers for some individuals were obtained from Washington D.C. and copied into the Final Papers [Original] Volume A (see details in paragraph titled Final Papers/Certificates).
Entries are arranged in alphabetical segments by the first letter of the last name and chronologically thereunder. Generally the key information needed from the index to find documents is: the date and number of the declaration; the volume, page, and number of the petition; and the date the certificate was issued; and for certificates between 1907-1927, the certificate number.
Note that the index ends in 1945 but declarations and petitions continue beyond that date. Therefore, to find post 1945 documents, refer to the indexes in the front of each volume.
If you are unable to locate an individual in this index, refer to the indexes within each volume.
Declarations
Declarations of Intention date 1888-1950, and are arranged chronologically by date filed. Each volume contains a name index. Beginning in 1907 each declaration was assigned a unique declaration number which was assigned roughly by date.
If you are unable to find a declaration in the pre-1908 time period, check the Facts for Petitions, filed at the end of the Petitions series.
Petitions
Petitions date 1888-1953 and are arranged chronologically by date filed. There are two sequences of petition volumes: Volumes A and B, 1888-1906, and Volumes 1-7, 1907-1953. Declarations are usually attached to the petitions and after 1906 (except for some of the Petitions in Volume 1 whose corresponding Declarations are attached to the Facts for Petitions), related documents such as Certificate of Arrival, and Affidavit of Witnesses are also attached. All volumes except A and B contain a name index.
Volumes A and B consist of loose petitions with declarations attached, filed by page number. The petitions are referenced in the separate index volume as such (e.g. Volume A, p. 361).
Facts for Petitions with Declarations attached, 1904-1908, include the information used to complete the petition, and therefore they duplicate information found in the petition. Forms are filed numerically by the page number/petition number where the final petition can be found in Volume 1 of Petitions, 1907-1909. The declarations attached to the Facts are the only original copy of the declaration.
Final Papers/Certificates
The two volumes titled Final Papers, 1888-1903, and Naturalization Record, 1903-1906, document granting the petitioner's request to become a citizen and order the court to confer citizenship. Original Volume A covers 1888-1903 and, beginning on page 248, contains “true copies of final papers copied from originals received from Washington D.C.” These are copies of citizenship granted between 1866-1900 and replace some of those lost in the 1887 fire. Also included are copies of final papers from cases that were transferred from other counties to Burnett. All copies (replacements and transfers from other counties) were recorded from 1904-1922 and those individuals' names are included in the index at the front of the volume. Original Volume B covers 1903-1906.
The Certificate Stub Books, 1907-1927, are the Clerk's portion of the Naturalization Certificate and are arranged by year. To find a Certificate stub, it is helpful to have the certificate number which can be found in the volume index or the corresponding petition. Typically the Certificate repeats the information in the Petition. The original Certificates and all Certificates after 1925 must be obtained from the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Ancillary Documents
Depositions of Witnesses, 1922-1945, are from additional witnesses required for those applicants who lived outside the state during part of their required period of residency. These are filed by petition number and no name index is included.
Correspondence, 1927-1936 is incoming and outgoing correspondence between the Clerk of Courts, citizens, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Letters usually ask for or provide additional information about applicants or concern filings or other procedural matters. Included are a few cases in which the individual had his/her citizenship revoked. Correspondence is arranged by date.
Orders Granting and Denying Petitions, 1929-1953, are arranged chronologically which is roughly by petition number. The Orders list the petition number granted or denied, name, and name change if applicable. There is no name index to these documents.
Applications to Take the Oath of Allegiance, 1941-1944, are from women applying for citizenship who believed they had lost or never gained citizenship as a result of the Married Woman's Act. A name index is included.
