The St. Croix Naturalization Records consist of Declarations of Intentions, Petitions, Certificates of Naturalization, and a card index. Portions of this series are also available on microfilm. Researchers should note that the petitions have not been filmed.
Generally, the original system of identifying volumes by number or letter was retained because the indexes are often keyed to this system. An exception to the retention of original volume numbers affects the twelve unboxed volumes; these volumes are labelled with Archives-assigned volume numbers but the original volume number is also indicated in the contents list below.
For preservation purposes some volumes have been dismantled and placed in boxes. For these volumes the list below gives the volume number 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.
Researchers should begin by using Card Index to Naturalizations contained in four index card boxes and also located on Reel 1. It is an alphabetical index which gives the volume and page number for Petitions and Certificates found on Reels 4 and 5, and also for Declarations referred to as “Book 1” on Reel 2. The Card Index also includes family name, given name or names (sometimes only the initial), address, certificate number (or volume and page); title and location of court; country of birth or allegiance; when born (or age); date of arrival in U.S.; and address of witness. Other cards give only name, address, age, date of admission, date certificate issued the Circuit Court, Petition Number, and signature of the holder.
There is no cumulative index for the other Declarations; however, each volume has an index at its front wherein names are grouped by first letter of surname and listed chronologically thereunder, and the page number of each individual's Declaration is given. Researchers should check these volume indexes.
The Petitions in Volume 6/original “Book 2” are for the same people as the Records of Citizenship in Volume 8/original vol. 2. The Card Index references the Certificate volume, not the Petitions, but the pagination in the two volumes is very close, thus making it relatively easy to find the appropriate Petition once the volume and page number for the Certificate is determined.
Record of Aliens, Volume (F) is a list of people declaring their intention to become citizens. This is not an index since it does not give page or volume numbers. This volume is arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically. It gives the date of declaration for only those records found in Declarations Volume 2/original vol. A and Volume 3/original vol. B.
