Do you research naturalization records? No? Why not? Does the thought of going through paper files in dusty court basements turn you off? Well - I'm here to tell you that it is worth it - and with recent digitization efforts - more and more original documents have been scanned and been made available via microfilm or online.
Some of the larger subscription sites have also made some source documents available - as well as index cards that can lead you to the court that handled the proceedings.
If you wish to get educated first about all of these documents and the naturalization process and how it has changed over time - please read these two terrific summaries:
- The U.S. Archives Naturalization Records
- FamilySearch's Wiki entry United States Naturalization and Citizenship
- Women and Naturalization
Okay - now that you are educated and know that post-1906 - about 4 awesome documents just drip with great information: Declaration of Intent, Petition for Citizenship or Naturalization, Certificate of Arrival, and the Certificate of Naturalization. Many of the online genealogy websites may not have all of these documents available, but do have index cards that are searchable - which has information regarding the court handling the proceedings. With this information you might be able to track down some of the source documents.
Below is a list of links to free online naturalization record and index collections for the state:
Note: Some of the links listed below take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections' images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital.
(Updated November, 2019; recently added links are in BOLD)
- Barbour County Naturalization Records, 1913-1959
- Barbour County Naturalization Records, 1903-1907
- Berkeley County Naturalization Records, 1840-1991
- Brooke County Application for Oath of Allegiance, 1937
- Brooke County Card file of Naturalization
- Brooke County Declarations of Intention, 1890-1942
- Brooke County Naturalization Docket, 1902-1909
- Brooke County Naturalization Service Petition Records, 1913-1955
- Clay County Naturalization Records, 1921-1928
- Doddridge County Law Orders, 1845-1987
- Fayette County Naturalization Records, 1907-1947
- Gilmer County Naturalization Records, 1911-1929
- Greenbrier County Naturalization Records, 1904-1928
- Hampshire County Naturalization Records, 1926-1927
- Hampshire County Naturalizations, 1800
- Hancock County Naturalization Records, 1904-1956
- Hardy County Naturalization Records, 1913-1916
- Harrison County Declarations of Intention, 1906-1912
- Harrison County Law Orders - Naturalization : 1905-1906
- Lewis County Naturalization Records, 1904-1930
- Marion County Certificate of Naturalization Stubs : 1920-1922
- Marion County Declarations of Intention, 1906-1933
- Marion County Law Orders : 1842-1904
- Marion County Law Orders, 1893-1919
- Marion County Naturalizations, 1849-1941
- Marion County Naturalizations, 1904-1905
- Mason County Naturalization Records, 1910-1955
- McDowell County Naturalization Records, 1908-1951
- Mineral County Naturalization Records, 1907-1960
- Mingo County Naturalization Records, 1902-1953
- Monongalia County Declarations of Intention, 1904-1940
- Monongalia County Naturalization, Miscellaneous Papers, Loose Papers, 1896-1917
- Monongalia County Naturalizations, 1907-1931
- Monongalia County Naturalizations, Petitions Granted, Petitions Denied, 1929-1956
- Monroe County Order books, 1789-1931 Indexes, 1789-1989
- Nicholas County Naturalization Petitions and Records, 1906, 1912-1930
- Northern District Declarations of Intention, 1908-1938
- Northern District Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (Wheeling), 1844-1875
- Northern District Naturalization Records, 1943-1954
- Northern District Petitions Granted : 1929-1957
- Northern District Preliminary Form for Petition for Naturalization : 1926-1928
- Ohio County Naturalizations Index
- Ohio County Aliens Declarations, 1855-1860
- Ohio County Declaration of Naturalization, 1854-1855-1856, 1861-1865
- Ohio County Fee Books, 1799-1875
- Ohio County Naturalization Records, 1854-1907; Index 1814-1895
- Ohio County, Declarations of Naturalization
- Pocahontas County Naturalization Records, 1898-1939
- Preston County Law Orders, 1869-1929
- Preston County Naturalization Records, 1905
- Raleigh County Naturalization Records, 1906-1961
- Randolph County Naturalization Records, 1904-1929
- Roane County Naturalization Records, 1914-1915
- Summers County Naturalization Records, 1908-1956
- Tucker County Law Orders, 1856-1913
- Tucker County Naturalization Records, 1903-1950
- Upshur County Naturalization Certificate Stubs : 1908-1928
- Upshur County Naturalization Records, 1903-1929
- West Doddridge County Order books, 1850-1871
- West Harrison County Miscellaneous Records, 1801-1928
- West Jefferson County Order Books, 1813-1872
- West Monongalia County Court Records, 1774-1875
- West Virginia, Naturalization Record Indexes
- West Virginia, Naturalization Records, 1814-1991
- Wetzel County Naturalizations, 1907-1955
- Wood County Naturalizations and Declarations of Intention, 1872-1886
- Wyoming County Naturalization Records, 1909-1956
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
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