Crossing the Seas: Immigration Crossing the Seas: Immigration and Naturalizationand Naturalization

National Archives and Records National Archives and Records Washington, DCWashington, DC

The Recorder of the Archives: A male figure sits upon a The Recorder of the Archives: A male figure sits upon a throne holding the keys to the Archives. He accepts & throne holding the keys to the Archives. He accepts & catalogs the nation's most precious documents in a catalogs the nation's most precious documents in a large book that rests on his lap. The throne rests upon large book that rests on his lap. The throne rests upon recumbent rams, which symbolize parchment. Figures recumbent rams, which symbolize parchment. Figures nearby accept important documents for cataloging. nearby accept important documents for cataloging. Winged horses symbolize inspiration, and, groups of Winged horses symbolize inspiration, and, groups of dogs, symbols of guardianship, are at either end of the dogs, symbols of guardianship, are at either end of the pediment.pediment.

U.S. Navy Memorial - Granite Sea - Two shades of U.S. Navy Memorial - Granite Sea - Two shades of granite denote land and sea areas, as a reminder of granite denote land and sea areas, as a reminder of the expanse of the world’s oceans. The map aligns the expanse of the world’s oceans. The map aligns exactly with the earth and is viewable 800 miles exactly with the earth and is viewable 800 miles above the earth.above the earth.

Questions & CuriositiesQuestions & Curiosities Country of OriginCountry of Origin ResemblanceResemblance OccupationOccupation ReligionReligion Family StoriesFamily Stories Foreign LanguageForeign Language

Who do you resemble?

John Henry SchickJohn Henry SchickWhat We Know So Far….What We Know So Far….

German ancestorGerman ancestor Born c. 1812-1815 Born c. 1812-1815

Wuerttemberg, GermanyWuerttemberg, Germany Emigration c. 1835-1839Emigration c. 1835-1839 Allegheny County, Allegheny County,

Pittsburg, Pennsylvania:Pittsburg, Pennsylvania:- Oath of intent to - Oath of intent to naturalize, 1839 naturalize, 1839 - Naturalization, - Naturalization, September, 1844September, 1844

Where is in the Where is in the world is Waldo, world is Waldo, or, John Henry or, John Henry Schick from?Schick from?

Naturalization…DefinedNaturalization…Defined

NNaturalization refers to an act whereby aturalization refers to an act whereby person acquires a citizenship different person acquires a citizenship different from that person's citizenship at birth, from that person's citizenship at birth, most commonly associated with economic most commonly associated with economic migrants or refugees who have migrants or refugees who have immigrated to a country and resided there immigrated to a country and resided there as aliens, and who have voluntarily and as aliens, and who have voluntarily and actively chosen to become citizens of that actively chosen to become citizens of that country after meeting specific country after meeting specific requirements.requirements.

United States Naturalization Law of United States Naturalization Law of March 26, 1790March 26, 1790

Provided the first rules to be followed by Provided the first rules to be followed by the United States in granting national the United States in granting national citizenship. citizenship.

Limited naturalization to aliens who were Limited naturalization to aliens who were "free white persons" and indentured "free white persons" and indentured servants, slaves, free African-Americans, servants, slaves, free African-Americans, and later Asian Americans.and later Asian Americans.

Law required a set period of residence in Law required a set period of residence in the United States prior to naturalization, the United States prior to naturalization, specifically 2 years in the country and 1 specifically 2 years in the country and 1 year in the state of residence when year in the state of residence when applying for citizenship.applying for citizenship.

Naturalization Act of 1795Naturalization Act of 1795 Replaced the Naturalization Act of 1790. Replaced the Naturalization Act of 1790. Required residence increased from 2-5 years in Required residence increased from 2-5 years in

the U.S. and 1-2 years in state of residence. the U.S. and 1-2 years in state of residence. Introduced the Declaration of Intention Introduced the Declaration of Intention

requirement creating a 2-step naturalization requirement creating a 2-step naturalization process. process.

Immigrants had to go to local court and declare Immigrants had to go to local court and declare their intent 3 years prior to their formal their intent 3 years prior to their formal application. application.

In the declaration, the immigrant would indicate In the declaration, the immigrant would indicate understanding that upon naturalization, he would understanding that upon naturalization, he would take an oath not only of allegiance to the U.S. but take an oath not only of allegiance to the U.S. but also renounce his former ruler.also renounce his former ruler.

Naturalization Act of 1798Naturalization Act of 1798

The Naturalization Act, passed by Congress on June 18, 1798, increased the amount of time necessary for immigrants to become naturalized citizens in the United States from 5 to 14 years. This act was repealed in 1802.

1862 and 18941862 and 1894 An 1862 law allowed honorably An 1862 law allowed honorably

discharged Army veterans of any war discharged Army veterans of any war to petition for naturalization, to petition for naturalization, including slaves, without having filed including slaves, without having filed a declaration of intent, after only 1 a declaration of intent, after only 1 year of residence in the U.S.year of residence in the U.S.

An 1894 law extended the same An 1894 law extended the same privilege to honorably discharged 5-privilege to honorably discharged 5-year veterans of the Navy or Marine year veterans of the Navy or Marine Corps.Corps.

Courthouse DocumentsCourthouse Documents Courthouses have offices for naturalization Courthouses have offices for naturalization

records, also called prothonotaryrecords, also called prothonotary Naturalization docket Naturalization docket maymay consist of 2 consist of 2

volumes:volumes:1 volume for an “oath of intent” or 1 volume for an “oath of intent” or

petition (establishing residence and petition (establishing residence and declaring intention to naturalize).declaring intention to naturalize).

1 volume for finalization of 1 volume for finalization of naturalization.naturalization.

Pull the microfilms and double-check the Pull the microfilms and double-check the clerk’s work!clerk’s work!

1910 Census with Nativity & Citizenship Information1910 Census with Nativity & Citizenship Information

Use country of origin listed on earliest census. The name of the country may vary in accordance with time/borders i.e. Germany, Bavaria, Prussia, etc.

Names Spelled DifferentlyNames Spelled DifferentlySchick Census 1850Schick Census 1850

Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PAAllegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA

Last Name First Name Age Sex Birth/NativityBirth/NativitySHECK JOHN 28 MALE GermanySHECK ANN 27 FEMALE SwitzerlandSHECK JOHN 9 FEMALE PASHECK WENDELL 7 FEMALE PASHECK GEORGE 5 MALE PASHECK JACOB 3 FEMALE PA

Check census

Check court documents.

Look for all available family members.

They may not be living or dead in the time period you think.

Check the neighbors – they may be related family

Naturalization Docket for Oaths of Naturalization Docket for Oaths of Intention to NaturalizeIntention to Naturalize

Oath of IntentionOath of Intention

Naturalization Naturalization Docket For Docket For Finalizing Finalizing

NaturalizationNaturalization

Naturalization PetitionNaturalization Petition

Ship Passenger Arrival RecordsShip Passenger Arrival RecordsImmigration records, also known as "ship passenger Immigration records, also known as "ship passenger

arrival records," may provide genealogists with arrival records," may provide genealogists with information such as: information such as:

nationality, place of birth nationality, place of birth ship name and date of entry to the United States ship name and date of entry to the United States age, height, eye and hair color age, height, eye and hair color profession profession place of last residence place of last residence name and address of relatives they are joining in name and address of relatives they are joining in

the U.S. the U.S. amount of money carriedamount of money carried

Ancestry.comAncestry.com• Available at Metropolitan Library Available at Metropolitan Library

System free to patronsSystem free to patrons• Not totally reliable, i.e. mistakes in Not totally reliable, i.e. mistakes in

spellings, search engine doesn’t pick spellings, search engine doesn’t pick up everything.up everything.

• Be prepared to search a category at a Be prepared to search a category at a time, by last name or first name. time, by last name or first name. Ancestry has 184 in the Immigration Ancestry has 184 in the Immigration & Travel category& Travel category

MicrofilmMicrofilm Your most reliable source is microfilmYour most reliable source is microfilm Some NARA passenger arrival films are Some NARA passenger arrival films are

at Oklahoma Historical Society, but not at Oklahoma Historical Society, but not a complete collectiona complete collection

Order it through LDS libraryOrder it through LDS library Dallas Public LibraryDallas Public Library National Archives Regional Facility, Fort National Archives Regional Facility, Fort

Worth, TXWorth, TX

NARA Index Card to NYNARA Index Card to NYPassenger ListsPassenger Lists

Check the Original ManifestCheck the Original ManifestMake Sure It Matches Index CardMake Sure It Matches Index Card

Ship Manifest:Ship Manifest: Isabella & LouisaIsabella & LouisaPort of Departure: Bremen, GermanyPort of Departure: Bremen, GermanyPort of Arrival: New YorkPort of Arrival: New York

PassengersPassengers OriginOriginGeorge SchickGeorge Schick GermanyGermanyJohn KnappJohn Knapp GermanyGermany

Ship ManifestShip Manifest

Passenger Passenger Vessel Vessel

Arrival LogArrival Log

Use Maps Online to Look at Borders and Locations in Foreign Countries

Strasbourg

Wuerttemberg

Le Havre

Two maps showing border between Germany & France, and distance from Strasbourg to Le Havre France

Ellis Island was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the U.S. from 1892-1954.

Castle Garden was an immigrant depot from 1855-1890.

Little Egg Harbor, Little Egg Harbor, New JerseyNew Jersey

Keep mind open to all ports of arrival:Keep mind open to all ports of arrival: Miscellaneous Ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Miscellaneous Ports on the Atlantic and Gulf

Coasts and at Ports on the Great LakesCoasts and at Ports on the Great Lakes Baltimore, MDBaltimore, MD Boston, MABoston, MA New Orleans, LANew Orleans, LA New York, NYNew York, NY Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia, PA

You Found the Port of Departure!You Found the Port of Departure! Use internet translation tools on Google or other web Use internet translation tools on Google or other web

site:site: To look up words like “archive” “passport”, etc., in a To look up words like “archive” “passport”, etc., in a

foreign language.foreign language. Translate an e-mail from English to foreign Translate an e-mail from English to foreign

language.language. Contact the archives in the appropriate Country/City.Contact the archives in the appropriate Country/City. Send the e-mail in foreign language with English below.Send the e-mail in foreign language with English below. Give all information you have on ancestor and ship and Give all information you have on ancestor and ship and

ask for records and passport information.ask for records and passport information. Ask if they have information on the ship’s departure Ask if they have information on the ship’s departure

port and passport.port and passport. Your ancestor may have used a “transit passport” (a Your ancestor may have used a “transit passport” (a

passport to get from 1 city to another).passport to get from 1 city to another).

Help! I Don’t Speak German!Help! I Don’t Speak German! Use Google Use Google http://http://www.google.comwww.google.com and click on and click on

Language Tools to translate text or web sites.Language Tools to translate text or web sites. Ask friend/coworker who speak foreign language Ask friend/coworker who speak foreign language

for help.for help. Search for offices in foreign countries. Example: Search for offices in foreign countries. Example:

Start with “Germany archives volunteer” in Start with “Germany archives volunteer” in English, then try German.English, then try German.

Our American state web sites end like this Our American state web sites end like this (example): state.ok.us (state office) or .gov (example): state.ok.us (state office) or .gov (federal).(federal).

Foreign web sites end, similarly, like: Foreign web sites end, similarly, like: Germany .de, France .fr, United Kingdom .ukGermany .de, France .fr, United Kingdom .uk

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resourceswww.ancestry.comwww.ancestry.comwww.familytreemaker.comwww.familytreemaker.comwww.raogk.orgwww.raogk.org (Random Acts of Genealogical (Random Acts of Genealogical

Kindness –genealogy volunteers in USA and foreign Kindness –genealogy volunteers in USA and foreign countries - reimburse copy fees, gas, etc.)countries - reimburse copy fees, gas, etc.)

www.usgenweb.comwww.usgenweb.com (free web site) (free web site)www.glorecords.blm.govwww.glorecords.blm.gov U.S. Department of the U.S. Department of the

Interior, Bureau of Land ManagementInterior, Bureau of Land Management(bounty land warrants & homesteads)(bounty land warrants & homesteads)

http://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/http://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/passenger-arrival.htmlpassenger-arrival.html

Research FacilitiesResearch Facilities

National Archives & Records Admin National Archives & Records Admin (NARA) – nearest regional facility in (NARA) – nearest regional facility in Fort Worth, TXFort Worth, TX

LDS Church library, NW 63rd & LDS Church library, NW 63rd & MacarthurMacarthur

Oklahoma Historical SocietyOklahoma Historical Society