RG 21 - U.S. District Courts, Petitions for Naturalization - Macon, Georgia

National Archives Identifier 1136717

This series contains petitions for naturalization or citizenship filed in court as part of the naturalization process. Petitions filed after September 26, 1906 on Form 2204, entitled "Petition for Naturalization," contain the following information: name; place of residence; occupation; date and place of birth; port and date of emigration and immigration and vessel upon which the applicant traveled; date and place of the declaration of intention (if necessary); marital status; name(s), date(s) and place(s) of birth of the applicants' spouse and children; country of former allegiance; knowledge of the English language; time of residence within the United States and within the state of residence; the declaration of intention number; and the certificate of naturalization number. This form also includes the affidavits of the petitioner and the witnesses. The witnesses gave their names, occupations, and addresses. Finally, the petitioner would date and sign the petition. Petitions filed on Form N-405, "Petition for Naturalization (Under General Provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act)," and Form N-406, "Petition for Naturalization (Of a Married Person, under Sec. 319(a) or (b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act)," contained much of the same information as the older Form 2204. A personal description was added. The forms asked whether the spouse had been naturalized and when the naturalization occurred. The forms asked if the children had been absent from the United States since they were admitted to the United States. The applicant was given an opportunity to change his or her name. Finally, a line was added for the alien registration number. Each form listed the names, addresses, and occupations of two witnesses who would vouch for the moral character of the applicant. Petitions filed on Form N-407, "Petition for Naturalization (In behalf of a Child, under Section 322 or 323, Immigration and Nationality Act)" gave personal information about the adoptive parents, including names, addresses, ages, birthplaces, and birthdates. Each petition listed the name of the child, date and place of adoption, residence, date and place of birth, personal description, place and date of admission to the United States, name under which the child was admitted, time of legal custody, and alien registration number.