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St. Louis Genealogy and Local History

St. Louis Missouri Naturalizations

Saint Louis, Missouri naturalization index

 

The St. Louis, Missouri Naturalization Index consists of two parts:

  • Index to selected naturalization records created prior to September 27, 1906
  • Index to naturalization records created on or after September 27, 1906

The index is based on microfilm copies of original naturalization records originating in St. Louis City and County Courts. The microfilm is available in the History and Genealogy Department and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Original records are located at the National Archives, Central Plains Region in Kansas City Missouri.

Photocopies of indexed records may be requested by email from the History and Genealogy Department. A limit of three searches per request applies. Please review the library's lookup policy.

A declaration of intention may lead to further records. For more information, contact the National Archives at the address below. Include all information listed on the declaration of intention.

National Archives, Central Plains Region
400 W. Pershing Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64108

(816) 268-8000

kansascity.archives@nara.gov 

Index to selected naturalization records created prior to September 27, 1906

This Index to St. Louis naturalization records covers selected record created between 26 Sept. 1853 and 26 Sept. 1906 and is based on the following sources:

  • Declarations of Intention, 2 April 1890 – 26 September 1906, U.S. District Court - Eastern Division, Eastern Judicial District of Missouri, St. Louis Naturalization Records Microfilm, Roll 77, Item 5

  • Declarations of Intention, 26 Sept 1853 – 26 July 1904, U.S. Circuit Court – Eastern Division, Eastern Judicial District of Missouri, St. Louis Naturalization Records Microfilm, Roll 87, Item 1.

    • Note: this volume included only 162 declarations, even though it covers a period of almost fifty years. The volume number was not microfilmed with the records, and further checking does not clearly indicate which volume it is. Because the volume number is absent, both the film and item numbers are listed to direct the researcher to the correct microfilmed records.

  • Declarations of Intention and Petitions, 1878 – 1906, Circuit Court, St. Louis County, Missouri, St. Louis Naturalization Records Microfilm, Roll 18

Entries are listed alphabetically by surname, then given name. On Declarations of Intention, the applicant signed the form or used his mark. An asterisk (*) denotes name taken from signature. Any notes pertaining to date and port of arrival are included.

Indexes to St. Louis naturalization records prior to 27 Sept. 1906 are also available on the St. Louis Genealogical Society and Missouri State Archives websites.

Abbreviations

SLCL = History and Genealogy Department microfilm number (St. Louis County Library)

FHL = Family History Library microfilm number

Photocopies of indexed records may be requested by email from the History and Genealogy Department. Limit of three searches per request. Please review the library's lookup policy.
 

Index to declarations of intention and petitions created before September 27, 1906, alphabetical by surname 

Clicking the links below will open up the index as a PDF documents.

Samples of Declarations of intention before Sept. 27, 1906

 

 

 

Index to naturalization records created after Sept. 27, 1906

 

Clicking the links below will open up the index as a PDF documents. Entries are listed alphabetically by surname, then by given name, and then numerically by volume number.

This index covers naturalization records created between October 1, 1906 and December 1928 and is based on the following sources:

  • Naturalizations, U.S. District Court—Eastern Division, Eastern Judicial District of Missouri, Vols. 1 – 82
  • Naturalizations, U.S. Circuit Court— Eastern Division, Eastern Judicial District of Missouri, Vols. 5 – 21

Abbreviations and Notations

SLCL = History and Genealogy Department microfilm number (St. Louis County Library)

FHL = Family History Library microfilm number

* = spelling taken from the signature which differed from name in index.

Index to proofs of declarations of intention filed with final papers in the Circuit Court, St. Louis, Mo.

 

When applicants filed their final papers for citizenship after 27 Sept 1906, they presented to the court proof of when and where they had filed their Declaration of Intention – a required step in the naturalization process. The following index is based on microfilm copies of original documents filed in the Circuit Court in St. Louis, Missouri providing such proof. Sometimes applicants filed a copy of the document; other times they filed some other form of legal proof.

Declarations could have been filed in a court anywhere in the United States as early as 1868 and include varying information. When the original declaration of intention was filed in a location distant from St. Louis, that applicant's documents will occasionally include depositions from people who knew him in his previous location. The actual naturalization certificate was given to the new citizen and the remaining "stub" portion of the certificate was kept by the court (see “Index to Declaration of Intention stubs”).

About the index

  • In the “Declaration” column, the location is St. Louis, Missouri unless otherwise noted. 
  • When “Missouri” is listed in the declaration column, it means the declaration was filed in a Missouri city other than St. Louis. 
  • Unless the applicant's petition for naturalization was dismissed or withdrawn, the certificate number is given (with 1 exception). Having the certificate number makes it possible to locate its "stub" on another reel of microfilm and a stub could list the names of wives and children. 
  • Since the files can include documents beyond the Declaration of Intention, researchers should check all documents for an applicant before rewinding if viewing the film.
  • If photocopies are requested, the History and Genealogy Department will include all proof documents included plus the stub of the final certificate, if it has been microfilmed.

Abbreviations

SLCL = History & Genealogy Department microfilm number (St. Louis County Library)
FHL = Family History Library microfilm number

Declaration of Intentions Missed in Filming

Six declarations of Intentions for the persons listed below were missed when the 82 volumes of declarations from the U.S. District Court - Eastern Division, Eastern Judicial District of Missouri were microfilmed. Click the links below to open an image file of the documents.

Index to certificate of naturalization stubs

 

At the time of naturalization, the actual citizenship certificate was given to the new citizen and the remaining "stub" portion of the certificate was kept by the court. The stub can provide helpful information. If a man was married, he was to list his wife and minor children. In many cases, the new citizen also listed the ages of his minor children.

Abbreviations

SLCL = St. Louis County Library microfilm number
FHL = Family History Library microfilm number

Photocopies of indexed records may be requested by email from the History and Genealogy Department (genealogy@slcl.org). Limit of three searches per request. Please review the library’s lookup policy.

Sample of Naturalization Stub

Naturalization information in U.S. census schedules
 

U.S. census records reported the following naturalization information:

1820
Foreigners not naturalized 

 

1830 
Aliens, Foreigners not naturalized 

 

1870 
Column 19 - Male citizens of U.S. 21 years of age and upwards

Column 20 - Male citizens of U.S. 21 years of age and upwards where right to vote is denied on other grounds than rebelling or other crime 

 

1900
Column 18 - Naturalization 

 

1910
Column 16 - Whether naturalized or alien 

 

1920
Column 14 - Naturalized or alien

Column 15 - If naturalized, year of naturalization 

 

1930
Column 23 - Naturalized or alien 

 

Abbreviations used in census records relating to naturalization

AL - Individual was still an alien and had not begun the naturalization process.

PA - The individual had filed his “first papers,” also known as declaration of intention.

NA - A naturalized citizen, the individual had completed the naturalization process.