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About this project

This project is a collection of original documents filed in Pennsylvania by people wishing to become citizens of the United States. These documents have information about the person's family, immigration details, and their life in the United States.

For more information, please view the following:

Contents 1 Project Sponsors 2 Need help keying this project? 3 Petition for Naturalization 3.1 Prefix 3.2 Given Name 3.3 Surname 3.4 Suffix 3.5 Alias Prefix 3.6 Alias Given 3.7 Alias Surname 3.8 Alias Suffix 3.9 Date of Birth Day 3.10 Date of Birth Month 3.11 Date of Birth Year 3.12 Birth Country 3.13 Spouse Given Name 3.14 Spouse Surname 3.15 Children 3.16 Arrival Year 3.17 Record Day 3.18 Record Month 3.19 Record Year 4 Declaration of Intention that SHOULD be keyed 5 Declaration of Intention that should NOT be keyed 5.1 Prefix 5.2 Given Name 5.3 Surname 5.4 Suffix 5.5 Birth Country 5.6 Date of Birth Day 5.7 Date of Birth Month 5.8 Date of Birth Year 5.9 Age 5.10 Spouse Given Name 5.11 Spouse Surname 5.12 Arrival Year 5.13 Record Day 5.14 Record Month 5.15 Record Year

Project Sponsors

Root Cellar: Sacramento Genealogical Society Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania

Need help keying this project?

World Archives Keying Standards
Project Support Article
Naturalization Originals Message Board

Project-specific sample images and form field help:

Choose a sample image from below to see the corresponding form field examples.
Petition for Naturalization
Declaration of Intention

Petition for Naturalization

The Petition for Naturalization form type is characterized by the large text "Petition for Naturalization" printed near the top of the page. If there are other documents laid over the top of this form type mark it as a "Cover Page". There are also some older Petition for Naturalization forms that are in paragraph form. These may mention somewhere in the form that it is a petition for a named individual. They will also likely be preceded by an image indicating that the next document is a Petition for Naturalization. Use this form type for any document that looks like it could be a Petition for Naturalization. The highlights may be off, and not all requested fields may be present, but enter as much information as possible.

Prefix

Key any titles before the name, such as "Dr" or "Rev" in the Prefix field.
See Example

Given Name

Key the first name and any middle names or initials.Frank Controno
See Example

Surname

Enter the surname here as it appears on the image, using the drop-down list to help you.
See Example

Suffix

Key all titles following the surname, such as "Jr" or "III".
See Example

Alias Prefix

Include any titles before the name, such as "Dr" or "Rev".
See Example

Alias Given

On some records, a second name is given in parentheses or quotes. This name is usually a nickname or maiden name. Key the first name and any middle names or initials in the Alias Given field. If you cannot distinguish a given name or surname, please input the entire name in this field.
See Example

Alias Surname

On some records, a second name is given in parentheses or quotes. This name is usually a nickname or maiden name. Key the surname from the alias in the Alias Surname field. If you are unsure which part of the alias is the surname, enter the entire alias in the Alias Given field.
See Example

Alias Suffix

Key all titles following the surname, such as "Jr" or "III".
See Example

Date of Birth Day

Enter the day from the date of birth. Only record the number in this field.
See Example

Date of Birth Month

Enter the month from the date of birth. Please expand any abbreviations to the full name of the month, using the drop-down list to help you.
See Example

Date of Birth Year

Enter the four-digit year from the date of birth. If only two-digits are given, and you can determine the century, expand to four digits, otherwise leave as a two-digit year.
See Example

Birth Country

Key only the Country of Birth, using the drop-down list to help you. Do not key any other jurisdiction such as City, County, or Region. This also includes countries that were once part of a larger empire (e.g. "Finland of the Empire of Russia" should be keyed as "Finland; Empire of Russia"). Enter multiple countries in the order listed and separate with a semi-colon space (; ). Great Britain and Ireland would be keyed as Great Britain; Ireland.
In some cases, the record taker may have recorded an allegiance instead of a nationality, like "Queen of England." If you can determine the country or nationality, please record that, otherwise, please leave the field blank.
If the person was born in the USA and only the state is showing, mark the country blank.
See Example

Spouse Given Name

Key the given name of the spouse as it appears on the record, using the drop-down list to help.
See Example

Spouse Surname

Key the surname of the spouse if it appears on the record, using the drop-down list to help. Key Surname only IF shown on Spouse field.
See Example

Children

Enter the names of any children recorded on the image. Please only enter the names and separate multiple children's names with commas. Key surname only IF shown on children field.
See Example

Arrival Year

Enter the four-digit year the person arrived in the United States. If only two-digits are given, and you can determine the century, expand to four digits, otherwise leave as a two-digit year. Do not use date of residing since YEAR. If no date is shown on the emigrated date line, leave blank.
See Example

Record Day

Enter the day the petition of naturalization was signed. If this date cannot be found or determined, key from the most recent date on the card. This may be any date, including "accepted," "denied" and "rejected" dates. Do not use date of birth.
See Example

Record Month

Enter the full name of the month that the petition for naturalization was signed. If this date cannot be found or determined, key from the most recent date on the card. This may be any date, including "accepted," "denied" and "rejected" dates. Do not use date of birth. If no date is shown, leave blank.
See Example

Record Year

Enter the four-digit year from the date of the petition for naturalization. If this date cannot be found or determined, key from the most recent date on the card. This may be any date, including "accepted," "denied" and "rejected" dates. Do not use date of birth. If only two-digits are given for the year, expand to four digits if you feel confident in your determination of the century.
See Example

Declaration of Intention that SHOULD be keyed

This form type is characterized by the title "Declaration of Intention" right under the curved United States of America. These also frequently have a certificate of arrival laid out above the Declaration of Intention form. Don't key the information on the certificate of arrival, it will just help you distinguish this form type. There are also some rare Declaration of Intention forms that are in paragraph form. These have a sworn statement by an individual, declaring their intention to become a citizen of the United States. They will also likely be preceded by an image indicating that the next document is a Declaration of Intention. Use this form type for any document that looks like it could be a Declaration of Intention. The highlights may be off, and not all requested fields may be present, but enter as much information as possible.

Declaration of Intention that should NOT be keyed

If you encounter a declaration that is laying on top of another form, it should be marked as a cover page.

Prefix

Key any titles before the name, such as "Dr" or "Rev" in the Prefix field.
See Example

Given Name

Key the first name and any middle names or initials.
See Example

Surname

Enter the surname here as it appears on the image, using the drop-down list to help you.
See Example

Suffix

Key all titles following the surname, such as "Jr" or "III."
See Example

Birth Country

Key only the Country of Birth, using the drop-down list to help you. Do not key any other jurisdiction such as City, County, or Region. This also includes countries that were once part of a larger empire (e.g. "Finland of the Empire of Russia" should be keyed as "Finland; Empire of Russia"). Enter multiple countries in the order listed and separate with a semi-colon space (; ). Great Britain and Ireland would be keyed as Great Britain; Ireland.
In some cases, the record taker may have recorded an allegiance instead of a nationality, like "Queen of England." If you can determine the country or nationality, please record that, otherwise, please leave the field blank.
See Example

Date of Birth Day

Enter the day from the date of birth. If there is a date of birth recorded on the form, do not enter the age.
See Example

Date of Birth Month

Enter the full name of the month from the date of birth.
See Example

Date of Birth Year

Key the four-digit year from the date of birth. If only two-digits are given, and you can determine the century, expand to four digits, otherwise leave as a two-digit year.
See Example

Age

Key the age IF there is no date of birth recorded on the image.
See Example

Spouse Given Name

Key the given name of the spouse if it appears on the record, using the drop-down list to help.
See Example

Spouse Surname

Key the surname of the spouse as it appears on the record, using the drop-down list to help.
See Example

Arrival Year

Key the four-digit year that the individual arrived in the United States. If only two-digits are given, and you can determine the century, expand to four digits, otherwise leave as a two-digit year.
See Example

Record Day

Key the Day the record was sworn and subscribed. If this date cannot be found or determined, key from the most recent date on the card. This may be any date, including "accepted," "denied" and "rejected" dates.
See Example

Record Month

Key the Month that the record was sworn and subscribed. If this date cannot be found or determined, key from the most recent date on the card. This may be any date, including "accepted," "denied" and "rejected" dates.
See Example

Record Year

Key the four-digit year the record was sworn and subscribed. If this date cannot be found or determined, key from the most recent date on the card. This may be any date, including "accepted," "denied" and "rejected" dates. If only two-digits are given, and you can determine the century, expand to four digits, otherwise leave as a two-digit year.
See Example