NATURALIZATION RECORDS for OTSEGO COUNTY

Compiled by Jean Luzenski for the Gaylord Fact Finders

In Otsego County naturalizations were recorded in the Circuit Court. These records may be found in the Otsego County Clerk's Office, either on the second floor or in the vault in the first floor Recorder's Office.

Declaration of Intention:

...............Volume 1..............................tan, large size .........1883-1892

...............Volume 2..............................tan, medium size......1892-1909

...............Volume 3 .............................tan, medium size.......1903-1906

...............Volume 4 .............................black, large size.........1907-1915

...............Volume 5..............................black, medium size ....1915-1924

...............Volume 6..............................black, medium size.....1924-1929

.............................................................blue, small size...........1933-1952

...............................................(listed by Certificate Number 230-250)

Petitions:

...............Volume 1 (no # on book).......tan, large size..............1907-1914

...............Volume 2...............................tan, large size..............1914-1926

...............Volume 3...............................tan, large size...............1926-1929

.............................................................blue, medium size.........1930-1956

...............................................(listed by Petition Number 169-214)

Petition and Oaths:................................blue, medium size..........1941-1949

Oaths, ....Volume 1................................tan, large size................1871-1888

CCJ.......................................................Circuit Court Journal

* Indicates that some of the papers of this individual are in a metal file drawer, marked Naturalizations & Oaths, in Aisle 1 in the vault.

Veteran - If an individual served in the Civil War prior to filing his naturalization papers, no Declaration of Intent was needed. His papers will show state, branch of service, unit, and dates of service.

Prior to 1907 the volumes offer ONLY date, name of individual, country of origin, names of witnesses, and oath. After 1906 the forms MAY give age, occupation, race, complexion, height, weight, color of hair and eyes, distinctive marks, date and place of birth, residence, means of transportation to the U.S., port of arrival, date and place of emigration and immigration, date and place of declaration filed, names of spouse and children, their births and residence, length of time in Michigan, names of witnesses and oath.

Many people believe that naturalization records may not be photocopied, but this restriction is against certified copies only. This new law, as revised December 5, 1972, is form M-154 (rev. 12/5/72) N.

(Other counties may be listed where part of the process took place)

NATURALIZATION

The Naturalization Act of 1802 established the three-part naturalization process which remains in effect today. Initially, the alien files a Declaration of Intention with an authorized court, indicating his or her intention to become a citizen, to renounce all allegiance to any foreign state, and to renounce any foreign title or order of nobility. Then, at least two years after making this declaration (but, (after 1906) no more than seven years later), an alien who has been a resident of the United States for at least five years may petition the court for admission to citizenship (since 1941, the requirements to file a Declaration of Intention have been abolished and the residency record shortened for the spouses of citizens). This Petition includes both the applicant's oath and the affidavits of two witnesses who attest to the residency and good character of the petitioner. Finally, if the petition is accepted the court issues an order admitting the individual to citizenship.

Researchers using naturalization records will find relatively few early entries for women. From 1866 until the passage of the Married Woman's Act in 1922, citizenship was automatically conferred on the wife of any male citizen. Since then, women have been required to be naturalized in their own right.

The following naturalizations are now available at the State Archives of Michigan, 717 West Allegan Street, Lansing, Michigan 48918, phone (517) 373-1408:

COUNTY...................................DATE..............................RECORD GROUP #

Cass..........................................1855-1929.........................WMU Archives

Genesee....................................ca.1838-1931......................RG 81-44

Gladwin....................................1874-1964..........................RG 81-56

Hillsdale....................................1846-1930.........................RG 85-9

Ingham......................................1845-1931.........................RG 83-52

Ionia.........................................1835-1959..........................RG 85-32

Kalamazoo................................1840-1967.........................WMU Archives

Kent..........................................1860-1929.........................RG 89-28

Keweenaw.................................1861-1951.........................RG 77-106

Luce..........................................1887-1929.........................RG 87-116

Marquette..................................1852-1970........................RG 89-467

Monroe.....................................1849-1929.........................RG 84-87

Montcalm..................................1852-1929.........................RG 82-134

Muskegon.................................1850-1941.........................RG 84-119

Saginaw.................................... 1852-1966........................RG 89-77

Wayne........................................1837-1935

.................................................1942..................................RG 85-36

Prior to visiting the State Archives, researchers are encouraged to write or call in order to determine whether the records of interest are available.