From the seventeenth century to the present, the naturalization process has resulted in the creation of significant historical records about individuals and groups. An immigrant's desire to become a citizen of the United States might have been recorded on a formal document filled with biographical detail; or it may have been hand-written on a paper with nothing more than the immigrant's name and the date of the event. Regardless, naturalization records rank among the most fascinating record sources available to the general public. Such citizenship documents are eagerly sought for both their sentimental and informational value, yet they can be difficult to locate and fully understand. Complex and ever-changing naturalization laws have resulted in a great deal of confusion. And while immigrants made major contributions to the building of the United States, many were never formally naturalizedthough even in cases where naturalization documents are not available, there are plenty of fascinating alternatives that will help to determine an immigrant's Old World origins. They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins addresses the complexities of naturalization records in a straightforward discussion. Dozens of illustrations and example documents enhance the reading and simplify the search for these unique sources of Americana.
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