Arlington County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1802-1886, undated

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Extent:
.68 cu. ft. (2 boxes)
Creator:
Arlington County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Arlington County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1802-1886, undated, consists of loose naturalization records filed in the local court. Naturalization records may include affidavits, reports for naturalization, declarations of intent to become United States citizens, and notices of application for admission of citizenship. The reports are narrative accounts made by applicants summarizing their journey to the United States. The declarations of intent record the person's name, place of birth, age, country of previous citizenship, renunciation of allegiance and fidelity to the nation of which the person is currently a citizen, and the date the intention was sworn. Affidavits, signed by those who knew the applicant and could vouch for their loyalty to the United States, may also be filed with the reports and declarations.

Biographical / historical:

Context for Record Type: Beginning in 1795, a person could declare their intent to become a citizen at any time and in any place after they arrived in the United States. Prior to the Naturalization Act of 1906, the naturalization process primarily occurred in local and state courts. Declarations of intent were the record by which an applicant for U.S. citizenship declared their intent to become a citizen and renounced their allegiance to a foreign government. This document typically preceded proof of residence or a petition to become a citizen by two or more years.

Locality History: Arlington County was originally named Alexandria County. Alexandria County was named for the town of Alexandria, which in turn was named for John Alexander, an early owner of the tract in Fairfax County on which the town was located. It was formed from a portion of Fairfax County that Virginia in 1789 ceded to the federal government for use as the site of a new national capital. In 1801 the area officially became part of the District of Columbia, although Congress named it Alexandria County. By an act of 9 July 1846, Congress returned the county to Virginia, and the General Assembly extended the commonwealth's jurisdiction over the region effective 20 March 1847. By an act of assembly passed 16 March 1920, the county's name was changed to Arlington, the name of the Custis family mansion (the home of Robert E. Lee), which is located in the county. An urban county, Arlington contains no incorporated towns or cities. The county courthouse is in the county.

Acquisition information:
Loose records came to the Library of Virginia in a 2011 transfer of court papers from Arlington County under the accession number 24121 and a 2008 transfer of court papers from Arlington County under the accession number 43962.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I: Loose Naturalization Records (Digitized), 1803-1870, arranged alphabetically.
  • Series II: Loose Naturalization Records (Non-Digitized), 1802-1886, undated, arranged chronologically and housed in a box with other Arlington County court records.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia