Indexing Naturalization Records

julierunolfson1

In this project, there are several types of records. What I cannot understand is do I index two different records if they are for the same person? Oaths, for example, don't have much info. But if I go to the reference record it has all the needed info. So do I use that reference record, that is more complete, to input the information on the Oath, or Declaration? Some batches start with the Oath or Declaration. Some have the Naturalization Record first and then the Oath or Declaration. So on that batch do I index both records even though they are for the same person?

erutherford

Oaths of Allegiance, Declarations of Intention and Petitions of Naturalization/Citizenship are the different steps in the naturalization process and are treated as such, and yes, you will index each document even if they are for the same person. The Declaration is the first step, the Petition and Oath are the second step. If you go to the Project Instructions, which is located at the bottom of the Image portion of your screen of the last icon on the toolbar, go to What To Index and then scroll until you see "How to index a..." and there are examples of each type of document.

Melissa S Himes

You would only combine information IF two documents are on one image for the same individual. Usually you will see the Declaration and the Petition of the same person on an image. The instructions are under What To Remember About This Project: When combining information from multiple documents on the same image, use the record number from the petition for naturalization. If the image does not show a petition for naturalization, use the record number from the document with the most recent date.

The Oaths will only have the person's name and a date. There is an example in the Project Instructions. You would not use the reference image information on the index (although it is handy to look at that when the handwriting is illegible).

Even if there is information about the same person on both images in the batch, you don't combine the images - only combine when the information is on the same image.