Event Date on US, Missouri-Naturalization Records

Teresa Shippy

I am reviewing indexed Missouri Naturalization Records and have a question about the instructions for the Event Date fields. In the project instructions, it says "Multiple dates may be indicated on a document. When typing the event date, use the most recent date that relates to the naturalization process.". On some forms, the most recent date is the arrival date. However, the field help for this project specifically says "Do not index the arrival date." In the batch I am reviewing currently, the indexer has used the arrival date for the event date. https://www.familysearch.org/indexing/batch/a561c63f-c32e-46b4-83ca-ca06e7598315

Should I mark the fields blank instead? Is there a different date that would be considered related to the naturalization process?

Teresa Shippy

Melissa S Himes

Hello @Teresa Shippy ,

You are absolutely correct to mark the event date fields blank on the first pages of the Petition of Nats batch you are reviewing. The only date on that image is the date of arrival which is not to be indexed.

The project instructions do not even allow us to use the date of the Affidavit of Witnesses if it is on the second image of the Petition for Naturalization.

• For petitions for naturalization that have a date recorded only in the affidavit of witnesses section (if on the same page), type that date in the date fields. In all other cases, do not include information from affidavits of witnesses.

Each image is indexed separately which often happens in Nat projects; The Petition and then the Oath when they are on separate images. You will run across batches in this project where the Oath is on the same page as the petition. So the information could be combined in that case.

The Oath is generally not taken on the date that the petition is delivered to the court. For instance on your batch, the petition was made in Sept 1943 and oath was taken in Nov 1943. The date the petition is granted is also NOT the date of the event for Petition of Naturalization. The granting of the petition and certificate can happen many years after the petition has been filed.

Melissa S Himes

Glad to be able to help, @Teresa Shippy! Yes, when the petition says something like I made petition on (date) and was denied because {reason}, or that they filed a declaration on a date, those could be used. Also in some of these where the females are applying under the Cable Act ( or the Act of 9/2/1922) then they are going to have a date on the petition and there won't be any declaration or certification numbers. They are applying to restore their citizenship after having married a non-citizen. Usually these forms will be one page so the affidavit is at the bottom of the same page anyway.

Savannah Robinson

Hi Teresa,

You can typically find the date that the petition is filed on the second page of the document. At the bottom it says "Petition granted and certificate ... issued" with certificate number and the date of the event (see attachment 'eventdate'). It's usually handwritten like 4-3-64 for example. If you are unable to find it, you can mark the field blank or use the date under the 'Oath Administered by Designated Examiner' beneath the signature, also on the second page.

I hope that helps!

Pending image.png

Teresa Shippy

Thank you, that helps a lot. @Melissa S Himes I have also come across petitions for naturalization where there is no date for the petition, but the date the person filed their Declaration of Intention is given. Is it OK to list the Declaration date as the event date, since it is the "most recent date that relates to the naturalization process"?

Teresa Shippy