Online Finding Aid & Index for Illinois Naturalization Records

For Illinois there is a soundex index available on microfilm from the National Archives (Microfilm Publication M1285). It is also indexed online at Ancestry ($) and FamilySearch.org Catalog (free). For information see...

Soundex Index to Naturalization Petitions for the United States District and Circuit Courts including Peoria County, Northern District of Illinois, and Immigration & Naturalization Service District 9, 1840-1950. The soundex is a coded surname (last name) index based on the way a surname sounds rather than the way it is spelled. Surnames that sound the same, but are spelled differently, like SMITH and SMYTH, have the same code and are filed together. For the surname Smith, the Soundex code is S530. The soundex coding system was developed so that you can find a surname even though it may have been recorded under various spellings. https://www.archives.gov/research/census/soundex

Online Soundex Converters: https://www.mainegenealogy.net/soundex_converter.asp?surname=Smith

 

Naturalization and Citizenship - Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1840 - 1950 FamilySearch.org Catalog:  https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/catalog/1838804
• 1800-1998 Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998 at FamilySearch.org Catalog — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
• 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Finding Naturalization Records created before Sept. 27, 1906

• Contact the Peoria County Circuit Clerk Archives Manger, 324 Main St, G22, Peoria, IL 61602.  Phone: 309-672-6024
• Online Naturalization Records and Indexes (USA)
• FamilySearch.org Catalog: Some naturalization records can be found on digitized microfilm from FamilySearch. Try a search in the FamilySearch Catalog for the place (the county, but sometimes the city or even the state) where your ancestors were living at the time they were naturalized. Then look for the topic called "Naturalization and citizenship." You may also see a topic called "Naturalization and citizenship - Indexes" -- you might check both topics. If a listing in the catalog has a camera icon next to it, that means that microfilm roll is available online in digitized form. Click on the camera icon to see the images. For some items you may have to be at a Family History Center or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City to view the images.

Finding Naturalization Records created Sept. 27, 1906 and later

• Contact the U.S. Federal Courthouse for Peoria County, 100 NE Monroe St, Peoria, IL 61602.  Phone: 800-333-4636
• Online Naturalization Records and Indexes (USA)
• FamilySearch.org Catalog
• Naturalization Records at the US National Archives
• USCIS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly the INS - Immigration and Naturalization Service)
  The USCIS has copies of Naturalization records from 27 September 1906 and later. Records available through the USCIS Genealogy Program include Naturalization Certificate Files from September 27, 1906 to April 1, 1956, along with some Alien Files, Alien Registration Forms, and other records. There are restrictions and fees. See the USCIS website for instructions for making genealogy requests: USCIS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - Genealogy If the person was born less than 100 years ago you must provide proof of death or, if the person is still living, you must provide notarized permission from the living person to obtain the records If the person was born more than 100 years ago you do not need to provide proof of death
• The Court Where the Naturalization Occurred (or an archive where the records may now be stored)