Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Roanoke (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1903-1936; undated. Local government records collection, Roanoke (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a 2006 transfer of court papers from the City of Roanoke under the accession number 42682.

Processing Information

Loose naturalization records, 1903-1936; undated, were processed and indexed for the purpose of inclusion in the Library of Virginia's Naturalization Records digital collection by M. Long.

Encoded by M. Long: September 2024.

Historical Information

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: Roanoke, in Roanoke County, was first known as Big Lick because of salt deposits found in the vicinity. The town of Big Lick grew up around a depot built in 1852 on the new Virginia and Tennessee Railroad line about a mile from the village of Big Lick. The town was incorporated in 1874, and its name was changed to Roanoke (perhaps for the nearby Roanoke River) in 1882. Roanoke became a city in 1884.

Scope and Content

Roanoke (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1903-1936; undated, consists of loose naturalization records filed in the local court. Loose 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.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Related Material

Additional Roanoke Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Adjunct Descriptive Data