The Indiana State Archives is the official repository for all Indiana naturalization records prior to 1951. Naturalization records dated after 1951 are stored at the Immigration and Naturalization Service 425 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20536.
All naturalization records accessioned from the counties by the Indiana State Archives are microfilmed for preservation. A complete naturalization record may be obtained by contacting the Indiana State Archives.
Mailing Address: 6440 East 30th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46219 Phone: (317) 591-5222 Fax: (317) 591-5324 E-mail: arc@icpr.in.gov or see form at http://www.in.gov/icpr/contact/
Some information from the naturalization records is also entered into a searchable database at the Indiana State Archives. Use the database to find: Surname, first name, nationality, date of arrival, and county book and page location. http://www.state.in.us/serv/icpr_naturalization
The National Archives, Great Lakes Region, 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago Illinois, 60629 also has naturalization information. Their collection includes a name index of citizens naturalized in the Great Lakes region.
For the Hammond area the National Archives has Petition Indexes from 1840 to 1950.
For the Hammond area the National Archves has Declarations of Intention from 1906-1921.
The Lake County Public Library has an Index to Lake County, Indiana Naturalization Records from 1854-1932. The call number for the index is IND 977.299 INDE. This index was compiled by the Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society.
The Lake County Public Library has an Index to Porter County, Indiana Naturalizations from 1849 to 1955. The call number for the index is IND 977.298 INDE. This index was compiled by the Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society.
The Naturalization Process
Naturalization was a three step process. First, one declared intention to naturalize, then petitioned for naturalization, and lastly, received a certificate or a court order granting citizenship.
Please note that many immigrants never completed the full process. In Indiana, one could purchase land, own a business, and vote with a declaration of intention.
