[ICPR] Digital Archives Adds Allen County Naturalization Index (5/22/2013)

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:01 GMT

Start Date:	5/22/2013	Start Time:	12:00 AM
End Date:	5/22/2013	End Time:	11:59 PM

INDIANAPOLIS (May 22, 2013) – Allen County recently became the 41st Indiana county to have its naturalization records added to and made available through the Indiana Digital Archives. Sixty Nine naturalization books containing nearly 19,000 entries and spanning the era from 1844 to 1930 were indexed as a part of this project.

“Allen County has the nation’s premier genealogy library,” said Jim Corridan, Director & State Archivist of the Indiana Commission on Public Records. “Now, with the aid of volunteers, the State of Indiana has added access, through the Indiana Digital Archives, to thousands of immigrants who became citizens in Allen County.”

The Allen County Naturalization records were indexed by Anne L. Rodick. The index was edited by Kaelynn Hayes and Erica Sgroi. Please note that naturalizations in the Ft. Wayne Federal Court are not included.

“Coming to America and starting a new life in a land rich in opportunities and dreams assuredly constituted exciting and challenging times for our immigrant ancestors,” said Curt Witcher, Genealogy Center Manager of the Allen County Public Library. “Naturalization records are among the prized documents of this immigrant experience for genealogists and local history specialists. This one document type ties the immigrant both to the recently departed Old World as well as to a location here in the United States. Having Allen County’s naturalization records indexed and available via the Indiana Digital Archives is particularly important because early filming of these records was often compromised. This access will be a boon to researchers.”

Researchers can view many Indiana county naturalization databases along with indices to many other popular Indiana State Archives collections at indianadigitalarchives.org. The naturalization databases provide great insight into Hoosier immigration at the county level. Friends of the Indiana State Archives volunteers have been hard at work for nearly two decades creating indices for many of the state's records. From before statehood in 1816 and on through to its approaching bicentennial, Indiana has been home to millions of settlers and immigrants. The Digital Archives enables Hoosiers and citizens worldwide to view the vast collection of historical and vital records housed at the State Archives.

About the Indiana Digital Archives
The Indiana Digital Archives is operated by the State Archives Division of the Indiana Commission on Public Records. The result of a cooperative partnership made possible by a grant from the Library of Congress and administered by the Washington State Archives, the Digital Archives has more than 2.9 million searchable records online. Other partners include the states of Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, and Oregon. The Digital Archives was named a Best State Website by "Family Tree Magazine” for the third-consecutive year in 2012.

About the Indiana State Archives
The Indiana State Archives collects records of historical value from all branches of Indiana state and local government, including governmental history, census and naturalization records for families, selected medical, military and criminal records, records of land ownership, maps, blueprints and photographs. Visit archives.icpr.IN.gov for a detailed listing of these resources, including links to online exhibits and electronic indices of select records.

Indiana Commission on Public Records - News Releases

[ICPR] Digital Archives Adds Allen County Naturalization Index (5/22/2013)