Cook County Illinois Search for 1890s No Naturalization

[xlphillips]

Ciao a tutti,
After lots of research, and handwritten flow charts, I am asking some help!

The goal I am hoping for is a "no naturalization" for my great-grandfather, or a naturalization AFTER 1887. Once I get that, since the census does show "na" on the 2000 census, I will go to a Commune in Italy to complete the process of Jure Sanguinis, as I have been told that they don't ask for the US Census.

My GGF came to the US from Italy in 1887. He had his son, my GF in 1897 in Chicago, IL.

I am finding a naturalization hard to prove or disprove, so wanting some guidance before I shoot off letters.

There is a soundex card ML185 for a Gennaro Fillippo (my GGF was Filippo, with one "l") for 21 Jan 1890. That is before my GF birth, so if it was my GGF, that would stop the line. BUT, that soundex card isn't proof that a) it was MY ancestor and b) because it is so old, and it is marked Ct. Order Only, based on what I have read, there will be no more info or documents, just that. Also, arriving 1887 and nat. by 1890 would be less than 5 years; but, on the flip-side, maybe he came over earlier and applied. That's not proved, either.

As you can see, my confusion is that, if there is only a matching similar name, and no demographic info behind it, what do I do to get a "no record of naturalization?"

So, not sure what to do next.
I am looking at the GOAL:
1) Cook County IL Courts. Goal: No matching naturalization for my Grandpa, no records found. IF I submit the soundex card with the search, doesn't that give me back data for "that person?" Even if it's no data, it's no data for a naturalization for that person.
2) Cook County IL Courts. Goal: No matching naturalization for my Grandpa, no records found. Certified letter. IF I submit NO soundex card, just his vital info, will that cause them to provide me a certified, no record of naturalization letter?
3) Should I send in both requests? I have the phone number, and could call the Court and get their opinion as well, if that is even possible.

(I will add that this site helped me find my ancestral records in San Fili, Cosenza, Calabria as I found a second cousin posted the question years ago. After ordering all the records from LDS, and getting more info, I then visited the little church in March and was able to see birth records in Latin from the early 1800s & roam the little street they lived on!)

Grazie.

[mler]

You need to revise your date search. It's important that you find "no naturalization" until after June 1912. This is because before that date, if the father naturalized, ALL his children, even those born in a jus soli country (US in this case) before his naturalization, lost Italian citizenship.

If he was indeed naturalized by 1900, you're out of luck with this line. It was only after the 1912 law was passed that some children were unaffected by their parent's naturalization.

[xlphillips]

Thank you.

It seems like I will be requesting records from
a) Cook County Courts
and
b) USCIS

I will get started on that paperwork this weekend. Thanks, again.

[mler]

Yes, and ask for records under his name as it is written on his birth certificate. If in Italy, "no record" statements do not have to be confirmed with census records, that is, of course, the way to go. It's unfortunate that they are required by the consulates as they are notoriously unreliable.

[xlphillips]

Thanks. That sounds good. I now feel I have a clear plan.