Since Louisville/Jefferson County merger, Historic
Preservation is no longer part of the archives office, so it's just
Jefferson County Archives. The new Metro Louisville is wanting JCA to move
from the Urban Government Center, but the move has not taken place, nor
has a definite relocation site been determined.
So, call first, or write before visiting. JCA
(Jefferson County Archives) does have a Naturalization Index 1811-1913
(card file, book form, and on microfilm). This is an index of
naturalization records found in the following records:
Old Circuit Court-Common Law, 1811-1865; Circuit
Court- Criminal Division, 1832-1892; Louisville Police Court, 1836-1897;
County Court minute order books, v. 20-55, 1851-1896; County Court
naturalization books, v. 1-8, 1897-1906; Quarterly Court, 1852-1892 and
Circuit Court naturalization books, 1892-1913.
The following volumes indexed are missing:
Quarterly Court minute order books, v. 1-6 and Louisville Police Court
order books v. A-B, D-K. Louisville Police Court Order Book
"J" has been discovered and is located in the Filson Historical
Library. My understanding is that it is NOT on microfilm.
Naturalization Books-Jefferson Circuit Court,
1892-1913, hard copy and microfilm.
Naturalizations can be found in ANY federal, state,
or local court until 1906. So, records could be found in a district court
or county court, etc. Some of the naturalizations indexed are found
in the county court orders. JCA has the county court orders on
microfilm as does the Family History Library, Kentucky State Archives and
Kentucky History Library, and the Filson Historical.
While JCA has Naturalizations 1892-1913, the county
court order books, and the 1811-1913 index, it does NOT have all the
Naturalizations mentioned above. The Filson Historical Library has the
extant records and Louisville Police Court Book "J" previously
thought "missing." Kentucky Archives and Kentucky Historical
Society may have them on microfilm also.
A good article about the Naturalization process can
be found at:
http://rwguide.rootsweb.com/lesson16.htm
ALL of the above mentioned records and indexes are
on microfilm and available through your local Family History Center via
the Family History Library. The Louisville Police Order Books
1836-1939 (those that are extant) are on 40 reels of microfilm, so check
the 1811-1913 index first. If the index says Police Court, check
first to see whether the volume is missing. Also keep in mind, if the
index says "Quarterly Court minute order books" -- these are ALL
missing.
JCA can check the index for you and tell you if
there was a record and if that record exists. 810
Barrett Avenue, 502-574-5761 Hope
this isn't too confusing,
Deborah Campisano
