After 32 years in the U.S., Great-Grandfather Raffaele applied for citizenship. This ratty little letter is an acknowledgment from the INS, a receipt for Raffaele's application to file a Declaration of Intention. This was the first step toward becoming an American citizen and was usually referred to as "First Papers".
Actually, this is Raffaele's second application that I know of - the first attempt was in 1917 and I haven't yet figured out why a second application was necessary. Both world wars were in full swing at the time of each application. You might think he was stricken with a burst of patriotism for his adopted homeland and wanted there to be no mistake about which team he was on. But this is doubtful since the application process could take up to five years from first papers to naturalization certificate. Perhaps he got cold feet after the first application in 1917. Many aliens filed more than one application, to the great delight of family researchers.
I believe Raffaele's road to citizenship was detoured by good old-fashioned family obligations. 1920 was not a good year for his family and I suspect he was unable to attend to his application. Stay tuned.
Types of U.S. Naturalization Records
from Genealogy Branches
They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins
Loretto Dennis Szucs
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