Where to find Naturalization records by Joan M. Lowry

        Naturalizations in Newark took place in different places, depending on the date.  Naturalizations for the earlier years are located at the Essex County Courthouse, Essex County Clerk's Office.  Essex County records stop about 1930, which is about fifteen years AFTER the US District Court of New Jersey at Newark was set up and began handling Naturalizations.

        Therefore, if your ancestor was naturalized PRIOR TO 1914, the records are most likely to be housed in the Essex County Clerk's Office.  See their website for the mailing address and search fees:

http://www.essexclerk.com/vault.html

Their mailing address is:
Essex County Clerk
Hall of Records
465 Dr M L King Blvd
Newark  NJ  07102
Tel:  (973) 621-4448 or 621-4449

        If your ancestor was naturalized BETWEEN 1914 and 1930, his record might be found in EITHER the Essex County Clerk's office or the US District Court of NJ at Newark's records.  (The County Clerk's office was the more popular of the two possible locations.)

        The US District Court naturalizations are housed at the National Archives branch in New York City.  See their website for more information on search fees and their mailing address:

http://www.archives.gov/facilities/ny/new_york_city.html

Their mailing address is:
NARA - NE Region
201 Varick St
New York  NY  10014
tel:  212-337-1300

        If  your ancestor was naturalized AFTER 1930, his (or her) records should be a part of the US District Court of Newark collections (see website above).  As noted above most of the US District Court naturalizations are found at the National Archives branch in New York.

        Naturalizations done AFTER 1982, however, are still housed at the US District Court of Newark in Newark.  See their website for more information:

http://pacer.njd.uscourts.gov/njdc/home1.htm

        One last thought - Essex County naturalization records from 1840 through 1906 are available on microfilm at the NJ State Archives (http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/index.html), where they can be searched in person for a more thorough job.  These are LDS microfilms and, therefore, should also be available through your local Family History Center.