I have seen photographs of the individual on certificates of
naturalization >from the 1950s. Does anyone know when photographs began
to be attached to these documents? Is it likely that a certificate
issued in the 1920s would have a photograph attached?

Thanks,

Alan Steinfeld
Scarsdale, NY

Dean Alan & other genners,

While I cannot attest to the first issuance of a
Certificate of Naturalization including a photograph,
I can offer the information >from those of my
grandparents.

My grandfather was naturalized in Brooklyn, New York
on May 24, 1927. We have the original Certificate of
Citizenship however the photograph was lost. One can
see the glue residue where the photo once was. My
grandmother was naturalized in Brooklyn, New York on
July 30, 1929. On her original Certificate of
Citizenship the photograph is still affixed.

I look forward to postings regarding the earliest
known Certificates with photographs.

Shellie Wiener
San Francisco, CA
Researching relative to this posting:
WINDWER and variants - Kolomyya and vicinity in
Galicia
RUBINGER - Putila, Czernowitz, Vatra Dorna in Bukovina
---
Alan Steinfeld <alansteinfeld@optonline.net> writes:

I have seen photographs of the individual on
certificates of naturalization >from the 1950s. Does
anyone know when photographs began to be attached to
these documents? Is it likely that a certificate
issued in the 1920s would have a photograph attached?

My father was naturalized in Massachusetts 1927. I have the Certificate
of Naturalization. It does not have his picture. I also have another
certificate entitled Certificate of Citizenship issued in 1937. This
one does have his picture.

David Rosen
Boston, MA

Alan Steinfeld wrote:

The USCIS site at http://uscis.gov/graphics/aboutus/history/Max/Certif.html
says "Beginning in 1929, certificates also included a photograph of the new
citizen."

Joy Rich
Brooklyn, NY

Hi, Genners,

I have read the JewishGen responses to this initial
query as well as receiving a few privately. I see a
variation in the forms we are each reviewing.

Could someone explain the difference between the
Certificate of Naturalization and the Certificate of
Citizenship? Perhaps the likelyhood of a photograph
was determined, in part, by which document one
received?

Many thanks,
Shellie Wiener
San Francisco, CA

Shellie,

I have the original citizenship papers for both of my parents.

My father became a US citizen on September 17, 1931. His document is
a "Certificate of Citizenship" issued by the Southern District Court
of NY.

My mother became a citizen on July 13, 1943. Her document is a
"Certificate of Naturalization" issued by the Eastern District
Court of NY.

Each of these documents has a photo attached and a signature
of the new citizen at the bottom of the photo.

Perhaps the difference between the two different certificate
headings deals with the location of the District Court involved
or the decade in which they were issued. My father's certificate
says "Department of Labor" on the bottom and my mother's certificate
says "Department of Justice" on the bottom.

Sylvia Gordon
New York