Thank you, Marian and Jan for your additional help.  Yesterday, I applied for a search for my great grandfather's USCIS file number.  When (If) I get that I will send for the C-file (whatever the cost).  Depending on what's in the C-file, I may send for my grandfathers' C-files.  Again, thanks to all who have helped.

Robert Hanna
NYC

Hi Robert,

You asked Might I find other papers?  I'm guessing you mean might there be additional records in the C-files for the 1921 or earlier naturalizations, for which you already have the court records?  It is possible, but unknown.  The best way to hedge that bet would be to search a name index to Bureau of Naturalization Correspondence at the National Archives, NARA microfilm publication A3388.  Unfortunately it is only available on microfilm at NARA, which remains closed.  If you found your grandparents' name in there, and it pointed to a C-file number, it would mean additional records were placed in that C-file.  Yes, it is very frustrating.

You say you do want to request one of the C-files.  If you already have the petition from the court records, look on the back or bottom of that petition for the certificate number.  It should say something like "Certificate of Naturalization # _____ issued this day . . .".  You can then use that number to request the C-file directly without having to pay for the index search.

I hope that helps,

Marian Smith

Thanks very much to Jan, David, and Beth.  After reading what is available, it looks like I don't have to spend money to find my grandfathers' naturalization papers as I have their Declarations and Petitions already.  The only other thing there seems to be is a certificate.  The only thing that might be on the certificate is a picture.  I have enough pictures of them. 

Correct me if I'm wrong.  Might I find other papers? 

I would, however, like to get my great grandfather's C file.  I understand that I have to request a search first for the file number.  Is there a specific form I have to use to request a search?

Thanks again,
Robert Hanna
NYC

You are having problems finding your grandmothers' naturalization papers from that time period because they did not exist.  Read this rather long explanation summed up by "Congress was at work and on September 22, 1922, passed the Married Women's Act, also known as the Cable Act. This 1922 law finally gave each woman a nationality of her own."   

https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1998/summer/women-and-naturalization-1.html

I learned this from a JewishGen zoom lecture!

Beth Erez
Hod Hasharon, Israel

Robert,

Jan provided links to the description of the "A" and "C" files.  There are no "B" files.

Up until the passage of the Cable Act (Sept 22, 1922), women derived their citizenship from their husband, so your grandmothers would have automatically become citizens when your grandfathers naturalized in 1921.  There would be no separate files for them, but they (and any minor children) should be listed on the naturalization petitions.

Although the naturalization documents sometimes list AKA names, it is best to list all the names that the immigrants were known as.


Regards,
David Oseas

Researching:
HYMAN/HEYMAN/HEIMOWITS/CHAJMOVITS: Zemplen-Dobra, Hungary > New York
KLEIN: Satoraljaujhely (Ujhely), Hungary > New York > Los Angeles
KRONOWITH: Hungary > New York
OSEAS/OSIAS/OSIASI/OZIAS: Iasi, Romania > Chicago > Milwaukee > Los Angeles
SCHECHTER/SHEKTER: Kishinev, Bessarabia > New York  
SHERMAN: Iasi, Romania > New York > Los Angeles
STRUL:  Iasi, Romania > Haifa, Israel
WICHMAN: Syczkowo (Bobruisk), Belarus > Milwaukee > Los Angeles