Right now, it’s about noon in Salt Lake City, and I’m writing from the Family History Library (FHL) . My plane was about two hours late last night, and I arrived at the hotel after midnight, but I still managed to get to the FHL before 9 AM this morning.
When I arrived at the FHL, I retrieved the five vault films I had previously ordered, and I ordered an additional five films which should arrive on Monday . I found what I was looking for in four of the five films . I found seven relatives, including my grandfather, Michael Danko, in the Massachusetts World War II Draft Registration Cards for men born between April 28, 1877 and February 16, 1897 . By the way, the FHL has the draft records for Massachusetts.
The big find for me, though, was on the fifth film I ordered: Naturalization Information for my grandfather, Kostanty Niedzialkowski . The film contained my grandfather’s Certificate of Arrival (showing a date of arrival of 24 May 1910), his Petition for Naturalization (dated 18 Jul 1939, and his Declaration of Intention (dated 27 April 1955) . I already had a copy of his Certificate of Naturalization, dated 1955, but I also previously had a copy of his Declaration of Intention, dated 02 June 1917! The 1917 Declaration stated that it expired seven years from the date signed, so I guess my grandfather made his Declaration of Intention in 1917, the Declaration expired in 1924, so he made another Declaration in 1955, at which time he actually did become a citizen.
Time for me to get back to my research . I’ll post some of these records I found, but I probably won’t be able to do that until I get back home next week.
Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko
Steve, I have read all you have written, I am so jealous, but feel overwhelmed for you too! I have never been to Salt Lake City for genealogy, and will really enjoy following your trip. I am impressed that you are using such valuable time there, to write here! I think being there would be enough for me to handle! So very interesting, so very exciting to find information you were searching for! I am thrilled for you and look forward to hearing more on this trip. Have to explore some more on your site! I am lovin’ it! Have fun and hope you find so much treasure!