Naturalization

Unlike other immigrants to the United States, Japanese and other Asians were not permitted to become naturalized American citizens until 1952. Under existing laws, naturalization was limited to "free white persons and to aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent." Despite many attempts by Japanese immigrants (Issei) to gain citizenship, they were usually rejected on the grounds that the Issei were neither white nor black. The 1922 Supreme Court case Ozawa v. U.S. cemented the status of the issei as "aliens ineligible to citizenship" once and for all. It wasn't until 1952 with the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act that Issei were finally allowed to become naturalized U.S. citizens.

Immigration and citizenship (431)
Naturalization (180)

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180 items

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 4 No. 86 (October 28, 1950) (ddr-densho-229-251)

"Portland to Dedicate Nisei War Memorial Monument at Rites Sunday" (p. 1), "Truman Points to Flaws in McCarran Bill" (p. 1), ""Clean' Naturalization Measure Sought" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-251/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 33 (April 14, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-101)

"Pacific Northwest Trade Helps Orient Recovery, NWA Aide Says" (p. 1), "House Will Hear Legislations on Naturalization April 19" (p. 1), "Orders Halt on Hearing Against CIO" (p. 1), "JACL to File Brief with Top Court to Back Takahashi in Fish Case" (p. 2).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-101/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 55 (July 9, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-222)

"Hawaii Governor Promises to Do What He Can to Push ENI Bill" (p. 1), "Claims Office Due to Open" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-222/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 30 (April 3, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-99)

"Canada Curbs on Japanese to Continue" (p. 1), "House Gets Few More Measures to Aid 3 Japanese Aliens" (p. 1), "Judd Urges Quick Amendment on Naturalization Bills" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-99/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 26 (March 30, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-193)

"Revelle Points Out Generals' High Opinion of Fighting 442nd Combat Team" (p. 1), "Seattle JACL Chapter Urges Issei to Apply for Naturalization Now" (p. 1), "Evacuation Claims Queries, Replies" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-193/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 32 (April 20, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-199)

"ADC Fund Push Opens with Kickoff Luncheon" (p. 1), "Evacuation Claims Queries, Replies" (p. 2), "ADC to Ask Amendment to HR 199" (p. 2).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-199/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 46 (July 1, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-34)

"House Will Get Claims Board Measure Soon" (p. 1), "House to Study H.R. 3555" (p. 1)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-34/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 98 (November 27, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-159)

"Sabath Vows Support of Issei Rights" (p. 1), "Bias Noted in Chicago Cemeteries" (p. 1), "Claim Queries and Answers" (p. 1), "Community Basketball Season to Start Next Wed.,Dec. 1" (p. 3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-159/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 5 (January 15, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-172)

"Hawaii Pushes ENI Measure" (p. 1), "Additional Claims Queries, Replies" (p. 1), "They'll Consider Equality Bill" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-172/

doc Japanese Made Citizen. Honolulu Judge Admits Man Who Served in U.S. Army. (January 20, 1919) (ddr-densho-56-316)

The Seattle Daily Times, January 20, 1919, p. 9

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-316/

Japanese Denied Citizenship. Virginia Judge Bars Naval Steward, Holding No Alien Eligible Except of White or African Descent. Right Claimed Under Act Enfranchising Foreigners Who Have Served Honorably in Navy or Marine Corps. (May 4, 1909) (ddr-densho-56-150)

doc Japanese Denied Citizenship. Virginia Judge Bars Naval Steward, Holding No Alien Eligible Except of White or African Descent. Right Claimed Under Act Enfranchising Foreigners Who Have Served Honorably in Navy or Marine Corps. (May 4, 1909) (ddr-densho-56-150)

The Seattle Daily Times, May 4, 1909, p. 4

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-150/

doc Entitled to Citizenship. United States Will Admit Orientals Who Fought in Army. (February 14, 1919) (ddr-densho-56-318)

The Seattle Daily Times, February 14, 1919, p. 20

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-318/

doc California Denies Vote to Naturalized Japanese (July 27, 1923) (ddr-densho-56-380)

The Seattle Daily Times, July 27, 1923, p. 11

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-380/

doc Refused to Make One. Chicago Judge Could Find No Precedent for Naturalizing a Japanese. (October 3, 1902) (ddr-densho-56-30)

The Seattle Daily Times, October 3, 1902, p. 12

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-30/

doc Cannot Practice. The Supreme Court Bars Young Japanese Lawyer Who Applied for Admittance. (October 22, 1902) (ddr-densho-56-31)

The Seattle Daily Times, October 22, 1902, p. 2

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-31/

Courts Rule That Japs May Not Be Naturalized. Government Accepts This as Final, but Supreme Court Has Not Passed Upon Question. (January 11, 1907) (ddr-densho-56-73)

doc Courts Rule That Japs May Not Be Naturalized. Government Accepts This as Final, but Supreme Court Has Not Passed Upon Question. (January 11, 1907) (ddr-densho-56-73)

The Seattle Daily Times, January 11, 1907, p. 11

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-73/

T.R. Says Japs Cannot Obtain Their Papers. Viscount Kaneko Makes Public Letter Said to Have Been Written by Former President. (July 10, 1913) (ddr-densho-56-236)

doc T.R. Says Japs Cannot Obtain Their Papers. Viscount Kaneko Makes Public Letter Said to Have Been Written by Former President. (July 10, 1913) (ddr-densho-56-236)

The Seattle Daily Times, July 10, 1913, p. 8

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-236/

doc Japanese Drop Effort to Become Citizens (June 12, 1907) (ddr-densho-56-89)

The Seattle Daily Times, June 12, 1907, p. 5

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-89/

Japanese Can't Be Naturalized, Says High Court. Highest Tribunal of Land Rules Against Eligibility of State of Washington and Hawaiian Residents. (November 13, 1922) (ddr-densho-56-372)

doc Japanese Can't Be Naturalized, Says High Court. Highest Tribunal of Land Rules Against Eligibility of State of Washington and Hawaiian Residents. (November 13, 1922) (ddr-densho-56-372)

The Seattle Daily Times, November 13, 1922, pp. 1, 5

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-372/

doc Are Japanese Caucasians? (August 6, 1921) (ddr-densho-56-365)

The Seattle Daily Times, August 6, 1921, p. 6

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-365/

Japanese in Test Case. Hinkle Refuses Incorporation Articles. Natives of Nippon Who Claim Citizenship May Carry Suit to U.S. Supreme Court. (May 8, 1921) (ddr-densho-56-363)

doc Japanese in Test Case. Hinkle Refuses Incorporation Articles. Natives of Nippon Who Claim Citizenship May Carry Suit to U.S. Supreme Court. (May 8, 1921) (ddr-densho-56-363)

The Seattle Daily Times, May 8, 1921, p. 15

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-363/

doc Kay Kido Threw Her Trousseau Overboard to Become American (ddr-one-3-76)

November 5, 1953 issue of the Mt. Adams Sun, Volume XIX, Number 6. The newspaper contains an article on the front page titled "Kay Kido Threw Her Trousseau Overboard to Become American." The article is about the Kenjiro and Miyuki "Kay" Kida process for American citizenship and their experiences living in the United States.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-3-76/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 44, No. 6 (February 8, 1957) (ddr-pc-29-6)

Selected article titles: "Nisei hopes for U.S.-Japan ties told to new envoy Masaoka confers with MacArthur II, newly U.S. ambassador to Japan" (p. 1); "See boost in Japan quota of immigrants" (p. 1); "Masaoka to speak at Philadelphia fete" (p. 1); "JACL urges early enactment of civil rights bill this session" (p. 1); "College Scholarship plus …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-29-6/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 45, No. 3 (July 26, 1957) (ddr-pc-29-29)

Select article titles: "Almost 20,000 Mainland Issei Naturalized Within Past Decade" (p. 1); "Senate Takes Up Civil Rights Bill, 71-18 Vote" (p. 1); "Washington JACL Office analyses House Subcommittee report on Japanese farm labor" (p. 1); "Lonely airman's Japanese wife recovers from suicide attempt; steps to regain custody of children stirs interest in Kansas City" (p. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-29-29/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 44, No. 23 (June 7, 1957) (ddr-pc-29-23)

Select article titles: "26,000 Japanese War Brides in U.S. Group Told" (p. 1); "Senate Committee Amends Claims Supplemental Appropriation Bill" (p.1 ); "Non-profit groups listed for 1st time as claim awardees" (p. 1); "JACL participates in Memorial Day Rites at Arlington Cemetery; sagging Nisei interest in war dead scored by D.C. JACLers" (p. 1); "Rep Judd's …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-29-23/