03/15/2021
Catherina Ruiz Flores was born in Beaumont, Texas on February 9, 1905. She married Frank Flores who was a Mexican citizen on October 25, 1919. Although Catherina was an American because she married a non-citizen she lost her American citizenship. This document records her Oath of Allegiance to the United States and her desire to repatriate or regain her American citizenship on March 12, 1941. (NAID 581193)
An Act of March 2, 1907, also known as the Expatriation Act, mandated that “any American woman who marries a foreigner shall take the nationality of her husband.” This Act and subsequent acts related to married women’s citizenship status can be confusing when trying to conduct family history research. For further information, please see: When Saying “I Do” Meant Giving Up Your U.S. Citizenship by Meg Hacker. https://www.archives.gov/files/publications/prologue/2014/spring/citizenship.pdf
We will highlight records this month related to the history of American women. Please visit our website for more information: https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/womens-history .