Mary Denkamp was not the only woman who lost here citizenship in the early 1900's. The story is one of those shocking incidence that you do not hear about in school.
In 1907, a law was passed stating that a woman derived her citizenship from her husband's status. Does not sound so bad, does it.
Well if you were a native born woman and you married an alien (either here legally or illegally), you were no longer a citizen of the United States. Even more ridiculous is that if he then became a Naturalized citizen, you did not. Even when the law was corrected in 1922, you did not have your citizenship restored. In 1936, If your husband was eligible to become a naturalized citizen, you could apply for citizenship. The exception being that there were racial ineligibilities for citizenship.
All of this is absolutely surprising to me. I am interested in hearing more anecdotes. If you look at the census records you may find that your Grandmother or Great Grandmother in my case. She was born in Ohio, but is listed as an alien. Exactly as described in an article in July/August 2010 Family Chronicle, "Grandma was an Alien,!" by Gena Philibert Ortega. I just thought the census taker had checked the wrong box. So Great Grandma Mary Denkamp did not get to vote. I am sad it happened.
U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual – Volume 7 - has a technical explanation if you can follow it. http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104346.pdf
Two books with more information:
The Qualities of a Citizen: Women, Immigration and Citizenship by Martha Gardner
A Nationality of her Own: Women, Marriage and the Law of Citizenship by Candice Lewis Bredbenner
I would love to hear about more personal family stories that are related to this unfortunate set of laws. Please leave me a note or get in touch with me.
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