Von Trapp Family: Documenting Immigration

Certificate of Arrival documents show the legal arrival of aliens to the United States and are an important step in the citizenship process. In the case of the von Trapp women, it documents their arrival in the US in 1942 in Niagara Falls, NY. While they entered the United States several times in earlier years, they had to acquire these documents in order to begin the citizenship process.

Maria Augusta Kutschera was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1905. She married Georg von Trapp, father of seven, in 1927. They had an additional three children of their own.

Johanna and Martina were the only two of Maria's stepdaughters to marry. Johanna and her husband lived in the United States and Austria.

Martina von Trapp married in 1949. In 1951, she tragically died from complications delivering her stillborn daughter.

This document is a Petition for Admission to the United States with a married name. This document states that Johanna was married to Ernst Winter on March 29, 1948 and is requesting a Certificate of Naturalization in her married name.

The Petition of Naturalization for Maria von Trapp tells of a sad development. Her husband, Georg, passed away on May 30, 1947.

The Petition for Naturalization requires two witnesses who have known the applicant and affirm their moral character.

At the bottom of the document, Agathe renounces any and all allegiance to any foreign nation upon becoming a citizen, as required.

The last part of the document states if the petition was granted or denied.

The von Trapp women changed their surname from von Trapp to simply Trapp upon becoming American citizens.

Maria and her stepmother became missionaries and traveled to Papua New Guinea.

Hedwig von Trapp became a teacher, living in Hawaii for several years.

At the end of the document, petitioners are required to swear an oath of allegiance and renounce any noble titles if any were held.

The Trapp Family Singers toured the country until 1957.

All petitions show residence, profession, date and place of birth; height, weight, hair and eye color. In addition to this, date and place of birth of spouse is requested and date of marriage, if applicable. Other required details include nationality and last place of foreign residence; date and place of entrance into the United States; and the names of two witnesses to the petition.

Of the twelve total von Trapp family members, only these six went through this citizenship process. The two sons born to Georg and his first wife, Agathe, gained citizenship through service in the U.S. military. The two daughters born to Georg and Maria gained citizenship through their mother while their son was born in the U.S. and thus a citizen in his own right. Georg never sought citizenship.