Declaration of Intention of Marlene Dietrich, March 5, 1937
This document represents Marie Magdalene Sieber’s (professionally known as Marlene Dietrich) declaration of intention to become a United States citizen. She filed this document with the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on March 5, 1937.
As Adolf Hitler expanded Nazi control in Europe in the 1930s, Marlene Dietrich, Hedy Lamar, Igor Stravinski, Peter Lorre, Billy Wilder, and many other filmmakers, actresses, actors, composers, and musicians left for America, bringing their professionalism, skills, and talents with them. In America, their invaluable talents and contributions greatly impacted and revolutionized our entertainment industries. The naturalization records of many of Hollywood’s finest who fled Europe were featured in a 2009 documentary titled Cinema’s Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood.
Our office holds a vast number of records relating to the naturalization process from federal courts in Arizona, southern California, and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as from the Superior Courts of Los Angeles County and San Diego County. These records include indexes, petitions for naturalization, declarations of intention, certificates of arrival, naturalization ceremony lists and orders, name change petitions, and case files of contested naturalization petitions.
Declaration of Intention of Marlene Dietrich, dated March 5, 1937. National Archives Identifier: 335708094.
You can explore more records held in the National Archives at Riverside by searching the National Archives Catalog or by visiting our research room in person. We encourage researchers to contact us to learn more about our holdings or to schedule an appointment