Lucia Lariccia’s Identification Papers
In1940, the U.S. government passed the Alien Registration Act, requiring all non-citizen resident over the age of 14 to register. This was defined as a security measure, aimed largely at identifying residents who might support and assist their countries of origin during the war — especially Japan, Germany, and Italy. Not surprisingly, many of those required to register found the law offensive.
Lucia Lariccia’s application form shows the kinds of questions asked of immigrants, even long-term residents. This form does not have her signature or information from a government official, so it is probably a copy of the official form.
Her identification booklet, officially termed “Alien Registration,” was issued in 1942, in Cleveland. Lucia became a U.S. citizen in 1956.
