Katherine Filipek's Passport Application Record - 1914

Introduction
This page contains a transcription of Katherine Filipek's 1914 Passport Application. A companion page contains a transcription of Katherine Filipek's 1929 Passport Application. The applications contain data about: where Katherine was born, when married, when she came to the USA, and her physical description.




Katherine Filipek's Passport Application Record - 1914
1914 Passport Application
Form for Person Claiming Citizenship
through Naturalization of Husband or Parent

Application Number: 30603
Issued: MAY 18, 1914

United States of America, State of Illinois, County of Cook

I, Katerina Filipek a naturalized and loyal citizen of the United States, do hereby apply to the Department of State at Washington for a passport for myself

(the phrase "accompanied by my wife and minor children as follows" was crossed out)

I solemnly swear

that I was born at Mazalov, Bohemia on or about the 20th day of October 1864;

that my Husband emigrated to the United States, sailing on board the _________ from Bremen on or about the 15th day of May, 1889;

that he resided 24 years, uninterruptedly, in the United States, from 1889 to 1914, at Chicago Ills & Pueblo, Colo.;

that he was naturalized as a citizen of the United States before the Criminal Court of Cook County at Chicago, on the 2nd day of April, 1900, as shown by the accompany [at this point the words Passport 48227 were penciled in] Certificate of Naturalization;

that I am the identical person described in said Certificate; that I am domiciled in the United States, my permanent residence being at Chicago, in the state of Illinois where I follow the occupation of Merchant;

that I am the Widow of the person described in said Certificate;

that I have resided in the United States, uninterruptedly, for 24 years, from 1889 to Date, at Chicago Ills & Pueblo, Colo.;

that I am domiciled in the United States, my permanent address being at Chicago, in the State of Illinois, where I follow the occupation of Housewife;

that I am about to go abroad temporarily; that I intend to return to the United States within Six Months with the purpose of residing and performing the duties of citizenship therein.

Oath of Allegiance
Furthermore, I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that I take this obligation freely, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion: So help me God.

Sworn to before me this 15th day of May, 1914

Katerina Filipek

Charles A. Churau (Notary Public)

Description of Applicant:
Age: 49
Stature: 5 feet 1/2 inches
Forehead: Broad
Eyes: Blue
Nose: Straight
Mouth: Medium
Chin: Round
Hair: Dk Brown
Complexion: Brunette
Face: Round

Identification:
I hereby certify that I know the above named Katerina Filipek personally, and know her to be the widow of the person referred to in the within-described Certificate of Naturalization, and that the facts stated in her affidavit are true to the best of my knowledge.

Charles A. Churau
828 Unity Bldg (address of witness)

Applicant desires passport sent to following address:

Katerina Filipek
5241 W. Quincy St.
Chicago, Illinois

Passport Application Comments
  • The date of the passport was just 5 months after James Filipek died. It appears that Katerina was traveling back to visit his and her relatives, perhaps to console a little.
  • MAZALOV should have been spelled MAZELOV
  • This record establishes Katerina Filipek's date and place of birth as Mazelov on October 20, 1864. Katherine's birth record indicates 1862, but she indicated 1864 for the 1900 and 1920 Census and also her 1914 and 1929 Passport Application.
  • One of the most interesting things about this record is that Katherine disagrees with the information in James Filipek's 1911 Passport Application on when James came and where from. James stated that he came "on or about May 1". Katherine states he came "on or about May 15". This is not a large difference and she may well have had more time to try to recall when it was. However, the most unusual discrepancy was that James said he arrived from HAMBURG and Katherine states that he arrived arrived from BREMEN. It would be most unfortunate if it wasn't Hamburg as Hamburg has excellent emigrant records.
  • If you read the words for Katherine's 1914 Passport Application, it says"my husband emigrated to the United States...... on or about May 15, 1889; that he resided 24 years, uninterruptedly, in the United States, from 1889 to 1914". While we have Census Data which indicates Katherine came in 1882, 1883 and 1889 and he came in 1883 and 1889 (which may well be correct), a literal interpretation says he "emigrated" in 1889 and then lived uninterruptedly. This would mean he was not here in 1888.
  • Similarly if you read the words for Katherine, it says Katherine "resided in the United States; uninterruptedly, for 24 years from 1889 to date". Again a literal interpretation means she "resided" uninterruptedly for 24 years from 1889. This would mean she was not here in 1888. Of, course if she was here in 1882 and left, she was here uninterruptedly only from 1889-present. Thus this data seems to imply that since her son John Filipek was born in Illinois in 1882 (and we have the Baptismal Record to prove it), she must have left the United States. The record doesn't directly say she arrived in 1889, but it does by implication of saying she "resided uninterruptedly from 1889 "onwards.
  • In this passport Katherine claims she was 5 feet 1/2 inch. In 1929 she claimed she was 5 feet 3 inches. Her complexion seems to read as brunette. That seems a bit unusual and was probably a misunderstanding.
  • The address at 5241 W. Quincy matches that in the Chicago Directory for John and James Filipek. However, this address clearly indicates it is 52 blocks west whereas it had been presumed it was 52 blocks south.