Several collections at Marquette University contain Native American genealogical records.
Generally, the most useful are sacramental and church census records, U.S. Bureau of Indian
Affairs census records, high school transcripts, and mission school attendance records, which
are highlighted here. Several collections contain photographs of children and adults, but
they are not described here. Records that are not restricted are available to archives visitors
or borrowers of the corresponding microfilm via interlibrary loan. Under limited circumstances,
on-site visitors may be permitted to conduct research in some restricted records.
Sacramental and Church Census Records
To protect personal privacy, records after 1930 are restricted and the corresponding
microfilm will not be loaned. Also, records (originals and microfilm) from 1930 and earlier may
be restricted if co-mingled with later records. However, archives staff at Marquette University
will conduct genealogical searches for patrons who fill out the Genealogy Request Form (below).
The following collections contain sacramental and church census records:
Kansas: St. Mary's Mission Records, 1851-1871 (no restrictions), available via
interlibrary loan
Michigan: Sacred Heart Franciscan Records, church census and sacramental records,
1840-1947, reels 5-6 and 8 (no restrictions), available via interlibrary loan
Montana: Diocese of Helena Records, sacramental records, 1855-2003, reels 1-3
(restrictions apply), not available via interlibrary loan
North Dakota: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Pembina, baptismal
records, 1856-1862, in the Julius M. Belleau Papers, reel 3 (no restrictions), not available
via interlibrary loan
Wisconsin: The Sacred Heart Franciscan Records, sacramental records, reel 28 (no
restrictions), available via interlibrary loan
South Dakota, Pine Ridge Reservation: Holy Rosary Mission-Red Cloud Indian School
Records, sacramental records, and church census records, 1884-1987 (Series 2-1 and 2-2 (restrictions
apply); not available via interlibrary loan; Episcopal Church in South Dakota, Pine Ridge
Reservation sacramental records, 1879-1908 (microfilm reel 1, Center for Western Studies,
Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota) (no restrictions), not available via
interlibrary loan
School Records
Restrictions: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a law governing access to student-related educational records that is enforced by the Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO) of the U.S. Department of Education. In 1993, since FERPA's statutory language did not expressly answer questions regarding the termination of a student's right to prohibit disclosure, FPCO concluded that this right was personal and lapsed upon death (Correspondence of Leroy Rooker, Director of FPCO, to Honorable John J. Duncan, Jr., March 3, 1993). In standard archival practice, restrictions on life-long records are lifted 70 years after their date of creation. However, also due to FERPA's statutory language, these restrictions do not apply to student records held by non-educational institutions such as the U.S. National Archives, which also holds copies of these student attendance records. For more information about access to these records and other genealogical records at Marquette University, please submit an Application for Genealogical Query (below). Archives staff at
Marquette University will conduct genealogical searches for patrons who fill out the form. The records often list individual names, dates of school attendance,
tribal affiliation, degree of Indian blood, and comments explaining attendance and performance
in school. The following collections contain school records:
Arizona: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1
California: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1
Idaho: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1/a>
Kansas: Osage Mission School Records, 1847-1866
Michigan: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 and
Sacred Heart Franciscan Records, Reel 9
Minnesota: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1
Montana: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1
New Mexico: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1
North Dakota: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1
Oklahoma: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1
Oregon: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1
South Dakota: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1,
Holy Rosary Mission-Red Cloud Indian School Records (Pine Ridge Indian Reservation), Series 2-1 and 2-2,
and the St. Francis Mission Records (Rosebud Indian Reservation), Series 2-1 and 2-2
Washington: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1
Wisconsin: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1, and
Sacred Heart Franciscan Records (Menominee Indian Reservation), reels 15-16
Wyoming: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Census Records
South Dakota: Holy Rosary Mission-Red Cloud Indian School Records (Pine Ridge
Indian Reservation), Series 2-2 Restricted Reports Indian Roll Census, boxes 3-5 and 10: Per agreement with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Enrollment Office, January
26, 1996, certified copies of two forms of personal identity documents must be presented in
person for each genealogical request using these records. For further information, contact
the Oglala Sioux Tribe Enrollment Office, Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770, telephone
605-867-1321.
Red Cloud High School Transcripts
South Dakota: Holy Rosary Mission-Red Cloud Indian School Records (Pine Ridge Indian Reservation), Series 2-2 Restricted Reports, boxes 10-16 and
Series 0: Per agreement with Red Cloud High School, all requests for
transcripts must be made through the Red Cloud High School Office during regular business
hours. Facsimile copies may be sent to any third party authorized through Red Cloud High
School. For further information, contact Red Cloud High School, 100 Mission Drive,
Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770-2100, telephone 605-867-5888.
Requesting a Genealogical Search
Please fill out the form below as best you can and return via e-mail to Mark Thiel or U.S.
Postal Service.
After reviewing your request, if we determine that the information you need is within
records not restricted, instead of conducting a search, we will notify you about borrowing the
records on microfilm via interlibrary loan according to our Guidelines for Interlibrary Loans.
Because our staff time is limited, please allow up to 6 to 8 weeks for your response. We
will conduct up to two hours of complementary searching per year per patron at no charge,
however donations are always appreciated. Fees may be charged for copies (see fee schedule) and
additional research time. Please make checks payable to Marquette University
(Federal EIN #39-080-6251) in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank. For more information, please
contact archivist Mark Thiel.
Navigational Resources
Marquette University Links
Guides to Catholic-Related Records for the
United States about Native Americans
See also Reference Publications,
Notable Works on African Americans 
and Native American Using Marquette University Archival
Collections, and Afraid of Bear to Zuni:
Surnames in English of Native American Origin found within Marquette University Archival
Collections .
Portal Websites
Index of Native American Resources on the Internet, http://www.hanksville.org/NAresources/
National Indian Law Library, http://www.narf.org/nill/index.htm
Native American Home Pages, http://www.nativeculture.com/lisamitten/indians.html
Native Web, http://www.nativeweb.org/
Print Publications
Humling, Virginia, comp., U.S.
Catholic Sources, A Diocesan Research Guide. Ancestry, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1995
Kirkham, E. Kay, comp. Our
Native Americans, Their Records of Genealogical Value, Vols. 1 and 2. The Everton
Publishers, Logan Utah, 1980 and 1984
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