GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 2: Midwest United States
Iowa: IA-3
Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Dubuque. Archives
Archdiocesan Center
1229 Mount Loretta Avenue
P.O. Box 479
Dubuque, IA 52004-0479
Phone: 563-556-2580, Extension 299
Hours: Appointment recommended
Access: Some restrictions apply
Copying facilities: Yes
History: The Diocese of Dubuque was erected from territory in the Diocese of St. Louis, 1837, elevated to an archdiocese, 1893, and lost territory, which reduced it to eastern Iowa, 1893-1902. In 1900, Dubuque reported fewer than 100 baptized Native American Catholics. The former Dubuque Diocese included the following Catholic missions and parishes serving Native Americans:
|
1838-1841 (closed) |
St. Joseph Mission (Potawatomi), Council Bluffs, Iowa |
|
1843-1846 (closed) |
St. Francis Xavier Mission (Dakota), Little Prairie, Minnesota |
|
1843-1848 (closed) |
Our Blessed Lady of the Seven Dolors/ Winnebago Mission (Winnebago), Iowa |
|
1848-1870s (no longer Native) (Dubuque, 1848-1850) |
Assumption Church (Cree, Métis, and Ojibwa), Pembina, North Dakota |
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1843-1856, 1970s-present
Volume: Less than 1 cubic foot
Description: 4 series with records.
/1 "Bishops' Papers
Inclusive dates: 1843-1856
Volume: .1 cubic foot
Description: Bishop Mathias Loras (1792-1858):
A. "Council Bluffs Correspondence," 1852, 1854, 1856, 3 letters; from St. Mary Mission (Potawatomi), St. Marys, Kansas
B. "Cretin to Loras Correspondence," 1843-1856, 1 folder; letters between Bishop Loras and Bishop Joseph Cretin
C. "General Correspondence," 1843-1850, 1 folder
D. "Indian Affairs Correspondence," 1848, 1853-1854, 1 folder
E. "Propagation of the Faith Correspondence," 1844-1850, 1 folder
/2 Parish files
Inclusive dates: 1970s-ongoing
Volume: Few records possible
Description: Records (e.g. correspondence, notes, clippings, photography) of St. Patrick Church, Tama, about Fox Indian parishioners.
/3 Sacramental records
Inclusive dates: 1970s-ongoing
Volume: Few records
Description: Sacramental records (e.g. baptisms, marriages, burials) of St. Patrick Church, Tama, for Fox Indian parishioners.
/4 Archdiocesan newspaper
Inclusive dates: 1970s-ongoing
Volume: Occasional articles
Description: The Witness, archived online.
Unless otherwise noted, the repository on this page holds (or held) the records described here and they are not held at the Marquette University Archives.
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