GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 1: Eastern United States
New York: NY-12
Catholic Church. Archdiocese of New York. Archives
1011 First Avenue
New York, NY 10022-4134
Phone: 212-371-1000
Email: archives@archny.org
Hours: See website
Access: See website
Copying facilities: Yes
History: The Diocese of New York was erected, 1808, for the northeastern states from a portion of the Diocese of Baltimore; it was elevated to the Archdiocese of New York, 1850; and it lost territory for erecting more dioceses, 1847-1929. It encompasses the boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx, and Staten Island in New York City, plus seven suburban counties.
New York City has had an urban Native American population (e.g. Mohawk Ironworkers), 1880s-present. According to 2010 U.S. Census information and U.S.C.C.B. estimates, the Archdiocese’s three New York City boroughs are home to 10,000 Catholic Natives from 500 tribes. The urban Native poverty rate is nearly double the national average and this population is the largest urban Catholic Native population in the United States.
The Archbishop of New York has also served on two Washington, D.C. based boards of directors, now combined, which serve the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions and the Commission for Catholic Missions among the Colored People and Indians, 1880s-present. Also, with New York City lay businessmen, Rev. Henry Ganss founded the New York City-based Marquette League for Catholic Indian Missions, which in collaboration with the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, funded special program for Catholic Native Americans, 1904-1995.
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1880s-ongoing
Volume: Less than 1 foot possible
Description: At least 2 series with records.
/1 Organizational records
Inclusive dates: 1880s-present
Volume: Several folders possible
Description: Files regarding fundraising for Catholic evangelization of Native Americans:
A. Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions (Archives: Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 1874-present, several folders
B. Commission for Catholic Missions among Colored People and Indians (Archives: Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 1884-present, several folders
C. Marquette League for Catholic Indian Missions (Archives: Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 1904-1995, several folders: financial records and the Calumet, magazine of the Marquette League
/2 Diocesan Newspaper
Inclusive dates: 1981-present
Volume: Occasional articles
Description: Catholic New York has included related articles, e.g. Jesuit martyrs, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Marquette League, fundraising for Black & Indian Mission collection.
/3 Sacramental records: The Archdiocese of New York lacks a centralized preservation system for parish sacramental records. All record requests must be made through the parish where the sacrament was performed.
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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