GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 1: Eastern United States
New York: NY-25

Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity. Holy Name Province. Archives
4421 Lower River Road
Stella Niagara, NY 14144

Phone: 716-754-4311 Extension 9764
Email: See website

 

Hours: See website

Access: See website

Copying facilities: Yes

 

History: The Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity self-identify with the post-nominal initials, “O.S.F.” After their founding in the Netherlands, 1855, they expanded and made their first North American foundation, 1886. They organized their North American Province, 1928, which a decade later, they subdivided into three provinces: Holy Name (Stella Niagara, New York), eastern United States; Sacred Heart (Denver, Colorado), Midwest United States; and St. Francis (Redwood City, California), western United States.  Under Reverend Mother Kostka Schlaghecken, O.S.F. (1850-1932), sisters from Germany staffed and taught at the following schools among Native Americans:

1886-1938 (transferred to Sacred Heart Province)	St. Francis School (Brule Lakota), Rosebud Reservation/ Agency, St. Francis, South Dakota/ Dakota Territory
1888-1938 (transferred to Sacred Heart Province)	Holy Rosary School (Oglala Lakota), Pine Ridge Reservation/ Agency, Pine Ridge, South Dakota/ Dakota Territory

Since 1992, the three U.S. provinces have collaborated to provide parish ministry and evangelization at St. Dominic Church (Tzeltal Maya), Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico.    

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans in the United States:

Inclusive dates: 1886-1930s, undated

Volume: Less than 1 cubic foot

Description: 3 series include related records:

 

/1 Kronic [House Chronicle] 

Inclusive dates: 1886-1938 

Volume: At least 2 volumes

Description: Early originals in German with English translations.

A. St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota, 1886-1938, 1 volume

B. Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, 1888-1938, 1 volume

 

/2 Correspondence (presumed)

Inclusive dates: Unknown (1886?-1930s?)

Volume: Several letters

Description: Reverend Mother Kostka Schlaghecken, O.S.F. (1850-1932) and provincial superiors.

 

/3 Personnel files (presumed)

Inclusive dates: Unknown (1880s-1930s)

Volume: Several files

Description: Reverend Mother Kostka Schlaghecken, O.S.F. (1850-1932) and other sisters who staffed the Holy Rosary and St. Francis schools.

 

/4 Photographs

Inclusive dates: Undated (1880s-1930s)

Volume: Several prints

Description:

A. Sisters and Brulé Lakota children at the St. Francis mission school and elsewhere on the Rosebud Reservation, undated (1880s-1930s), few prints.

B. Sisters and Oglala Lakota children at the Holy Rosary mission school and elsewhere on the Pine Ridge Reservation, undated (1880s-1930s), few prints.

 

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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