GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 1: Eastern United States
Ohio: OH-4
Franciscans. St. John the Baptist Province. Archives
1615 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: 513-721-4700
Email: info@franciscan.org
Hours: By appointment only
Access: Some restrictions apply
Copying facilities: Yes
History: The Franciscans (a.k.a. Order of Friars Minor)were founded by St. Francis of Assisi, Italy, 1209, and self-identify with the post-nominal initials, “O.F.M.” Franciscans from the Reformed Province of Tyrol, Austria, made a foundation in Cincinnati, 1844, and established the St. John the Baptist Franciscan Province, 1885. The St. John the Baptist Province Franciscans administered the following Native American missions, parishes, and schools:
| 1880s-1970s (closed) | St. Joseph Church (e.g. Acoma [Keresan], Laguna [Keresan], Mestizos, Navajo), San Fidel/ Milan, New Mexico |
| 1897-1922 (transferred to Santa Barbara Franciscan Province) | St. John the Baptist Church (Pima), Laveen/ Komatke, Gila River Reservation, Arizona |
| 1897-1922 (transferred to Santa Barbara Franciscan Province) | St. John the Baptist School (Apache, Pima, and Tohono O’odham), Laveen/ Komatke, Gila River Reservation, Arizona |
| 1897-1938 (transferred to Santa Fe Archdiocese) | St. Valerian Mission (Navajo), Smith Lake, New Mexico |
| 1898-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Michael Mission (Navajo), St. Michaels, Navajo Reservation, Arizona |
| 1900-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Church (e.g. Cochiti [Keresan], Mestizos, Santo Domingo [Keresan]), Peña Blanca, New Mexico |
| 1900-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Dominic Mission (Santo Domingo), Santo Domingo Pueblo, Santo Domingo Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1900-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | San Buenaventura Mission (Cochiti), Cochiti Pueblo, Cochiti Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1901-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | San Diego Church (Tewa), Tesuque Pueblo, Tesuque Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1902-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission (Jemez), Canyon de Jemez, Jemez Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1902-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Anne/ Santa Ana Mission (Santa Ana), Santa Ana Pueblo, Santa Ana Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1902-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Isidore Mission (Jemez), San Ysidro, Jemez Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1902-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | San Diego Mission (Jemez), Jemez Pueblo, Jemez Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1910-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Francis of Assisi Church (Apache), Lumberton, Jicarilla Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1910-1985 (transferred to Gallup Diocese) | St. Joseph Church (Laguna), Laguna Pueblo, Laguna Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1914-1922 (transferred to Santa Barbara Franciscan Province) | St. Joseph Mission (Apache), Mescalero, Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1914-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Mary/ Immaculate Conception Church (Navajo), Tohatchi, Navajo Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1914-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Mission (Navajo), Fort Defiance, Navajo Reservation, Arizona |
| 1915-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Round Rock Mission (Navajo), Round Rock, Navajo Reservation, Arizona |
| 1918-1922 (transferred to Santa Barbara Franciscan Province) | San Carlos Mission (Apache), San Carlos, San Carlos Reservation, Arizona |
| 1920-1985 (transferred to Gallup Diocese) | St. Joseph Church (Hopi and Navajo), Keams Canyon, Hopi Reservation, Arizona |
| 1922-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Anthony Church and School (Zuni), Zuni Pueblo, Zuni Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1923-1970s (transferred to Ursulines) | St. Joseph Mission School (e.g. Acoma [Keresan], Laguna [Keresan], Mestizos, Navajo), San Fidel/ Milan, New Mexico |
| 1924-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Christ the King Church (Navajo), Shiprock, Navajo Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1930-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | San Estevan del Rey Mission (Acoma), Acoma Pueblo, Acoma Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1935-1985 (transferred to Gallup Diocese) | San Lorenzo Mission (Navajo and Zuni), Tinaja, New Mexico |
| 1939-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Annunciation Church (Navajo), Chinle, Navajo Reservation, Arizona |
| 1943-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Francis of Assisi Church (Navajo and other) Gallup, New Mexico |
| 1947-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | San Ildefonso Church (Tewa), San Ildefonso Pueblo, San Ildefonso Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1947-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Santa Clara Church (Tewa), Santa Clara Pueblo, Santa Clara Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1948-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Anthony Church (Navajo), Naschitti, Navajo Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1950-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mission (Laguna), Encinal, Laguna Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1950-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Sacred Heart Mission (Laguna), Mesita, Laguna Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1950-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Elizabeth Mission (Laguna), Paguate, Laguna Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1950-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Mary Margaret Mission (Laguna), Paraje, Laguna Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1954-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Queen of Angels Chapel (various), Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 1955-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Anne Church (Navajo), Klagetoh, Navajo Reservation, Arizona |
| 1956-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Jude Church (Navajo and Hopi), Tuba City, Navajo Reservation, Arizona |
| 1956-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission (Navajo), Kayenta, Navajo Reservation, Arizona |
| 1950s-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Our Lady of the Rosary Mission (Navajo), Greasewood, Navajo Reservation, Arizona |
| 1963-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | St. Berard Church (Navajo), Navajo, Navajo Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1966-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Santa Maria del Acoma/ McCarty Mission (Acoma), McCarty, Acoma Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1968-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | All Saints Church (Navajo), Ganado, Navajo Reservation, Arizona |
| 1960s-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Sawmill Mission (Navajo), Sawmill, Navajo Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1970-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Chuska Mission (Navajo), Chuska, Navajo Reservation, New Mexico |
| 1980-1985 (transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province) | Crystal Mission (Navajo), Crystal, Navajo Reservation, New Mexico |
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans: Unknown, but include the principal files and reports pertaining to its membership, including those engaged in its Native American missions in Arizona and New Mexico.
The Franciscans. St. John the Baptist Province, transferred the bulk of their archival records pertaining to Native American missions in Arizona and New Mexico to the University of Arizona Library. Special Collections, Tucson, Arizona. For more information about these records -- see -- that guide entry under Tucson, Arizona.
San Xavier del Bac Mission, Tucson, Arizona, transferred its archival records to the Santa Barbara Franciscan Archives, Santa Barbara, California. For more information about these records -- see -- that guide entry under Santa Barbara, California.
St. Michael Mission St. Michaels, Arizona, retained its archival records, which have formed the basis for Our Lady of Guadalupe Province Franciscan Archives, St. Michaels, Arizona. For more information about these records -- see -- that guide entry under St. Michaels, Arizona.
For Franciscan relationships with the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – see – Bureau of Catholic Indian Mission Records. Marquette University. Special Collections and Archives, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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.
new2006/rev2017-2018
