GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Alaska: AK-11

Catholic Church. Diocese of Fairbanks. Chancery
1316 Peger Road
Fairbanks, AK 99709

Phone: 907-374-9500
Email: info@cbna.org

 

History: The Prefecture Apostolic of Alaska was erected for Alaska from territory in the Diocese of Vancouver’s Island (now Archdiocese of Vancouver, British Columbia), which was subject to the Metropolitan See of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, 1894; the Prefecture Apostolic of Alaska was subject to the Metropolitan See of Seattle and was succeeded by the Vicariate Apostolate of Alaska for the northern half of Alaska, 1916; and the Diocese of Fairbanks was erected from the Vicarate Apostolate, 1999. The Prefecture Apostolic reported 2,000 baptized Native American Catholics, 1900, and the three Alaskan dioceses reported 15,700 with Fairbanks alone reporting 15,000, 1999. Fairbanks and its predecessors have administered the following missions, parishes, and schools among Native Americans in Alaska:

1867-1915 (closed) (Fairbanks, 1894-1915)	St. Stanislaus/ St. Paul the Apostle Mission (Koyukon), Kokrines
1873-present (Fairbanks, 1894-present)	St. Michael’s Mission (Yupik Eskimo), St. Michael
1879-present (Fairbanks, 1894-1951)	St. Rose of Lima Church (Tlingit) Wrangell/ Fort Wrangell
1887-present (Fairbanks, 1894-present)	Holy Cross Mission, School and Orphanage (Yupik Eskimo, Ingalik Eskimo), Holy Cross/ Koserefsky
1887-1920 (Fairbanks, 1894-1920)	St. Mary’s Mission (Yupik Eskimo, Ingalik Eskimo), Akularak
1887-present (Fairbanks, 1894-present)	St. Aloysius Mission (Yupik Eskimo, Koyukon), Tanana
1889-1894 (closed) (Fairbanks, 1894)	St. Alphonsus Mission and School (Yupik Eskimo), Tununak, Nelson Island
1895-1916 (Fairbanks, 1895-1951)	Our Lady of the Mines Mission (Tlingit), Douglas
1896-present	Our Lady of the Snows Church/ St. Peter Claver Mission (Koyukon), Nulato
1896-1920 (closed)	Sacred Heart Mission (Koyukon), Shagelok/ Shageluk River District
1896-present	St. Joseph Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Tununak
1899-unknown	Nulato School (Koyukon), Nulato
1899-present	St. Ignatius Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Alakanuk
1901-present	St. Joseph Church (Yupik Eskimo), Nome
1904-present (Fairbanks, 1904-1951)	Holy Name Church (Tlingit, Haida), Ketchikan
1904-1930s	Holy Family Mission (Tlingit, Haida), Metlakata
1905-1987 (closed)	St Mary’s School (Yupik Eskimo), Akulurak
1908-present	St. Bernard Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Stebbins
1910-1920s (closed)	St Ursula’s-by-the-Sea Day School and Hospital (Yupik Eskimo), St. Michael
1912-present	St. Peter in Chains Mission (Koyukon), Ruby
1918-1940 (closed)	Pilgrim Springs Mission and Orphanage (Yupik Eskimo), Pilgrim Springs
1922-present	St. Theresa Church (Dena’ina), Nenana
1923-present	St. John Berchmans Church (Koyukon), Galena
1928-present	Little Flower of Jesus Church (Yupik Eskimo), Hooper Bay
1929-present	St. Francis Xavier Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Kotzebue
1929-1970 (closed)	St. John the Apostle Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Pimute
1930-present	Church of Mary, the Mother of God (Eskimo), Marshall
1931-1960s (closed) (Fairbanks, 1931-1951)	St. Pius X Mission Home (Tlingit), Skagway
1933-present	St. Anne/ St. Emma Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Teller
1934-present	St. Jude Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Diomede Island/ Little Diomede Island
1939-present	St. Theresa Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Aniak
1939-present	St. Lawrence Church (Yupik Eskimo), Mountain Village
1943-present	Immaculate Conception Church (Yupik Eskimo), Bethel
1943-present	Sacred Heart/ Immaculate Conception Church (Yupik Eskimo), Kalskag
1949-present	St. Joseph Church (Yupik Eskimo), Kotlik
1950-present	St Teresa/Little Flower of Jesus Church (Koyukon), Kaltag
1950-present	Blessed Sacrament Church (Yupik Eskimo), Scammon Bay
1950-1960 (closed)	Christ the King Mission (Yupik Eskimo), King Island
1951-present	Church of the Nativity/ St. Mary Mission and School (Yupik Eskimo), St. Mary
1952-present	Holy Angels Mission (Yupik Eskimo, Koyukon), Unalakleet
1952-present	Sacred Heart Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Chevak
1952-present	Holy Family Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Newtok
1954-present	St. Patrick Church (Yupik Eskimo), Utqiabvik/ Barrow
1954-present	St. Peter/ Mary Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Nunan Iqua/ Sheldon Point
1959-present	St. Patrick Church (Koyukon), Koyukuk
1960-present	St. Michael Church (Yupik Eskimo), McGrath
1964-present	St. Catherine Church (Yupik Eskimo), Cheforniak
1964-present	Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (Yupik Eskimo), Nightmute
1964-present	St. Charles Spinola Church (Yupik Eskimo), Pilot Station
1964-present	St. Peter the Fisherman Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Toksook Bay
1966-present	St. Francis Regis/ Huslia Mission (Koyukon), Huslia
1966-1973 (closed)	Manley Mission (Koyukon), Manley
1969-present	Sacred Heart Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Emmonak
1969-present	Christ the King Chapel (Yupik Eskimo), Umkumute
1974-1980 (closed?)	Immaculate Conception School (Yupik Eskimo, Dena’ina), Fairbanks
1970s-present	St. Anthony Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Hamilton
1998-present	Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission (Yupik Eskimo), Russian Mission

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans: 

Inclusive dates: 1886-ongoing

Volume: At least 14 cubic feet 

Description: 5 series include Native Catholic records: 

 

/1 Bishops’ Papers

Inclusive dates: 1894-ongoing

Volume: Unknown

Description: Not available when surveyed by a Marquette University archivist, 2006.

A. Bishop Pascal Tosi, S.J. [Jesuits] (1835-1898), served 1894-1897

B. Bishop Jean Baptist Rene, S.J. (1841-1916), served 1897-1904

C. Bishop Joseph Raphael John Crimont, S.J. (1858-1945), served 1904-1945

D. Bishop Walter James Fitzgerald, S.J.(1883-1947), served 1945-1947

E. Bishop Francis Doyle Gleeson, S.J. (1895-1983), served 1948-1968

F. Bishop Robert Louis Whelan, S.J. (1912-2001), served 1968-1985

G. Bishop Michael Joseph Kaniecki, S.J. (1935-2000), served 1985-2000

H. Bishop Donald Joseph Kettler (1944-), served 2002-2013

I. Bishop Chad Zielinski (1964-), served 2014-

 

/2 Sacramental Archive

Inclusive dates: 1887-ongoing

Volume: At least 7 cubic feet (At least 134 volumes)

Description: Arranged alphabetically by parish location and there under by name; includes baptisms, first communions, confirmations, marriages, burials, censuses, family genealogies, house diaries, and school records for parishes and schools plus attended missions and stations; copies noted when included.  

A. Akulurak [St. Mary’s], St. Mary’s Mission and School, 1892-1977, 6 volumes; re: baptisms, 1892-1939, marriages, 1902-1915; baptisms, 1915-1922, first communions, 1915-1926, marriages, 1915-1937, and deaths, 1915-1923; baptisms, 1922-1952; baptisms, first communions, and confirmations, 1889-1927; school records with sacraments, 1906-1944; school records with sacraments, 1945-1952

B. Alakunuk, St. Ignatius Church, 1892-1977, 11 volumes; re: baptisms, 1952-1960; baptisms, 1960-1967; unidentified, 1913-1953, first communions, 1965-unknown; confirmations, 1954-1977; deaths, 1952-1977; marriages, 1952-1977; baptisms, 1892-1915, marriages, 1902-1937, deaths, 1915-1923 (copy); baptisms, 1915-1922 (copy); baptisms, 1952-1977 (copy); confirmations, 1941-1949, 1952-1977, marriages, 1937-1977, deaths, 1952-1977 (copy)

C. Barrow [Utqiabvik], St. Patrick Church, 1954-1992, 1 volume; re: unidentified, 1954-1992

D. Bethel, Immaculate Conception Church, 1939-1973, 3 volumes; re: unidentified, 1942-1973; unidentified, 1939-1951 (Kushokuim District); baptisms, 1942-1959, first communions, 1957-1972, confirmations, 19441946, 1951-1973, marriages, 1942-1973, deaths, 1946-1973 (copy)

E. Chevak, Sacred Heart Church, 1944-1982, 3 volumes; re: census, 1949; unidentified, 1957-1982; baptisms, 1944-1957 (Keyalucik and District); includes Kashunak

F. Galena, 1954, 2 volumes; re: census, 1954, and house diary [Jesuits?], 1954-1982

G. Holy Cross, Holy Cross Mission, 1887-1972, 18 volumes; re: baptisms, 1887-1919, confirmations, 1895-1918; first communions, 1939-1955; baptisms, 1887-1902, first communions, 1956, deaths, 1900-1902; baptisms, 1917-1919; baptisms, 1931-1938, first communions (with portraits), 1930-1956; baptisms, 1934-1972; unidentified, 1919-1934; confirmations, 1917-1918, 1948, 1952; deaths, 1888-1944; deaths, 1900-1919; marriages, 1917-1919; first communions, 1941-1973, confirmations, 1941-1968, marriages, 1924-1973, deaths, 1946-1971 (copy); baptisms, 1887-1912, baptisms (Shgeluk), 1887-1902, first communions, 1956-1972, confirmations, 1917-1978, marriages, 1919-1972, deaths, 1919-1972 (copy); baptisms, 1887-1902 (copy); baptisms, 1889-1947 (copy); baptisms, 1917-1971 (copy); baptisms, 1919-1972, marriages, 1919-1972, deaths, 1919-1972 (copy); unidentified, 1887-1916, first communions, 1956, confirmations, 1917-1918, marriages, 1919-1972, deaths, 1919-1972 (copy)

H. Hooper Bay, Little Flower of Jesus Church, 1889-1971, 7 volumes; re: baptisms, 1889-1947; baptisms, 1920-1947; unidentified, 1916-1919, 1946-1971; baptisms, 1889-1931 (Tymute); first communions, 1941-1942, marriages, 1929-1946, census (Scammon Bay), 1939, census (District), 1938, deaths, 1946 (Hooper Bay District); baptisms, 1889-1947 (Hooper Bay Ledger); baptisms, 1889-1947 (Hooper Bay to Lower Yukon)

I. King Island, Christ the King Mission, 1920-1960, 2 volumes; re: baptisms, 1947-1958; baptisms, 1920-1960, family tree (King Island Miscellaneous)

J. Kokrines, St. Stanislaus/ St. Paul the Apostle Mission and Tanana, 1907-1939, 2 volumes; re: census, Kokrines, 1907-1939 and Tanana, 19081933 (copy); Kokrines births, marriages, and deaths, 1920-1924

K. Kotzebue, St. Francis Xavier Church, 1929-1944,2 volumes; re: unidentified, 1929-1944; letters and graveyard list (loose notes)

L. Koyukuk, St. Patrick Church, 1873-1904, 2 volumes; re: baptisms, 18731901, marriages, 1894-1904; census, 1955

M. Kozerefsky (Holy Cross), Holy Cross Mission, 1899-1919, 2 volumes; re: marriages, 1899-1919 (early Holy Cross); family trees and census, 1907-1917

N. Kushkokwim (Holy Cross), Holy Cross Mission, 1909-1918, 2 volumes; re: baptisms, confirmations, and marriages, 1909-1915 (Holy Cross); census, 1918

O. Little Diomede (Diomede), St. Jude Mission, 1937-1964, 1 volume; re: baptisms and marriages, 1937-1964

P. Mary’s Igloo and Little Diomede (Diomede), St. Jude Mission, 1904-1964, 1 volume (copy); re: Mary’s Igloo unidentified, 1904-1938 and Little Diomede (Diomede), St. Jude Mission, 1937-1964

Q. Mountain Village, St. Lawrence Church, 1889-1969, 4 volumes; re: baptisms, 1889-1927; unidentified, 1938-1969, census, 1942-1943, statistics, 1929-1930, 1942; baptisms, 1889-1969, confirmations, 19391967, marriages, 1939-1969 (copy); unidentified, 1914-1940 (copy)

R. Nelson Island and Yukon River, Tununak, St. Joseph Church and St. Alphonsus Mission and School, 1890-1965, 5 volumes/folders; re: confirmations, 1934-1955, deaths, 1935-1961; confirmations, 1939-1965, marriages, 1934-1947; baptisms, 1889-1928, confirmations, 1906-1924, marriages, 1890-1927, deaths, 1890-1896 (Nelson Island and Yukon River; copy); baptisms, 1889-1926, confirmations, 1939-1965, marriages, 19341965, Tununak unidentified, 1934-1959 (copy); baptisms, 1890-1927, 1947 (Nelson Island Folder)

S. Nome, St. Joseph Church, 1901-1974, 9 volumes; re: baptisms, 1901-1923, confirmations, 1904-1939; baptisms, 1924-1956, confirmations, 19481956; unidentified, 1957-1973; unidentified, 1973-1981; marriages, 1901-1956; deaths, 1906-1956; unidentified, 1907-1923 (copy); baptisms, 1907-1923 (copy); first communions, 1957-1973, confirmations, 19571973, marriages, 1907-1973, deaths, 1957-1973 (copy)

T. Nome (St. Mary’s Igloo), 1910-1951, 1 volume; re: unidentified, 1910-1951

U. Nulato, Our Lady of the Snows Church/ St. Peter Claver Mission, 18731964, undated, 11 volumes; re: baptisms, 1901-1920; baptisms, 1921-1947; baptisms, 1948-1964; families, 1907-1913; marriages, 1903-1948; marriages, 1927-1931, 1946-1948; baptisms, 1873-1901, marriages, 1894-1904 (copy); baptisms, 1901-1964, marriages, 1903-1963 (copy); census, undated (Nulato Area Light Green Notebook); census, 1950 (Nulato Area Dark Green Notebook); census, undated (Nulato Area Red-Brown Notebook)

V. Nulato: Koyukuk and Kaltag, 1901-1921, 1 volume; re: Deaths

W. Pilot Station, St. Charles Spinola Church, 1914-1940, 2 volumes; re: unidentified, 1914-1940; confirmations, marriages, and deaths, 1921-1939

X. Pimute, St. John the Apostle Church, 1934-1950, 2 volumes; re: families with sacraments, 1934 and census, 1940-1950

Y. Ruby, St. Peter in Chains Church and Kokrines, 1907-1939, 1 volume; re: baptisms and deaths

Z. St. Marys, St. Mary’s School, undated, 1 volume; re: index of families with students

AA. St. Michael, St. Michael’s Mission, 1895-1973, 4 volumes; re: baptisms, 1895-1949; unidentified, 1895-1949 (copy); unidentified, 1949-1973; unidentified, 1949-1973(copy)

BB. Tanana, St. Aloysius Church and Kokrines, 1910-1933, 1 volume; re: unidentified

CC. Tununak (Nelson Island), St. Joseph Church, 1934-1965, 2 volumes; re: baptisms, 1934-1959; baptisms (copies, 1959-1965

 

/3 School Records

Inclusive dates: 1951-ongoing

Volume: ca. 2 cubic feet

Description: Transcripts for St. Mary’s High School, St. Marys; other school records filed by parish with sacramental records.

 

/4 Photography

Inclusive dates: 1890s-ongoing

Volume: At least 5 cubic feet (at least 5,000 items)

Description: Prints, negatives, and slides arranged alphabetically by place and there under by event and/or ethnic group with oral history data recorded on the versos of many prints; an inventory was not available when surveyed by a Marquette University archivist, 2006.

 

/5 Files regarding Religious Communities

Inclusive dates: Unknown

Volume: Several presumed

Description: Files pertaining to Jesuits, Dominican Sisters, Sisters of Notre Dame, and Sisters of St. Joseph.

 

/6 Diocesan Newsletter

Inclusive dates: 1960-ongoing

Volume: Many articles 

Description: Quarterly publications with substantial content about Native Americans and Catholic evangelization with the Diocese:

A. Alaska Catholic, archived online, 2012-2016

B. The Alaskan Shepherd, print only edition, 1960-2012, archived online, 2000-ongoing

C. Arctic Footprints, archived online, 2017-2019

D. Missionary Disciples eMagazine/ Ministry Update, archived online, 1995-ongoing

 

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/rev2020