GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Alaska: AK-2

Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. Archbishop’s Office
225 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone: 907-297-7700
Email: See website (Contact Us)

 

History: The Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska, was erected for south-central Alaska from territory in the Diocese of Juneau, 1966, and was reunited with Juneau to form the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau, 2020. By 1910, the fishing industry facilitated the emergence of mixed-race Native Catholic families from marriages between Native American Orthodox and Pilipino Catholic immigrants. Nonetheless, the Anchorage and Juneau dioceses had each reported fewer than 1,000 baptized Native American Catholics, 1999. Anchorage and its predecessors have administered the following mission, parishes, and schools with Native American parishioners.

1955-present (Anchorage, 1966-present)	St. Mary School (Eskimo), Kodiak
1960s-1980 (Anchorage, 1966-1980)	Copper Valley School (Ahtna), Glenallen
1987-present	Our Lady of Compassion Center (Denaina, Eskimo), Anchorage

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans: 

Inclusive dates: 1908-ongoing

Volume: Less than .5 cubic foot 

Description: The archival records of the Archdiocese of Anchorage were not organized according to a classification scheme when reviewed by a Marquette University Archivist, 2006. Consequently, they are described by record type. For records of the former Diocese of Juneau -- see -- the guide entry, Juneau, Alaska, Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. 

 

/1 Arch/Bishops’ Papers

Inclusive dates: ca. 1966-ongoing

Volume: Few folders

Description: re: Copper Valley School, Native American land claims.

A. Archbishop John Joseph Thomas Ryan (1913-2000), 1966-1975; few items presumed

B. Archbishop Francis Thomas Hurley (1927- ), 1976-2001; few items presumed

C. Archbishop Roger Lawrence Schwietz, O.M.I. [Oblates of Mary Immaculate] (1940- ), 2001-2016; few items presumed

D. Archbishop Paul D. Etienne (1959- ), 2016-2019; few items presumed

E. Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M. [Vincentians] (1956- ), Anchorage (Apostolic Administrator), 2019-2020, Anchorage-Juneau (Archbishop), 2020-ongoing; few items presumed

 

/2 Sacramental Records 

Inclusive dates: ca. 1908-ongoing

Volume: Several entries within few reels of microfilm  Description: Arranged alphabetically by place and there under by parish name; includes baptisms, first communions, confirmations, marriages, and burials for native and non-native parishes with at least a few native parishioners and/or attended native missions; copies and some original records included.   

A. Anchorage, Holy Family Cathedral, ca. 1915-ongoing

B. Glenallen, Holy Family Church, ca. 1950-ongoing

C. Seward, Sacred Heart Church, ca. 1908-ongoing

 

/3 Parish Files

Inclusive dates: ca. 1966-ongoing

Volume: Few folders, in part

Description: Arranged alphabetically by place and there under by parish name; includes clippings, correspondence, history notes, maps, photographs, and property deeds for native and non-native parishes with at least a few native parishioners and/or attended native missions or schools; 1 or more folders/parish;    

A. Anchorage, Holy Family Cathedral

B. Glenallen, Holy Family Church

C. Seward, Sacred Heart Church

 

/4 Photograph File 

Inclusive dates: ca. 1966-ongoing

Volume: Few photographs 

Description: From the Anchor [newspaper]; re: Copper Valley School, Native American celebrations, Native claims.

 

/5 Religious Community Files 

Inclusive dates: ca. 1966-ongoing

Volume: Few folders

Description: Divided by men’s and women’s communities and arranged alphabetically there under; 1 folder/ religious community; men’s: e.g. Jesuits, Oblates of Mary Immaculate; women’s: e.g. Daughters of Charity.

 

/6 Archdiocesan Newspaper and Clipping File

Inclusive dates: 1966-ongoing

Volume: Few articles

Description: The Catholic Anchor has included a few articles on Native Americans and Catholic evangelization in the diocese, such as regarding Copper Valley School and native celebrations and claims; a chronologically arranged clipping file has been maintained.

 

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