GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Arizona: AZ-27

Catholic Church. Diocese of Phoenix. Archives
400 East Monroe Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Phone: 602-354-2475
Email: See website (Contact Us)

 

Hours: See website

Access: Some restrictions apply

Copying facilities: Yes

 

History: The Diocese of Phoenix was erected for central Arizona from territory in the Diocese of Tucson, 1969. The Phoenix Diocese reported 44,000 baptized Native American Catholics, 1999. Phoenix and its predecessors have administered the following Native missions, parishes, and schools.

1885-1963, 1974-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. Lucy Mission/ Ss. Simon and Jude Mission (Tohono O’odham), San Lucy Village/ Paloma Ranch/ Gila Bend, near Gila Bend Reservation
1897-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. John the Baptist Church (Pima), Laveen, Gila River Reservation
1897-1990 (closed) (Phoenix, 1969-1990)	St. John the Baptist School (Apache, Maricopa, Pima, Tohono O’odham), Laveen, Gila River Reservation; staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (Los Angeles Province, Los Angeles, California), 1901-1930;
Ca. 1900-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. Francis of Assisi Mission (Pima), Salt River Reservation
1906-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. Anne Mission (Maricopa, Pima), Santan, Gila River Reservation
1906-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. Michael Mission (Maricopa, Pima), Sacaton Flats, Gila River Reservation
1906-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. Paschal Mission (Maricopa, Pima), Blackwater, Gila River Reservation
1906-unknown (closed) (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. Peter Mission and School (Maricopa, Pima), Casa Blanca, Gila River Reservation
1905-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission (Yaqui), Guadalupe [Guadalupe Township]
1910-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. Anthony Mission (Maricopa, Pima), Sacaton, Gila River Reservation
1913-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. Francis Mission (Maricopa), Ak-chin, Ak-chin Reservation
1923-1950 (closed) (Phoenix, 1969)	St. Peter Day School (Pima), Casa Blanca, Gila River Reservation; staffed by Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity (Manitowoc, Wisconsin), 1935-present
1930-1932 (closed) (Phoenix, 1969)	Sacate Day School (Pima), Sacate, Gila River Reservation; staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange (Orange, California)
1930-1932 (closed) (Phoenix, 1969)	Santa Day Cruz School (Pima), Santa Cruz, Gila River Reservation; staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange (Orange, California)
1930-1932 (closed) (Phoenix, 1969)	Sacaton Day Flats School (Maricopa, Pima), Sacaton Flats, Gila River Reservation; staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange (Orange, California)
1930-1950 (closed) (Phoenix, 1969)	St. Francis Day School (Tohono O’odham, Pima), Ak-chin, Ak-chin Reservation; staffed by Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity (Manitowoc, Wisconsin)
1923-1950 (closed) (Phoenix, 1969)	St. Peter Day School (Pima), Casa Blanca, Gila River Reservation; staffed by Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity (Manitowoc, Wisconsin), 1930-present
1933-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (Pima, Yaqui), Tempe
1936-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. Peter Mission and School (Pima), Bapchule, Gila River Reservation; staffed by Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity (Manitowoc, Wisconsin)
1944-present (Phoenix, 1969-present)	St. Mary Church (Hualapai), Kingman
1966-1997 (consolidated) (Phoenix, 1969-1997)	Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mission (Navajo), Flagstaff
1972-present	St. Margaret Church (Pima), Tempe
1984-present	St. Paschal Baylon Mission (Pima), Lehi
1997-present	San Francisco de Asis Church and School (Navajo), Flagstaff
Unknown-present	St. Catherine Mission (Maricopa, Pima), Santa Cruz, Gila River Reservation

 

Holdings of Catholic-related records about Native Americans: 

Inclusive dates: ca. 1885-ongoing

Volume: Approximately 3.5 cubic feet  

Description: 7 series include Native Catholic records under jurisdiction of the Archives and the Division of Formation and Education; see also – the guide entry for Laveen, Arizona, Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit.

 

Archives:

/1 Bishops’ and Chancellors’ Files

Volume: 3 folders

Inclusive dates: ca. 1970-1977

Description: Bishop Edward Anthony McCarthy (1918-1994); re: activities at St. John School, Laveen.

A. Clippings, Folder 10, 1 item

B. Photographs, Folder 11, 3 images on contact sheet, and Folder 15, 1 photo print

 

/2 Sacramental Records

Inclusive dates: ca. 1885-ongoing 

Volume: Several reels of microfilm, in part

Description: Arranged alphabetically by parish location and there under by 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.

A. Flagstaff, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 1966-1997

B. Flagstaff, San Francisco de Asis Church, 1997-ongoing; includes a few Natives

C. Gila Bend, St. Michael Church, 1963-ongoing; believed to include an attended Native mission, Gila Bend, St. Lucy Mission, 1963-ongoing

D. Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 1980-ongoing

E. Laveen, St. John Church and its attended missions:

1. St. John Church: Baptisms, 1901-ongoing, (in Latin to 1912), first communions, 1994-ongoing, confirmations, 1902-ongoing, marriages, 1902-ongoing, and burials, 1912-ongoing

2. St. Anthony Mission, Sacaton, 1910-1949

3. St. Francis Assisi of Mission, Salt River, ca. 1900-1930

4. St. Francis Mission, Ak-chin, 1913-1939, 1998-ongoing

5. Ss. Simon and Jude Mission, Gila Bend, 1915

6. St. Anne Mission, Santan, 1910-1940

7. St. Michael Mission, Sacaton Flats, 1910-1949

8. St. Paschal Mission, Blackwater, 1910-1949

9. St. Peter Mission, Casa Blanca, 1910-1949

F. Mesa, Queen of Peach Church, 1947-1972; believed to include an attended Native mission, St. Francis of Assisi Mission, Salt River, 1947-1972

G. Phoenix, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1927-1933; believed to include an attended Native mission, Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, Guadalupe, 1927-1933

H. Phoenix, St. Mary Basilica/ Immaculate Conception Church, 1885-1926; these attended Native missions may be included:

1. St. Lucy/ Ss. Simon and Jude Mission, Gila Bend, 1885-1914

2. St. John the Baptist Mission, Laveen, 1897-1909

3. Phoenix Government School, Phoenix, 1905-1930

4. St. Anne Mission, Santan, 1906-1909

5. St. Michael Mission, Sacaton Flats, 1906-1909

6. St. Paschal Mission, Blackwater, 1906-1909

7. St. Peter Mission, Casa Blanca, 1906-1909

8. Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, Guadalupe, 1906-1926

I. Sacaton, St. Peter Church and its attended missions:

1. St. Peter Church: Baptisms, 1938-1981, first communions, 1944-1994, confirmations, 1945-1983, marriages, 1940-1981, and burials, 1944-1985

2. Holy Family Mission, Blackwater, 1949-ongoing

3. Our Lady of Victory Mission, Sacaton Flats, 1949-ongoing

4. St. Anne Mission, Santan, 1949-ongoing

5. St. Anthony Mission, Sacaton, 1949-ongoing

6. St. Michael Mission, Sacaton Flats, 1949-ongoing

7. St. Paschal Mission, Blackwater, 1949-1978

8. St. Peter Mission, Casa Blanca, 1949-ongoing

9. St. Francis Mission, Ak-chin, 1938-1998

J. Salt River, St. Francis Church and St. Paschel Mission, Lehi, 1978-ongoing; baptisms, first communions, confirmations, marriages, and burials

K. Tempe, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 1933-1980; this attended Native mission may be included: Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, Guadalupe, 1933-1980

 

/3 Parish Files

Inclusive dates: 1885-ongoing

Volume: Approximately .5 cubic foot

Description: Arranged numerically by accession number and there under by file number within Row 1, Cabinet 4, Drawer 3; include clippings, correspondence, reservation maps, notes, pamphlets, and photography (black and white and color prints and slides of buildings and activities): 

A. Files 23-24, ca. 1970-1992, includes photographs, Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

B. Accession No. 006-1

1. File 1: St. John the Baptist School, Laveen, Gila River Reservation, ca. 1976, 1989; photographs

2. File 2: St. Anthony Mission, Sacaton, Gila River Reservation, 1996, undated; clipping and map

3. File 3: St. Francis Mission, Ak-Chin, undated; photographs (color prints)

4. File 4: St. Catherine Mission, Santa Cruz, Gila River Reservation, 1999; photographs (color prints), re: Kateri festival

5. File 5: Gila River Reservation, ca. 1981-2006; photographs (color prints and slides) with notes by Sister Anne Fischer, S.N.D.N. [Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur], 2006: feast day celebration (Pima, Yaqui), ca. 1981-2000, All Saints and All Souls Day activities at cemetery, ca. 1981-2000, Tekakwitha Conference with Pope John Paul II, Phoenix, 1981, and Our Lady of Victory Mission, Sacaton Flats, ca. 2003

6. File 6: St. Anthony Mission, Sacaton, Gila River Reservation, ca. 1981-1989; clipping and photographs (black and white and color prints), re: Passion play, 1989

7. File 7: St. John the Baptist Church, Laveen, Gila River Reservation, 2000; photographs (color prints), re: ordination of Deacon Clement Anselmo (Tohono O’odham) and Deacon Sidney Martin (Acoma)

C. Accession Number Accession No. 002-2

1. File 22: St. John School, Laveen, Gila River Reservation, 1897-ongoing

2. File 29: St. Anne Mission, Sacaton, Gila River Reservation, ca. 1990

3. File 36: St. Peter School, Bapchule, Gila River Reservation, ca. 1970-1977

 

/4 Buildings and Properties Files

Volume: Approximately 1 cubic foot

Inclusive dates: ca. 1910-ongoing

Description: Architectural drawings, re: includes several Native missions and parishes.

 

/5 Priests’ Files 

Inclusive dates: 1969-2000 

Volume: 1 folder Description: Arranged numerically by file number with 1 folder/person; includes Franciscans and diocesan priests; File 124: Rev. Gary Swirczynski, clipping.

 

/6 Diocesan Magazine and Newspaper

Inclusive dates: 1971-ongoing

Volume: Several articles 

Description: Occasional articles about Native Americans and Catholic evangelization in the diocese are included: 

A. Record Group 1: Alive Magazine, 1971-1984; with index

B. Record Group 12: Photographs, 1971-ongoing

C. Record Group 13: The Catholic Sun, 1985-ongoing

 

Division of Formation and Education:

/7 School Records

Inclusive dates: 1945-1977

Volume: Ca. 2 cubic feet

Description: High school transcripts for students of St. John the Baptist School, Laveen, which are arranged alphabetically by surname.

 

For student attendance records at Catholic schools that served Native Americans – see also -- Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions 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.

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