GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Arizona: AZ-50
University of Arizona Libraries. Special Collections
1510 East University Boulevard
P.O. Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721
Phone: 520-621-6423
Email: See website (Special Collections)
Alternate website: Arizona Archives Online
Hours: See website
Access: See website
Copying facilities: Yes
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1721-1978
Volume: Ca. 33 cubic feet
Description: 20 collections include Native Catholic records, which where appropriate, are included in the Documentary Relations of the Southwest (DRSW), an online guide to research regarding Catholic-Spanish evangelization, exploration, and settlement in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Northern Mexico, 1520-1820. DRSW provides item-level descriptions to records and is hosted by the Institutional Repository of the University of Arizona Libraries.
/1 “Breve explicación de las Facultades concedidas por el Yllmõ. Señor á los Curas, y Vicarios de esta Diócesis: y resolución de las dificultades, que pueden ocurrir en la práctica, MS 129” Inclusive dates: ca. 1725-1767
Volume: 1 item
Description: Instructions to clergy within the diocese detailing the faculties newly conferred on them by the bishop or archbishop, primarily concerning penance and marriage; ends with a Jesuit motto, "Ad majorem Dei gloriam."
/2 “Catholic Church, Diocese of Tucson Records, MS 296“
Inclusive dates: 1721-1957 (bulk 1863-1903)
Volume: Ca. 1.8 cubic feet
Description: Native (e.g. Pima, Tohono O’odham) and non-Native American sacramental records (baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials) from Benson, Calabasas/ Calabazas, Florence, Solomonville, Tubac, Tumacacori, Tombstone, and Yuma, Arizona; mostly photocopies.
/3 “Documents relating to Southwest History, AZ 207”
Inclusive dates: 1736-1795
Volume: 7 volumes
Description: Correspondence on discovery of silver in Arizona with sites in Yaqui possession; the governorship of Juan Bautista de Anza, particularly his policies toward Hopi Indians; and the career of José de Zúniga; notable authors: Bishop D. Benito Crespo, Pueblo, Mexico, Padre Cristóbal de Canas, S.J., Padre José Toral, S.J. [Jesuits], Padre Juan de Echagoyan, S.J., Don Juan Bautista de Anza, New Mexican Governor, and Don José de Zuniga.
/4 “Franciscans, Queretaro College Archives, MS 194”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1650-1800
Volume: 4 volumes Description: Mostly correspondence (English typescripts), re: Native missions in California, Guatemala, Sonora, Mexico, and Texas; notable correspondents: Fray Diego Bringas, O.F.M. [Franciscans], Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa, Viceroy of New Spain, Fray Juan Marcelo Diaz, O.F.M., Fray Florencio Ibáñez O.F.M., Fray Francisco Iturralde, O.F.M., Fray Fernando Madueño, O.F.M., Fray Bartolomé Socies, O.F.M., Fray Diego Xímenez, O.F.M., and the Spanish Crown; from the Civezza Collection, Pontifical Antonianum University Library, Rome, Italy.
/5 “Franciscans, Records of St. John the Baptist Province, AZ 500”
Inclusive dates: 1868-1978 (bulk 1906-1965)
Volume: Ca. 18 cubic feet
Description: Correspondence, financial records, photographs, maps, publications, and personal papers created and/or collected by Franciscans of St. John the Baptist Province and categorized by notable authors and subjects. For a history of its Native American missions in Arizona and New Mexico -- see -- the guide entry under Cincinnati, Ohio, Franciscans. St. John the Baptist Province. Archives.
A. Boxes 1-2. Papers of Rev. Anselm Weber (1862-1921), O.F.M.
B. Box 3. Papers of Rev. Leopold Ostermann (1864-1930), O.F.M., Rev. Marcellus Troester (1879-1936), O.F.M., and other Franciscans
C. Box 4. Rev. Berard Haile (1874-1961), O.F.M. and Archbishop of Fe, New Mexico Rudolph A. Gerken (1887-1943), O.F.M.
D. Boxes 5-16. St. Michael’s Mission, St. Michaels, Arizona
E. Box 17. Navajo Saga; primarily correspondence and related financial records for this 1949 history of Franciscan evangelization on the Navajo Reservation based on research by Rev. Haile, O.F.M.
F. Boxes 18-21. Other Franciscan Indian Missions in the Southwest; includes Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Fort Defiance, Arizona, St. Eleanor Chapel, Fort Wingate, Arizona, St. Joseph Mission, Keams Canyon, Arizona, St. Isabel Church, Lukachukai Arizona, and St. Anthony Mission, Shiprock, New Mexico, all on the Navajo Reservation
G. Boxes 22-25. Records, re: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People, Preservation Society, and other Catholic organizations
H. Boxes 26-32. Land records
I. Boxes 33-35. Franciscans, St. John the Baptist Province
J. Boxes 36-37. General Franciscans, including funding appeals, policies, and Navajo-Catholic relationships
K. Box 38. Catholic Church, includes Santa Fe Archbishop J.B. Pitaval, Gallup Bishop Bernard T. Espelage, and Tucson Bishop Henry Granjon and Bishop Daniel J. Gercke
L. Box 39. United States Government and Indian Organizations
M. Box 40. Indian Education, including Catholic religious instruction at government Indian schools:
1. Albuquerque School, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2. Intermountain School, Brigham City, Utah
3. Ute Mountain School, Towaoc, Colorado
N. Boxes 41-42. Navajo Indians, including marriage, military service, and biographical
O. Box 43. Legislation and government publications regarding Indians
P. Box 44. Navajo Tribal Council
Q. Box 45. Articles about Navajo Indians
R. Box 46. Estates, guardianships, and wills
S. Boxes 47-53. Rev. Emanuel Trockur, O.F.M., Rev. Marcellus Troester, O.F.M., and other Franciscans
T. Box 54: Anselm Weber, O.F.M.: Missionary to the Navaho, 1898-1921, by Robert L. Wilken
U. Box 55. Oversize items, including maps, photographs, clippings and financial records
/6 “Franciscan Reports, MS 216”
Inclusive dates: 1785-1792
Volume: .1 cubic foot
Description: Typescripts (copies), re: Sinaloan and Sonoran missions; in part from the Bancroft Library, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California and the Archivo General de la Nación, Mexico City, Mexico.
/7 “Haile, Berard Papers, AZ 132”
Inclusive dates: 1893-1961 (bulk 1925-1961)
Volume: Ca. 9 cubic feet
Description: Correspondence, manuscripts, notes, and drawings by Rev. Haile (1874-1961), O.F.M. [Franciscans]; re: Apache, Navajo (especially language), and Zuni Indians plus sermons, prayers, and historical accounts of his teaching and pastoral work at Michael’s Mission, St. Michaels, and St. Isabel Mission, Lukachukai, Arizona; notable correspondents include Rev. Anselm Weber, O.F.M., Rev. Leopold Ostermann, O.F.M., Rev. Marcellus Troester, O.F.M., Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions (Monsignor William H. Ketcham, Rev. William Hughes and Charles S. Lusk), Clyde Kluckhohn, Gladys Reichard, and Edward Sapir.
/8 “Heald, Phyllis and Weldon Papers, MS 359“
Inclusive dates: ca. 1950s
Volume: 1 folder
Description: Series 5 Box 4, Folder 42, “Southwest Photographs,” re: San Xavier del Bac Mission, Tucson, Arizona.
/9 “Report of an Exploration, Written at Mission Dolores, Pimeria Alta, AZ 438”
Inclusive dates: 1699
Volume: 1 item
Description: By Padres Eusebio Francisco Kino, S.J. and Antonio Leal, S.J. [Jesuits], re: geography, Native Americans, and Catholic evangelization.
/10 “Lummis, Charles Fletcher, MS 39”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 folder
Description: Box 4, Folder 3: Manuscript, re: Santa Cruz Mission, Santa Cruz, California; Spanish.
/11 “Miller, Ruebin A. Papers, AZ 344”
Inclusive dates: 1867-1897, 1871-1880
Volume: Ca. .1 cubic foot
Description: Correspondence, reports, and financial records by a Bureau of Indian Affairs agent and physician, re: relationships with Tohono O’odham Indians and San Xavier del Bac Mission, Tucson, Arizona.
/12 “Oblasser, Bonaventure Papers, MS 300, AZ 397, and AZ 554”
Inclusive dates: 1861-1977 (bulk 1908-1950)
Volume: Ca. 3 cubic feet
Description: By Rev. Oblasser (1885-1967), O.F.M.:
A. Correspondence (mostly copies), 1908-1977 (bulk 1908-1950); re: missions and schools in Arizona and California, particularly San Xavier del Bac Mission and School, Tucson, Arizona, St. John the Baptist Mission and School Laveen, Arizona, and San Solano Missions, Topawa, Arizona among the Pima and Tohono O'odham Indians, ca. 1908-1940; notable correspondents: George W.P. Hunt, John Collier, and Carl Trumbull Hayden
B. Oral history interview by Bernard Fontana, 1959
C. Diary and scrapbook of San Xavier del Bac Mission, 1861-1948
D. Papers of Rev. Nicholas Perschl (1887-1969), O.F.M.
/13 “Perschl, Nicholas, Interview, AZ 396”
Inclusive dates: 1959
Volume: 1 item
Description: Interview of Rev. Perschl (1887-1969), O.F.M. [Franciscans] by Bernard L. Fontana; re: history of San Xavier del Bac Mission, 1914-1923.
/14 “Salpointe, Jean Baptise Papers, MS 276“
Inclusive dates: 1867-1884
Volume: .1 cubic foot
Description: Correspondence of Tucson Bishop Salpointe (1825-1898); re: San Xavier del Bac Mission, in part.
/15 “Sedelmayr, Jacobo, Letters and Reports, AZ 437“
Inclusive dates: 1744-1751
Volume: Ca. .3 cubic foot
Description: Correspondence (mostly copies with typescripts) of Padre Sedelmayr (1703-1779), S.J.; re: Gila and Colorado River explorations with encounters with the Pima, Tohono O'odham, Apache, Yuma, and Seri Indians; notable correspondents include Padre Cristóbal de Escobar y Llamas, S.J. [Jesuits], Padre Juan Antonio Balthasar, S.J., Padre Philipp Segesser, S.J., and Padre Andrés Xavier García, S.J.; Spanish with English translations or summaries.
/16 “Schwalen, Harold Christy (1895-1987) Papers, AZ 563”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1952-1956
Volume: 1 folder
Description: Blueprints, correspondence, maps, notes, and photographs, re: water research project at San Xavier del Bac Mission, Tucson, Arizona.
/17 “Sonora, Asuntos de misiones de, MS 221”
Inclusive dates: 1821-1836
Volume: 76 items
Description: Correspondence (typescripts), re: in part, Tucson and San José de Tumacacori Mission, Tumacacori, Arizona; Spanish.
/18 “Sonora del Archivo, Colegio Apostolico de la Santa Cruz de Queretaro, Cartas de, MS 210“
Inclusive dates: 1737-1842
Volume: 2 volumes
Description: Correspondence (transcripts), re: Franciscan Indian missions in Northern New Spain, including Arizona.
/19 “Tápiz, Visitation of Petro, MS 212“
Inclusive dates: 1715
Volume: 1 volume
Description: Report (typescript) by Bishop Pedro de Tápiz y Garcia, re: missions of the Durango Diocese; Spanish.
/20 “Wilbur, Rueben Augustine Papers, MS 565“
Inclusive dates: Between 1863-1897
Volume: Few items
Description: Records of an Indian agent and physician among the Tohono O’odham Indians; includes is a dispute with Tucson Bishop John Baptist Salpointe, re: non-Native encroachment onto Native lands near San Xavier del Bac Mission, Tucson, Arizona.
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
