GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
California: CA-126

St. Thomas Mission
350 Picacho Road
Fort Yuma, CA
P.O. Box 1176
Winterhaven, CA 92283

Phone: 760-572-0283

 

History: St. Thomas Mission, Winterhaven/ Fort Yuma, Imperial County and Fort Yuma Reservation (a.k.a. Quechan Reservation), California, has been a predominantly Native American (Yuma) parish in the Diocese of San Diego (Archives: San Diego, California).

1780-1781 (closed)	Fray Francisco Garcés, O.F.M. [Franciscans], established and Franciscans (Santo Evangelico Province) (Archives: Puebla, Mexico) administered Puerto de la Purísima Concepción Mission (Yuma), Fort Yuma until destroyed by Indians
1894-1900	Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (now Los Angeles Province) (Archives: Los Angeles, California) staffed the Fort Yuma Government Indian School (Yuma), Winterhaven/ Yuma, Fort Yuma Reservation
1894-1922	Monterrey-Los Angeles diocesan priests established and administered St. Thomas Mission (Yuma), Winterhaven
1922-1936	Los Angeles-San Diego diocesan priests administered St. Thomas Mission
1936-present	San Diego diocesan priests have administered St. Thomas

Diocesan priests at St. Thomas attended to students at the Fort Yuma Government Indian School, 1894-1900s.

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:

Inclusive dates: 1884-ongoing

Volume: Several volumes

Description: Sacramental records (e.g. baptisms, marriages, burials) for Native American parishioners of St. Thomas Mission and Native American students at the Yuma Government Indian School.

 

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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