GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
California: CA-57

Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Archives
15151 San Fernando Mission Boulevard
Mission Hills, CA 91345

Phone: 818-365-1501

 

Open: See website

Access: Some restrictions apply  

Copying facilities: No 

 

History: The Diocese of Two Californias (Alta and Baja California, Mexico) was erected from territory in the Diocese of Sonora and subject to the Metropolitan See of Mexico City, Mexico, 1840. It was reorganized as the Diocese of Monterey, subject to the Metropolitan See of San Francisco, California, 1853. It was renamed the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles, 1859; renamed the Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego, 1922; and elevated as the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 1936. Los Angeles reported an estimated 25,000 to 40,000 Native American Catholics in the Archdiocese, 2000, and the Los Angeles Archdiocese and its predecessors have administered the following Native American missions, parishes, and schools in California: 

1769-1853, 1862-1907 (no longer Native) (Los Angeles, 1840-1907)	San Diego de Alcalá Mission (Kumiai), San Diego
1770-1836 (Natives diminished) (Los Angeles, 1840)	San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission (Esselen, Ohlone), [Carmel]
1771-1834, 1843-ca. 1900 (no longer Native)	San Gabriel Arcángel Mission (Serrano), San Gabriel
1771-1882 (closed) (Los Angeles, 1840-1882)	San Antonio de Padua Mission (Chumash, Yokuts), [Jolon]
1772-1845, 1859-1860s (no longer Native) (Los Angeles, 1840-1922)	San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Mission (Chumash, Yokuts), [San Luis Obispo]
1775-1834, 1845 (Natives declined) (Los Angeles, 1840-1976)	San Juan Capistrano Mission (Cahuilla, Juaneño), [San Juan Capistrano]
1776-ca. 1900 (no longer Native) (Los Angeles, 1840-1853)	San Francisco de Asís [Dolores] Mission (Ohlone, Wintun), [San Francisco]
1777-1836 (closed)	Santa Clara de Asís Mission (Miwok, Ohlone), [Santa Clara]
1780-1781 (closed)	Puerto de la Purísima Concepción Mission (Yuma), [Fort Yuma]
1781-ca. 1850s (no longer Native)	Our Lady Queen of Angels/ La Placita Church/ Iglesia Nuestra Señora Reina de los Angeles Mission (Mestizos), Los Angeles
1782-ca. 1925 (no longer Native)	San Buenaventura Mission (Chumash), Ventura
1786-1845 (closed)	Santa Barbara Mission (Chumash), Santa Barbara
1787-1845 (closed)	La Purísima Concepción de Maria Santisima Mission (Chumash), Lompoc
1791-ca. 1900 (no longer Native) (Los Angeles, 1840-1922)	Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Mission (Esselen, Ohlone, Yokuts), Soledad
1791-1834 (closed)(Los Angeles, 1840-1922)	Santa Cruz Mission (Chumash, Ohlone), Santa Cruz
1795-present (Los Angeles, 1840-1936)	San Antonio de Pala Mission (Cahuilla, Kumiai, Cupeño), Pala, Pala Reservation
1797-1834 (no longer Native)	San Fernando Rey de España Mission (Gabrielino), Mission Hills
1797-1868 (no longer Native) (Los Angeles, 1840-1853)	San José de Guadalupe Mission (Miwok, Ohlone, Yokuts), Fremont
1797-ca. 1900 (no longer Native) (Los Angeles, 1840-1922)	San Juan Bautista Mission (Miwok, Ohlone, Yokuts), San Juan Bautista
1797-ca. 1900 (no longer Native) (Los Angeles, 1840-1922)	San Miguel Arcángel Mission (Yokuts), San Miguel
1798-ca. 1900 (no longer Native) (Los Angeles, 1840-1936)	San Luís Rey de Francia Mission (Cahuilla), Oceanside
1804-present	Santa Inés Mission (Chumash), Solvang
1817-ca. 1900 (no longer Native) (Los Angeles, 1840-1853)	San Rafael Arcángel Mission (Miwok, Pomo, Wintun), San Rafael
1818-1834 (closed) (Los Angeles, 1840-1936)	St. Francis of Assisi Visita (Kumiai, Cupeño, Yuma), Warner’s Hot Springs
1818-present (Los Angeles, 1840-1936)	Santa Ysabel Mission/ Asistencia (Kumiai), Santa Ysabel
1823-1846 (closed) (Los Angeles, 1840-1936)	Las Flores Asistencia (Cahuilla), San Diego County
1823-1881 (closed) (Los Angeles, 1840-1853)	San Francisco Solano Mission (Miwok, Pomo, Wintun, Yuki), Sonoma
1858-present (Los Angeles, 1858-1936)	St. Joseph Mission (Cahuilla), San Jacinto
1878-present (Los Angeles, 1878-1936)	Santa Rosa Mission (Yokuts), Santa Rosa
1886-present (Los Angeles, 1886-1936)	Our Lady of Refuge Mission (Cahuilla), La Jolla
1887-1907 (moved to Banning) (Los Angeles, 1892-1936)	St. Anthony School (Cahuilla, Kumiai, Cupeño), San Diego
1890-1950s (no longer Native) (Los Angeles, 1890-1936)	St. Boniface School (Cahuilla, Cupeño, Serrano), Banning
1890-present (Los Angeles, 1890-1936)	St. Mary Mission (Cahuilla, Serrano, Cupeño), Banning, Morongo Reservation
1890-present (Los Angeles, 1890-1936)	St. Florian Mission (Cahuilla, Serrano, Cupeño), Cabazon
1894-present (Los Angeles, 1894-1936)	St. Thomas Mission (Yuma), Winterhaven, Quechan Reservation
1898-present (Los Angeles, 1898-1936)	St. Dominic Mission (Kumiai, Cupeño, Yuma), Mesa Grande
1903-present (Los Angeles, 1903-1936)	St. Mary Mission/ Holy Trinity Church (Kumiai), El Cajon
1904-present (Los Angeles, 1904-1936)	Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Mission (Cahuilla), Thermal
1909-present (Los Angeles, 1909-1936)	St. Michael Mission (Kumiai), Temecula
1912-present (Los Angeles, 1840-1967)	Mater Dolorosa Mission (Mono), Terra Bella
1912-present (Los Angeles, 1840-1936)	Our Lady of the Rosary Mission (Kumiai), Boulevarde-Manzanita
1918-present (Los Angeles, 1918-1936)	Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mission (Kumiai), El Cajon
1920-present (Los Angeles, 1840-1967)	St. Edward Mission (Yokuts), Stratford
1920s-1990s (closed) (Los Angeles, 1920-1936)	St. Michael Mission (Kumiai, Cupeño, Yuma), Cosmit-Inaja
1927-present (Los Angeles, 1840-1936)	Our Lady of Mount Carmel Mission and School (Cahuilla, Kumiai), San Ysidro
1930-present (Los Angeles, 1930-1936)	St. James Mission (Cahuilla, Kumiai, Cupeño, Yuma), Valley Center
1930-present (Los Angeles, 1930-1936)	St. Bartholomew Mission (Cahuilla, Kumiai, Cupeño), Rincon Reservation
1933-present (Los Angeles, 1840-1967)	St. Rita Mission (Miwok), Squaw Valley

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:

Inclusive dates: 1840-ongoing

Volume: Ca. 10 cubic feet 

Description: 5 series include Native Catholic records: 

 

/1 Arch/Bishops Papers

Inclusive dates: 1840-1947

Volume: Ca. 5% of ca. 20 cubic feet (17,911 letters)

Description: Ca. 18,000 letters arranged chronologically by administration; a number pertain to Native missions and evangelization to 1934. For further information -- see -- Calendar of Documents and Related Historical Materials in the Archival Center, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Mary Rose Cunningham, compiler, Saint Francis Historical Society, Mission Hills, California, 1990-1997, 14 volumes with index.

A. Bishop Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno, O.F.M. [Franciscans] (1785-1846), 1840-1846, and Diocesan Administrator Fray José María Gonzáles Rubio, O.F.M., (1804-1875), 1846-1851, ca. 50% of .6 cubic foot (612 letters), re: mission administration and secularization in Alta and Baja California. Major correspondents include Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado, Fray Narcisco Durán, O.F.M., Padre Gabriel Gonzáles, O.P. [Dominicans], Fray Antonio Jimeno, O.F.M., Fray José Joaquín Jimeno, O.F.M., Fray Jess del Mercado, O.F.M., Governor Manuel Micheltorena, Governor Pio Pico, Padre Ignacio Ramírez, O.P., Fray Antonio Real, O.F.M., and Fray José María Gonzáles Rubio, O.F.M.

B. Bishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany y Conill, O.P. (1814-1888), 1850-1853, ca. 35% of .2 cubic foot (160 letters), re: mission administration and Native advocacy. Major correspondents include Luke Lea, Fray José Maria Gonzáles Rubio, O.F.M., and Padre Prudencio Santillan.

C. Bishop Thaddeus Amat y Brusi, C.M. (1810-1878), 1854-1878, ca. 15% of ca. 1.5 cubic feet (1,620 letters), re: mission and school administration and mission land titles. Major correspondents include Rev. John Baptist A. Brouillet (Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions), Agent J.L. Burchard, Eugene Casserly, C.C. Delano, General Charles Ewing (Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions), Thomas Henley, T. William Moore, Padre Luciano Osuna, Fray José Maria Gonzales Rubio, O.F.M., and Rev. Anthony Ubach.

D. Bishop Francisco Mora y Borrell (1827-1905), 1873-1896, ca. 30% of ca. 1 cubic foot (1,072 letters), re: mission and school administration. Major correspondents include the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, Rev. Joachim Adam, Rev. Florian Hahn, C.Pp.S. [Society of the Precious Blood], Charles Lusk (Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions), Thomas J. Morgan, Rev. Stanislaus Riemann, O.F.M., Rev. Joseph A. Stephan (Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions), Rev. Anthony Ubach, and Rev. George Willard.

E. Bishop George Thomas Montgomery (1847-1907), 1896-1903, ca. 50% of ca. .4 cubic foot (420 letters), re: mission and school administration. Major correspondents include Rev. Florian Hahn, C.Pp.S., Charles Lusk (Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions), and Rev. Anthony Ubach.

F. Bishop Thomas James Conaty (1847-1915), 1903-1915, and Diocesan Administrator, 1915-1917, ca. 5% of ca. 4 cubic feet (3,427 letters), re: mission and school administration and mission building restoration. Major correspondents include Reverend Florian Hahn, C.Pp.S., Rev. William H. Ketcham (Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions), Rev. Edward La Pointe, and Charles Lummis.

G. Archbishop/Bishop John J. Cantwell (1874-1947), 1917-1947, ca. 2% of ca. 12 cubic feet (10,600 letters), re: mission and school administration. Major correspondents include Rev. Edward R. Dyer, S.S. [Sulpicians] (Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, Commission for Catholic Missions among the Colored People and the Indians), Rev. William M. Hughes (Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions), Rev. William H. Ketcham (Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions), and Rev. Tiburtius Wand, O.F.M.

 

/2 Sacramental Records 

Inclusive dates: 1770-1937

Volume: 69 volumes plus several reels of microfilm

Description: Arranged alphabetically by parish location and there under by name; includes baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials for the following Native missions and stations; for further information -- see -- the online inventory.

A. Carmel, San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission, 1770-1915, 11 volumes

B. Jolon, San Antonio de Padua Mission, 1771-1872, 6 volumes

C. Lompoc, La Purísima Concepción de Maria Santisima Mission, 1788-1851, 2 volumes

D. Mission Hills, San Fernando Rey de España Mission, 1797-1855, 3 volumes

E. San Gabriel, San Gabriel Arcángel Mission, 1771-1868, 8 volumes

F. San Juan Bautista, San Juan Bautista Mission, 1792-1937, 4 volumes

G. San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Mission, 1772-1906, 4 volumes

H. San Miguel, San Miguel Arcángel Mission, 1797-1925, 3 volumes

I. San Rafael, San Rafael Arcángel Mission, 1817-1907, 6 volumes

J. Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Mission, 1786-1857, 3 volumes

K. Soledad, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Mission, 1791-1851, 2 volumes

L. Solvang, Santa Inés Mission, 1804-1917, 4 volumes

M. Ventura,San Buenaventura Mission, 1782-1912, 8 volumes

N. Mexico, Santiago Mission, Diocese of Tijuana, 1739-1768, 1 Volume

O. Mexico, All Saints Mission, Diocese of Tijuana, 1768-1862, 1 Volume

P. Mexico, San Francisco Borja Mission, Diocese of Tijuana, 1762-1819, 1 Volume

Q. Mexico, Santa Gertrudis Mission, Diocese of Tijuana, undated, 2 Volumes

 

/3 Parish Files

Inclusive dates: 1779-1919  

Volume: 41 volumes 

Description: Books of accounts, decretos obispado, padron, patentes, and visitors from parishes; parishes outside of the present-day Archdiocese are so noted; inventory online.

A. Carmel, San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission [Diocese of Monterey], 1818-1842, 2 volumes

B. Lompoc, La Purísima Concepción de Maria Santisima Mission, 1779-1834, 8 volumes

C. Jolon, San Antonio de Padua Mission [Diocese of Monterey], 1811-1841, 4 volumes

D. Mission Hills, San Fernando Rey de España Mission, 1806, 1 volume

E. San Diego, San Diego de Alcalá Mission [Diocese of San Diego], 18061846, 1 volume

F. San Gabriel, San Gabriel Arcángel Mission, 1773-1832, 2 volumes

G. San Juan Bautista, San Juan Bautista Mission [Diocese of Monterey], 1810-1826, 2 volumes

H. San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Mission [Diocese of Monterey], 1806-1840, 2 volumes

I. San Miguel, San Miguel Arcángel Mission [Diocese of Monterey], 18011844, 2 volumes

J. Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Mission, 1786-1857, 3 volumes

K. Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Mission [Diocese of Monterey], 1806-1878, 2 volumes

L. Soledad, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Mission [Diocese of Monterey], 1806-1833, 1 volume

M. Solvang, Santa Inés Mission, 1804–1919, 7 volumes

N. Ventura, San Buenaventura Mission, 1790-1867, 6 volumes

 

/4 Personnel Files 

Inclusive dates: Unknown 

Volume: Few folders 

Description: Contains records on Monsignor William M. Hughes (1880-1939), a diocesan priest of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, who served the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, Washington, D.C., as a lecturer, 1910-1916, and as director, 1921-1935. 

 

/5 Archdiocesan Newspaper

Inclusive dates: 1895-1935, 1989-ongoing

Volume: Several articles

Description: The Tidings has included occasional articles on Native Americans and Catholic evangelization in the archdiocese.

 

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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