GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
California: CA-87
California Historical Society. North Baker Research Library
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, California 94105
Phone: 415-357-1848
Alternative website: Online Archive of California
Hours: See website
Access: Some restrictions apply
Copying Facilities: Yes
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1775-1980s, undated
Volume: Ca. 1 cubic foot
Description: 29 collections include Native Catholic records.
Manuscript Collections:
/1 “Juan Bautista de Anza Document, MS Vault 68”
Inclusive dates: 1775
Volume: 2 pages
Description: By Juan Bautista de Anza (1735-1788) in Spanish; re: certifies unmarried status of 2 men on the Anza expedition who married soon after at San Xavier del Bac Mission, Tucson, Arizona.
/2 “Father Narciso Durán Letters, MS Vault 17”
Inclusive dates: 1808-1827
Volume: 0.2 cubic foot (36 letters) plus microfilm
Description: Correspondence of Fray Narciso Durán, O.F.M. [Franciscans] (1776-1846); re: mission administration and finances; notable correspondents include Fray José Vinals, O.F.M. (11 letters) and Fray Juan Cortez, O.F.M. (8 letters); includes some typescripts and English translations.
/3 “Jose Francisco Maria Ortega Document, MS 1612”
Inclusive dates: 1777
Volume: 1 folder
Description: Re: San José Mission, California; in Spanish.
/4 “Francisco Palóu Document, MS Vault 74”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1776-1789
Volume: 1 letter (1 page) plus microfilm
Description: Records of matrimonial investigations by Fray Francisco Palóu, O.F.M. (1723-1789). /5 “Mission Santa Clara Papers, MS 50” Inclusive dates: 1846-1847 Volume: 1 folder Description: Letter by Fray José Suárez del Real, O.F.M., California.
/6 “Francis Rand Smith Papers, MS 1998 & MS 2010”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1880s-ca. 1930s
Volume: Few folders
Description: Research notes, architectural drawings, and photographs; re: California including San Rafael Arcángel, San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, San Fernando Rey de España, and San Francisco de Asís Missions and Native Americans.
Photographic Collections:
/7 “California Counties Photography Collection”
Inclusive dates: Ca. 1850s-1980s
Volume: Less than 1% of 40 cubic feet (ca. 27,900 photographs)
Description: Arrangement by county and there under by locality; includes all 21 Spanish Franciscan missions.
/8 “General Subjects Photography Collection”
Inclusive dates: Undated
Volume: Less than 1% of 32 cubic feet (23,150 images)
Description: Prints and postcards arranged by general subject; re: includes all 21 Spanish Franciscan missions in California.
/9 “San Francisco Subject Photography Collection”
Inclusive dates: Ca. 1850s-1980s
Volume: Less than 1% of 40 cubic feet (26,500 items)
Description: Includes San Francisco de Asís Mission.
/10 “Title Insurance and Trust Collection”
Inclusive dates: 1794-ca. 1937
Volume: Several items
Description: Owned by California Historical Society and held at the University of Southern California, Regional History Center, Doheny Library, Los Angeles, with images online in the California Historical Society Digital Archive; notable photographer: C.C. Pierce Photography; re: includes all 21 Spanish Franciscan missions in California and San Xavier del Bac and San José de Tumacácori Missions in Arizona, plus Cahuilla, Cupeño, and Tohono O’odham Indians, Dominican Sisters of San Jose and Franciscans.
/11-29 “Photographic Albums”
Inclusive dates: Ca. 1856-1919, undated
Volume: At least 18 prints
Description: Albums with 1 or more photographs, re: Spanish Franciscan missions, California.
A. “California Photographs,” 1900; re: southern California
B. “Photograph Album No. 2,” undated
C. “Photo Album No. 18” [Dispaux Family], 1856, 1865-1867, 1905-1910, 1917, 1919; re: includes San Francisco de Asís Mission, 1856, 1865-1867
D. “Photo Album No. 37” [I.W. Taber], undated
E. “Photo Album No. 65” [J.A. Donohoe], ca. 1870
F. “Photo Album No. 77,” undated
G. “Photo Album No. 78,” undated
H. “Photo Album No. 84” [Carleton E. Watkins], undated
I. “Photo Album No. 113” [Edward A.L. Balling], 1906; re: includes San Francisco de Asís Mission J. “Photo Album No. 130” [E.H. Shuey (1863-1952)], undated, re: includes San Gabriel Arcángel Mission
K. “Photograph Album of Lick Observatory, San Francisco, Alameda County, Cloverdale, and other California Locales,” 1885-1895; re: includes San José Mission
L. “Photograph Album of People, Homes, and Views of Various California Locations,” ca. 1905-1919; re: includes San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission
M. “Photograph Album of San Francisco, Calif., Following the Earthquake and Fire of April 18, 1906” [James W. Plachek (1885-1948)], 1906; re: includes San Francisco de Asís Mission
N. “Photograph Album of San Francisco, Including Golden Gate Park, Ships, and Chinese,” ca. 1890-1910
O. “Photograph Album Related to Henry Miller,” ca. 1903-1907; re: includes San Diego de Alcalá Mission
P. “Photographs of Yosemite and other California scenes” [George Fiske (1835-1918)], ca. 1864-1918; re: includes San Carlos Mission
Q. “Pilgrimage of the San Francisco Club of Pilgrim Commandery No. 11, K.T., Harrisburg, Pa. to California,” 1904; re: includes San Gabriel Mission
R. “Stereographs of California and Nevada,” 1864-1866; re: includes San Juan Bautista Mission
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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