GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 2: Midwest United States
Illinois: IL-19
Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. American Province
St. Francis Convent
Sangamon Avenue Road
P.O. Box 19431
Springfield, IL 62794
Phone: 217-522-3386
Hours: By appointment only
Access: Some restrictions may apply
Copying facilities: Yes
History: The Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis self-identify with the post-nominal initials, "PO.S.F." The American Province has staffed the following Catholic institutions serving Native Americans:
| 1949-1954 | St. Francis Home Nursing Center (e.g. Navajo), Gallup, New Mexico |
| 1953-1980 | St. Isabel Mission (Navajo), Navajo Reservation, Lukachukai, Arizona |
| 1961-present | Our Lady of Fatima Mission (Navajo), Navajo Reservation, Chinle, Arizona |
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1940s-1970s
Volume: 1.3 cubic feet
Description: 3 series include Native Catholic records:
/1 "Missions" Inclusive dates: 1949-1970s
Volume: .7 cubic foot
Description: This series is divided into active and closed missions and arranged alphabetically thereunder by location.
A. Closed Mission: Gallup, New Mexico, St. Francis Nursing Center, 1949-1954, .1 cubic foot
1. Mission Newsletter, 1961-1972, l folder
2. Historical notes and newspaper clippings, 1961-1972, 2 folders
B. Active Mission: Chinle, Arizona, Our Lady of Fatima Mission, 1961-1972, .1 cubic foot
1. Correspondence, 1949-1950, 8 letters; major correspondents include Mother Magdalene Wiedlocher, O.S.F., Sister M. Jean Sudkamp, O.S.F., and Reverend Anthony Korcek
2. Historical notes and newspaper clippings, 1949-1954, 4 folder
C. Active Mission: Lukachukai, Arizona, St. Isabel Mission, 1952-1974, .5 cubic foot:
1. Correspondence, 1952-1959, 1965, 35 letters; major correspondents include Mother Canisia Kettman, O.S.F., Sister M. Jean Sudkamp, O.S.F., Rev. Blase Brickweg, and Bishop Bernard T. Espelage
2. Mission newsletters, 1954-1966, 2 folders
3. Mission histories, 1953-1967, 11 folders; noteworthy histories include a 9-page "History of St. Isabel Mission," undated, by Rev. Emanuel Trockur, O.F.M. [Franciscans]; a 29-page history of the mission written by a sister of the community in ca. 1965; a 42-page publication entitled the Lukachukai published in ca. 1958; and The Navajo Indians, a 31-page history written in 1955 by sisters at the mission
/2 "Mother Superiors' Correspondence Files"
Inclusive dates: 1949-1963
Volume:.1 cubic foot
Description: This series is arranged by administration and thereunder alphabetically by location of the mission. Most of the Mother Superiors' files from 1952-present remain in the administrative offices.
A. Mother Magdalene Wiedlocher, O.S.F., 1949-1954, 1 folder: correspondence between Mother Magdalene Wiedlocher, O.S.F., Reverend Anthony Korcek, and Bishop Bernard T. Espelage regarding St. Francis Home Nursing Center
B. Mother Canisia Kettman, 1953-1954, 4 letters: regarding St. Francis Home Nursing Center
C. Mother Ludwina Kraus, O.S.F., 1961-1963, 2 folders: correspondence with Sister Damascene Mehl, O.S.F., regarding Our Lady of Fatima Mission and with Sister Bonita Wagner, O.S.F., regarding St. Isabel Mission
/3 Photographs
Inclusive dates: 1940s-1970s
Volume: 725 prints
Description: Indian mission photographs are arranged alphabetically by location of the mission and chronologically thereunder.
A. Chinle, Arizona, Our Lady of Fatima Mission, ca. 1964-1965, 75 prints
B. Gallup, New Mexico, St. Francis Nursing Center, ca. 1940s-1950s, 150 prints
C. Lukachukai, Arizona, St. Isabel Mission, 1950s-1970s, 400 prints
D. Arizona Missions, 1940s-1950s, 100 prints
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.
new1984/rev2003-2017
