GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 2: Midwest United States
Indiana: IN-3

Catholic Church. Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Archives
415 North Brookfield Street
South Bend, IN 46628

Phone: 260-422-4611, Extension 3386
Email: See website

 

Hours: See website

Access: See website

Copying facilities: Yes

 

History: The Diocese of Fort Wayne was erected, 1857; it lost territory as more in-state dioceses were erected, 1944-1956; and it was renamed the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, 1960. Diocesan priests from Fort Wayne-South Bend and its predecessors have served the following institutions with Native American parishioners and students:

1888-1896 (Fort Wayne, 1857-1944)	St. Joseph Indian Normal School (Dakota, Ojibwa), St. Augustine Church, Rensselaer
1970s-present	All Saints Church (Maya), Logansport
1970s-present	Holy Family Church (Maya), South Bend
1970s-present	Our Lady of Hungary Church (Maya), South Bend

Local Native Catholics (e.g. Miami), founded and maintained Miami Lilies Kateri Circle, a prayer group and local chapter of the national Tekakwitha Conference, 2012-2013.

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:

Inclusive dates: 1872-1896, 1970s-ongoing

Volume: Few records possible

Description: Records in 2 series.

 

/1 Bishop’s papers

Inclusive dates: 1888-1896

Volume: Few letters possible

Description: Letters pertaining to St. Joseph Indian Normal School, Rensselaer, and the Society of the Precious Blood (Cincinnati Province, Dayton, Ohio), which administered the school, and St. Augustine Church, Rensselaer, whose pastor served as chaplain:

A. Bishop Joseph Gregory Dwenger, C.Pp.S., 1872-1893; of the Society of the Precious Blood

B. Bishop Joseph (James) Rademacher, 1893-1896

 

/1 Parish files

Inclusive dates: 1970s-ongoing

Volume: Few records possible

Description: Records (e.g. photography, notes, clippings, letters) pertaining to Native American parishioners:

A. Logansport, All Saints Church, 1970s-ongoing

B. South Bend, Holy Family Church, 1970s-ongoing

C. South Bend, Our Lady of Hungary Church, 1970s-ongoing

 

/2 Sacramental records: Contact the parishes.

 

/3 Diocesan newspaper

Inclusive dates: 1970s-ongoing

Volume: Few articles

Description: Articles pertaining to Native American Catholics.

 

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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