GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Montana: MT-10

Little Bighorn College. Archives
1 Forestry Lane
P.O. Box 370
Crow Agency, MT 59022

Phone: 406-638-3123

 

Hours: By appointment only

Access: Some restrictions apply

Copying Facilities: Yes

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans: 

Inclusive dates: 1888-1980s 

Volume: Ca. 33.5 cubic feet

Description: “Crow Catholic Research Collection (a.k.a. “Catholic Collection”), Accession No. 3289101;” Records (copies) compiled by Sister Karen Watembach, O.S.U. [Ursulines] (Archives: Santa Rosa, California); loaned by Our Lady of Loretto Church, Lodge Grass.

A. Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, with notes and index, 1874-1974; Series 1, Correspondence, Series 2, Reports, The Indian Sentinel, now online, and The Calumet; re: Our Lady of Loretto Church, Lodge Grass, St. Charles Mission, Pryor, and St. Xavier Mission and School, St. Xavier, plus Jesuits and Ursulines

B. Great Falls-Billings Diocesan Archives, 1911-1981: Parish files with correspondence between bishops and Jesuits, clippings, and parish histories and Reports and Applications for Aid to the Commission for the Catholic Missions among the Colored People and the Indians, re: Our Lady of Loretto Church, Lodge Grass, St. Charles Mission, Pryor, and St. Xavier Mission and School, St. Xavier, plus Jesuits and Ursulines

C. Jesuits Oregon Province Archives, then Gonzaga University, now Jesuit Archives and Research Center, St. Louis, MO (major source, many copies) and Catholic University of America. Archives, Washington, D.C. (minor source, few copies)

1. Crow language texts, re: dictionary, grammar, and Christian catechetical and worship aids, undated

2. Census of Crow Indian families, 1902, 1907-1909

3. Correspondence, 1880-1962; includes letters by Rev. Joseph M. Cataldo, S.J., Rev. Peter P. Prando, S.J., and the U.S. Office of Indian Affairs, re: Our Lady of Loretto Church, Lodge Grass, St. Charles Mission, Pryor, and St. Xavier Mission and School, St. Xavier, plus Jesuits, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, (Oldenburg, Indiana), and Ursulines

4. History of the 50 Years of My Missionary Life Among Indians and Whites, Rev. Edward Griva, S.J., 1944 5. Jesuit House Diaries, 1893-1933

D. Religious Education Files, 1967-1978, undated; re: St. Dennis Church, Crow Agency, Our Lady of Loretto Church, Lodge Grass, St. Charles Mission, Pryor, and St. Anthony Church, Wyola

E. General Mission and Church, 1945-1987, undated; re: correspondence, meeting minutes, and newsletters from St. Xavier Mission and School, St. Xavier, Our Lady of Loretto Church, Lodge Grass, St. Dennis Church, Crow Agency, St. Charles Church, Pryor, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Church, Wyola, St. Labre Mission (Cheyenne and Crow), Ashland; and Tekakwitha Conference

F. Sacramental records, St. Xavier Mission and St. Charles Mission, 1883-1926, 4 volumes; re: baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials

G. Scrapbooks, 1958-1978, 10 volumes; re: Crow Indian clippings, photographs, and memorabilia; volume 3, re: Our Lady of Loretto Church, Lodge Grass

H. Photo Albums, 1982-1984, undated, 15 volumes; re: Crow Fair and school and church celebrations; includes copies from the Jesuits Oregon Province Archives, now in Jesuit Archives and Research Center, St. Louis, Missouri, and the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records and Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Digital Image Collection online, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I. Photo Slides, 4 volumes, undated

J. Audiotapes, 1976-1984, undated; re: Crow Indian songs and stories, Gospel readings in Crow, boarding school reminiscences, Crow Indian clans and ceremonies, Joy Toineeta (Crow), Sister Karen Watembach, O.S.U., and Rev. Nigro, S.J.

K. Photographs, 1909-ca. 1938, 15 prints; available online in “Images of the Indian Peoples of the Northern Great Plains Online Image database, Museum of the Rockies. Montana State University, Montana

1. St. Ann Mission and Crow Indians, Lodge Grass, 1908; 1 print

2. St. Charles’s Mission and Crow Indians, Pryor, 1939, 1945; 4 prints

3. St. James Mission and Crow Indians, Pryor, 1909, 1922; 2 prints

4. St. Xavier Mission and Crow Indians, St. Xavier, 1923-1960s, undated; 6 prints

5. St. Anthony Mission and Crow Indians, Wyola, 1925; 1 print

6. St. Dennis Church, Crow Agency, Montana, undated; 1 print

 

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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