GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Montana: MT-15

Catholic Church. Diocese of Great Falls-Billings. Chancery
121 Twenty-Third Street South
P.O. Box 1399
Great Falls, MT 59403-1399

Phone: 406-727-6683
Email: chancery@diocesegfb.org

 

Hours: By appointment only

Access: Some restrictions apply

Copying facilities: Yes 

 

History: The Diocese of Great Falls-Billings (formerly Diocese of Great Falls) was erected for Eastern Montana in 1904 from portions of the Diocese of Helena. In 1999 the Great Falls Diocese reported 12,000 baptized Native American Catholics. Great Falls and its predecessors have administered the following Indian missions, parishes, and schools in Montana:

1859-1917 (closed) (Great Falls-Billings, 1904-1917)	St. Peter Mission and School (Assiniboine, Atsina, Siksika, Métis), Cascade/ Fort Shaw
1884-present (Great Falls-Billings, 1904-present)	St. Labre Church/ Mission and St. Labre Indian School (Cheyenne, Crow), Ashland
1884-present (Great Falls-Billings, 1904-present)	St. Paul Mission (Atsina, Assiniboine, Métis), Hays, Fort Belknap Reservation
1887-present (Great Falls-Billings, 1904-present)	St. Francis Xavier Mission (Crow) and Pretty Eagle Academy/ St. Francis Xavier School (Crow), St. Xavier, Crow Reservation
1890-present (Great Falls-Billings, 1904-present)	St. Charles Borromeo Church/ Mission (Crow) and School, Pryor, Crow Reservation
1894-present (Great Falls-Billings, 1904-present)	Blessed Sacrament Church (Cheyenne), Lame Deer, Northern Cheyenne Reservation
1898-present (Great Falls-Billings, 1904-present)	St. Thomas Mission (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa, Métis), Lodge Pole, Fort Peck Reservation
1904-present (Great Falls-Billings, 1904-present)	St. Ann/ Our Lady of Loretto Mission (Crow), Crow Reservation, Lodge Grass
1905-present	Our Lady of Lourdes/ St. Ursula Church (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Poplar, Fort Peck Reservation
1905-present	St. Dennis Church (Crow), Crow Agency, Crow Reservation
1907-1940 (closed)	Sacred Heart Mission (Crow), Wyola, Crow Reservation
1913-present	Immaculate Conception Mission (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Wolf Point, Fort Peck Reservation
1913-1931 (closed)	St. Joseph Church (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Frazer, Fort Peck Reservation
1914-1968 (closed)	St. Thomas Mission (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Brockton, Fort Peck Reservation
1915-present	St. Thomas Mission (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Brockton, Fort Peck Reservation
1915-1980 (closed)	St. Patrick Church (Assiniboine), Medicine Lake
1917-1921 (closed?)	Arthur Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Arthur, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Burch Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Burch, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Charlie Creek Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Charlie Creek, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Circle Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Circle, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Elder Creek/ Chelsea Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Excess City Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Excess City, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Nickwell Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Nickwell, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Red Water Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Red Water, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Riverside Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), near Brockton, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Riverside Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), near Vida, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Roosevelt Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Roosevelt, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	St. Isidore Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), St. Isidore, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921, 1940-1950 (closed?)	St. Nicholas Mission (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Sprole, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1921 (closed?)	Vida Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Vida, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-present	St. Anthony/ Fort Kipp Chapel (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Fort Kipp, Fort Peck Reservation
1917-1940 (closed)	St. Ann Mission (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Milk River, Fort Peck Reservation
1924-present	Sacred Heart Church (Atsina, Assiniboine), Fort Belknap, Fort Belknap Reservation
1927-present	Sacred Heart Church (Cheyenne), Birney, Northern Cheyenne Reservation
1929-1976 (closed?)	Christ the King Mission (Cheyenne), Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Busby
1930s-present	St. Mary Church, Rocky Boy, Rocky Boy Reservation
1935-present	St. Charles Borromeo School (Crow), Pryor, Crow Reservation
1936-present	St. Paul Mission and School (Atsina, Assiniboine), Hays, Fort Belknap Reservation
1940-present	St. Joseph Church (Atsina, Assiniboine), Zortman
1949-1973 (closed)	Immaculate Conception School (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Wolf Point, Fort Peck Reservation
1950-present	St. Anthony Mission (Assiniboine, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa), Fort Kipp, Fort Peck Reservation
1956-2004 (closed)	St. Francis Assisi Mission (Cheyenne), Muddy Creek, Northern Cheyenne Reservation
1965-present	Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Church (Crow), Wyola, Crow Reservation

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans: 

Inclusive dates: 1880-ongoing  

Volume: At least 6.0 cubic feet 

Description: 7 series include Native Catholic records:

 

/1 Bishops’ Papers

Inclusive dates: 1883-ongoing

Volume: Few items within at least 5.0 cubic feet

Description: Divided by administration; topics include funding of Indian evangelization and visitations.

A. Bishop Jean-Baptiste Brondel (1841-1903), ca. 1883-1904; includes 1 folder, re: St. Peter’s Mission

B. Bishop Mathias Clement Lenihan (1854-1943), ca. 1905-1937

C. Bishop Edwin Vincent O'Hara (1881-1956), ca. 1930-1939

D. Bishop William Joseph Condon (1895-1967), ca. 1926-1967, .8 cubic foot

E. Bishop Eldon Bernard Schuster (1911-1998), ca. 1967-1977

F. Bishop Thomas Joseph Murphy (1932-1997), ca. 1978-1987

G. Bishop Anthony Michael Milone (1932-), ca. 1987-present

 

/2 Sacramental Records

Inclusive dates: 1880-1970s

Volume: Portions of 17 reels of microfilm

Description: Arranged alphabetically by parish location and there under by name; includes baptisms, first communions, confirmations, marriages, burials, and annual reports for Indian and non-Indian parishes with attended Indian missions and stations and/or a few Indian parishioners; parishes hold the original records.

A. Reel 1: Big Sandy, St. Margaret Mary Church, 1930-1970s, from 3 volumes; includes Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s Reservations, 1945-1970s; Wolf Point, Immaculate Conception Church, 1917-1970s, from 5 volumes

B. Reel 2: Belt, St. Mark Church, 1905-1970s, from 3 volumes; Great Falls/ Fort Shaw, St. Peter’s Mission, 1855-unknown, from 2 volumes

C. Reel 4: Chinook, St. Gabriel Church, 1904-1976, from 5 volumes; Harlem, St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 1943-1976 from 2 volumes; and Havre, St. Jude Thaddeus Church, 1890-1924, from 3 volumes

D. Reel 5: Havre, St. Jude Thaddeus Church, 1915-1976, from 9 volumes

E. Reel 6: Culbertson, St. Anthony Church, 1954-1977, from 1 volume; Medicine Lake, St. Patrick Church, 1909-1977; includes Culbertson, St. Anthony Mission, 1909-1977, from 5 volumes; Poplar, Our Lady of Lourdes/ St. Ursula Church, 1904-1946, from 3 volumes

F. Reel 7: Hays, St. Paul Mission, 1862-1961, from 7 volumes

G. Reel 9: Glasgow, St. Raphael Church, 1904-1977, from 4 volumes

H. Reel 10: Fort Benton, Immaculate Conception Church, 1880-1976, from 4 volumes

I. Reel 11: Poplar, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1920-1976, from 1 volume

J. Reel 12: Ashland, St. Labre Mission, 1883-1953, from 5 volumes; Crow Agency, St. Dennis Church, 1965-1970s, from 1 volume; Glasgow, St. Raphael Church, 1904-1977, from 4 volumes; Lame Deer, Blessed Sacrament Church, 1935-1947, from 1 volume; Lodge Grass, Our Lady of Loretto/ St. Ann Mission, 1904-, from 2 volumes

K. Reel 13: Ashland, St. Labre Mission, 1953-1977, from 2 volumes; Harden, St. Joseph Church, 1910-1977, from 2 volumes; Pryor, St. Charles Borromeo Church, 1908-1977, from 3 volumes; St. Xavier, St. Francis Xavier Mission, 1880-1977, from 5 volumes

 

/3 Photographs

Inclusive dates: 1887-present

Volume: Approximately 3 cubic feet

Description: 2-8 photographs/folder, mostly black and white with some in color. The holdings are divided into 3 sections alphabetized there under by name: local communities with parishes and other institutions including attended missions and stations, men’s religious institutes, and women’s religious institutes.

A. Local Communities

1. Ashland, St. Labre Mission

a. Cheyenne Retirement Home, 1981-1991, 1 folder

b. Children’s Home, 1986-, 1 folder

c. Mission, 1926-present, 13 folders

d. School, 1926- present, 6 folders

e. School Education Association, 1979-present, 6 folders

2. Big Sandy, St. Margaret Mary Church, undated, 2 folders

3. Birney, Sacred Heart Church, 1928-present, undated, 1 folder

4. Brockton, St. Thomas Church, 1926-present, 2 folders

5. Busby, Christ the King Church, 1929-present, 1 folder

6. Chinook, St. Gabriel Church, 1955-present, undated, 4 folders

7. Crow Agency, St. Dennis Church, 1933-present, 3 folders

8. Culbertson, St. Anthony Church, 1924-present, 6 folders

9. Fort Belknap, Sacred Heart Church, 1998-present, 1 folder

10. Fort Kipp, St. Anthony Church, undated, 1 folder

11. Fort Shaw, St. Peter Church, undated, 4 folders

12. Frazer, St. Joseph Church, 1959-present, 2 folders

13. Glasgow, St. Raphael Church, 1950-present, 11 folders

14. Harden, St. Joseph Church, 1920-present, 4 folders

15. Harlem

a. Sacred Heart Church, undated, 1 folder

b. St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 1986-present, 3 folders

16. Havre, St. Jude Thaddeus Church, 1954-present, 13 folders

17. Hays, St. Paul Mission, 1903-present, 3 folders

18. Lame Deer, Blessed Sacrament Church, 1943-present, 3 folders

19. Lodge Grass, Our Lady of Loretto/ St. Ann Church, 1970s-present, 3 folders

20. Medicine Lake, St. Patrick Church, 1965-present, 3 folders

21. Miles City, Ursaline Convent, undated, 1 folder

22. Poplar, St. Ursula’s/ Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1926present, 2 folders

23. Pryor, St. Charles Borromeo Church, 1939-present, 6 folders

24. Rocky Boy, St. Mary Church, 1960-present, 3 folders

25. St. Peter Church, 1887?- present, 10 folders

26. St. Xavier, St. Francis Xavier Mission, ca. 1900-present, 10 folders

27. Wolf Point, Immaculate Conception Church, 1920s-present, 11 folders

28. Wyola, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Church, 1970s-present, 1 folder

29. Zortman, St. Joseph Church, undated, 1 folder

B. Religious Communities of Men

1. Capuchins, 1954-present, 10 folders

2. Jesuits, 1890s-present, 11 folders; includes Rev. John J. Brown, S.J. (Siksika)

C. Religious Communities of Women

1. Benedictine Sisters, 1998-present, 1 folder

2. Dominican Sisters, 1954-present, 4 folders

3. School Sisters of St. Francis (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), undated, 2 folders; includes Sister M. Claire Hartman, O.S.F.

4. Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), undated, 3 folders; includes Sister José Hobday, O.S.F. (Seneca)

5. Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (Oldenburg, Indiana), undated, 3 folders

6. Ursulines, Western Province, 1954-, 11 folders; includes Sister Bertha Casimir (Eskimo) and Sister Cecilia Augustine (Eskimo)

 

/4 Parish Files   

Inclusive dates: 1924-present 

Volume: Approximately 2 cubic feet 

Description: Arranged alphabetically by location of parishes and there under by name; includes clippings, correspondence, histories and notes, and annual reports for parishes and attended missions and stations.  

A. Ashland, St. Labre Church and School, 1926-present, .2 cubic foot

B. Big Sandy, St. Margaret Mary Church, 1934-1986, 2 folders

C. Birney, Sacred Heart Church, 1960-1980, 1 folder

D. Brockton, St. Thomas Church, 1940-80, 1 folder

E. Busby, Christ the King Church, 1952-1991, 1 folder

F. Chinook, St. Gabriel Church, 1929-present, 3 folders

G. Crow Agency, St. Dennis Church, 1970-present, 1 folder

H. Culbertson, St. Anthony Church, 1918-present, 4 folders

I. Fort Belknap, Sacred Heart Church, 1934-1989, 1 folder

J. Fort Peck, St. Thomas Church, 1973-1991, 1 folder

K. Fort Shaw, St. Peter Church, 1934-present, 1 folder

L. Frazer, St. Joseph Church, 1938-1990, 1 folder

M. Glasgow, St. Raphael Church, 1919-present, 5 folders

N. Harden, St. Joseph Church, 1924-present, 2 folders

O. Harlem, St. Thomas the Apostle/ St. Stephen Church, 1934-present, 2 folders

P. Havre, St. Jude Thaddeus Church, 1932 present, 6 folders

Q. Hays, St. Paul Mission, 1930-present, 6 folders

R. Lame Deer, Blessed Sacrament Church, 1937-present, 1 folder

S. Lodge Grass, Our Lady of Lorretto/ St. Ann Church, 1958-1990, 1 folder

T. Medicine Lake, St. Patrick Church, 1934-1991, 2 folders

U. Poplar, Our Lady of Lourdes/ St. Ursula Church, 1926-1995, 4 folders

V. Pryor, St. Charles Borromeo Church, 1933-present, 2 folders

W. Rocky Boy, St. Mary Church, 1934-present, 1 folder

X. St. Xavier, St. Francis Xavier Mission, 1934-1991, 2 folders

Y. Wolf Point, Fort Peck, Immaculate Conception Church, 1933-1996, 3 folders

Z. Wyola, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha/ Sacred Heart Church, 1965-1984, 1 folder

 

/5 Personnel Records 

Inclusive dates: 1904?-present 

Volume: Few folders 

Description: Arranged alphabetically 1 folder/person; mostly diocesan priests not involved in Native American evangelization.    

 

/6 Religious Community Records 

Inclusive dates: 1905-present  

Volume: Approximately 1 cubic foot 

Description: Divided by men’s and women’s communities and arranged alphabetically by name there under.    

A. Men

1. Benedictines, 1940-1990, .1 cubic foot

2. Capuchins, 1936-1995, .2 cubic foot

3. Jesuits, 1931-present, .2 cubic foot

4. Jesuit Volunteers, 1974-present, .1 cubic foot; re: Lay men and women

B. Women

1. Dominican Sisters (Sparkill, New York) and Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary (Sinsinawa, Wisconsin), 1948-present, .2 cubic foot

2. School Sisters of St Francis (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 1959-1992, 1 folder

3. Sisters of [the Third Order of] St. Francis of Assisi (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 1977-1990, 1 folder; includes Sister José Hobday, O.S.F. (Seneca)

4. Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (Oldenburg, Indiana), 1950-1991, 1 folder

5. Ursulines, 1905-1991, .8 cubic foot

 

/7 Diocesan Newspapers  

Inclusive dates: 1917-present 

Volume: Several articles Description: The following newspapers have included occasional articles on American Indians and Catholic evangelization in the diocese.

A. The Great Falls Catholic Review, 1917-1931

B. The Montana Catholic Register, 1931-1985

C. The Harvest, 1985-present; articles from 2005-present archived online.

 

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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