GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Montana: MT-23
Montana Historical Society. Research Library and Photo Archives
225 North Roberts Street
P.O. Box 201201
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: 406-444-2681
Alternate search: See Northwest Digital Archives online
Hours: Library/Archives and Photograph Archives: See website
Access: No restrictions
Copying facilities: Yes
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1863-1994, undated
Volume: Ca. 1 cubic foot
Description: 12 manuscript and 23 photography collections include Native Catholic records.
Manuscript Collections:
/1 “Catherine Belgarde Interview, OH 1894”
Inclusive dates: 1980
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: Includes experiences at St. Peter’s Mission (Siksika), Montana.
/2 “Joseph M. Cataldo Letters, SC 80”
Inclusive dates: 1887
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: 2 handwritten petitions (copies), one in French, to Rev. Joseph M. Cataldo, S.J. [Jesuits] (1837-1928) from citizens of Helena, Montana, requesting that the Jesuits establish a Catholic college in Helena; from the Jesuit Oregon Province Archives, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington.
/3 “Pierre-Jean De Smet Papers, SC 620”
Inclusive dates: 1863, 1866
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: Letters of James Hainson to Rev. Pierre-Jean De Smet, S.J. [Jesuits] (1801-1873), 1866; Rev. De Smet (in French) to Rev. Mother Superior [possibly of the Sisters of Charity of Providence] in Washington Territory, 1863; and Rev. De Smet at Fort McKenzie to possibly Andrew Dawson, 1863.
/4 “General Montana History Collection”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1968, 1983, 1993-1994
Volume: Ca. .1 cubic foot
Description:
A. OH 1652: “Art Carrier (1918-1993) Interview,” 1993, 42-page transcript; re: includes boarding school life [Siksika] at Holy Family Mission, Blackfeet Reservation, Montana
B. OH 1514: “Evelyn Sloan Webster (1903-1996) Interview,” 1983, 1 audiotape and 2-page summary; re: includes boarding school life [Salish, Kootenai] at St. Ignatius Mission, Flathead Reservation, St. Ignatius, Montana
C. OH 1388: “Mother Amata Dunne [O.S.U.] Interview,” ca. 1968, 1 audiotape; re: her life as a nun
D. OH 1653: “Richard Kenck (1906-2002) Interview,” 1994, 35-pages transcript; re: includes boarding school life at St. Peter’s Mission (Siksika), Montana
/5 “Montana Attorney General's Office Records, Collection RS 76”
Inclusive dates: 1953
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: Box 102, Folder 122, re: Josephine Cannon Estate, Billings, with bequest to the Little Flower Church, Blackfeet Reservation, Browning, Montana.
/6 “Montana Office of Public Instruction Records, Collection RS 147”
Inclusive dates: 1949-1953, 1958-1964
Volume: Ca. .1 cubic foot
Description: Includes enrollment statistics for Catholic schools serving American Indians in Montana.
/7 “New Deal in Montana/ Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project, OH 1162”
Inclusive dates: 1989
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: “Mae Takes Gun Childs Interview,” 1989, 1 audiotape and 13-page transcript; re: includes experiences of Takes Gun Childs (Crow, 1894-1995) at St. Xavier School, Crow Reservation, with the Ursulines.
/8 “Owen, John Papers, Collection MC 44”
Inclusive dates: 1850
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: Box 2, Folder 4 includes a bill of sale for St. Mary Mission lands, Stevensville, Montana, purchased from the Jesuits by Owen (1818-1889).
/9 “Ravalli, Anthony Papers, SC 679”
Inclusive dates: 1884
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: An undated manuscript in Latin and a letter to Narcissa Caldwell by Rev. Anthony Ravalli, S.J. [Jesuits] (1812-1884).
/10 “Mabel Pepin Salois Interview, OH 1887”
Inclusive dates: 1995
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: Early 20th century experiences at Holy Family Mission School (Siksika) and the Blackfeet Reservation with retold reminiscences from her mother that include the 1885 rebellion led by Louis Riel (Métis).
/11 Small Town Montana Oral History Project Inclusive dates: 1984
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description:
A. OH 829: “Lucille L. Durocher Interview,” 1984, 1 audiotape and 2-page summary; includes relationships between churches in Cut Bank, her involvement in St. Margaret Church, and changes in Catholic practices
B. OH 834: “Wilbur Werner Interview” 1984, 2 audiotapes and 4-page summary; includes relationships between the non-Indian community in Cut Bank, the Blackfeet Reservation, and St. Margaret Church, ca. 1930s-1980s
/12 “Society of Jesus Religious Text, 1900, SC 2400”
Inclusive dates: 1900
Volume: .1 cubic foot
Description: The New and Old Testaments in the Crow Indian Language (with copy) by an unidentified Jesuit; from St. Xavier Mission, Crow Reservation, Montana.
Photograph Collections:
/13 “Amadeus, Rev. Mother, #940-349”
Inclusive dates: 1884
Volume: 1 print
Description: Founding mother superior of the Ursulines in Montana.
/14 “Beckx, Peter, #940-831”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 print
Description: Rev. Peter Beckx, S.J. [Jesuits]
/15 “Brings, William J. Collection, Lot 10”
Inclusive dates: 1908-1909
Volume: 48 prints
Description: Crow Indians at St. Xavier Mission, Crow Reservation, Montana.
/16 “Cataldo, Joseph M., #941-472”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 print
Description: Rev. Joseph M. Cataldo, S.J. [Jesuits]
/17 “Cataldo Mission, Idaho, #940-936-937”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1929
Volume: 2 prints
Description: Sacred Heart Mission, Coeur d’Alene Reservation, Cataldo, Idaho.
/18 “DeSmet, Pierre Jean, #941-955-959”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 4 prints and 1 engraving
Description: Rev. Pierre-Jean de Smet, S.J. [Jesuits]
/19 “Dumont, Gabriel, #944-022-023”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1885
Volume: 2 prints
Description: Métis.
/20 “Fort Belknap Agency Collection, #955-360-404”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1900
Volume: 2 prints
Description: Assiniboine and Atsina Indians and St. Paul Mission, Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana.
/21 “Huffman, Laton Alton Collection, #981-054-057, 981-220-222”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 2 prints
Description: Cheyenne Indians and St. Labre School, Ashland, Montana, near Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
/22 “McBride, Sister G. Collection, Pac87-47”
Inclusive dates: 1880-1900
Volume: 5 prints
Description: Siksika Indians, Ursulines, and St. Peter’s Mission, Montana.
/23 “Palladino, Lawrence Benedict, #944-255”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 print
Description: Rev. Lawrence Palladino, S.J. [Jesuits]
/24 “Ravalli, Anthony, #944-496-499”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 4 prints
Description: Rev. Anthony Ravalli, S.J.
/25 “Riel, Louis, Tomb of, #944-566 and 944-568”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 2 prints
Description: Métis.
/26 “Riel Rebellion, 1885, 944-569-572”
Inclusive dates: 1940
Volume: 4 prints
Description: St. Anthony Church, wagon trail, and Métis graves.
/27 “St. Ignatius Mission, 950-719-739”
Inclusive dates: 1867-1960
Volume: 20 prints
Description: St. Ignatius Mission (Salish, Kootenai), Flathead Reservation, St. Ignatius, Montana.
/28 “St. Mary Mission, 950-742-759”
Inclusive dates: 1916-1974
Volume: 17 prints
Description: St. Mary Mission (Salish), Stevensville, Montana.
/29 “St. Mary Mission, Pac 98-79”
Inclusive dates: 1948
Volume: 17 prints
Description: St. Mary Mission (Salish), Stevensville, Montana.
/30 “St. Paul’s Mission, 950-760-768”
Inclusive dates: 1900-1954
Volume: 9 prints
Description: St. Paul’s Mission (Assiniboine, Atsina, Métis), Fort Belknap Reservation, Hays, Montana.
/31 “St. Peter’s Mission, Pac 74-104.279 GP”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 print
Description: St. Peter’s Mission (Siksika, Métis), Montana.
/32 “Catholic Church at St. Paul’s Mission, Pac 74-109.207 GP”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 print
Description: St. Paul’s Mission (Assiniboine, Atsina, Métis), Fort Belknap Reservation, Hays, Montana.
/33 “Catholic Church at St. Paul’s Mission, Pac 92-59 Album”
Inclusive dates: 1889
Volume: 1 print
Description: In album; St. Paul’s Mission (Assiniboine, Atsina, Métis), Fort Belknap Reservation, Hays, Montana.
/34 “St. Xavier Mission, 950-800-805”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1890-1954
Volume: 6 prints
Description: St. Xavier Mission (Crow), Crow Reservation, Montana.
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.
new2006/rev2020
