GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 2: Midwest United States
Nebraska: NE-6

Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Omaha. Chancery
100 North 62nd Street
Omaha, NE 68132

Phone: 402-558-3100

 

History: The Vicariate Apostolate of Nebraska was erected for Nebraska, Wyoming Territory, Montana Territory east of the Rocky Mountains, and Dakota Territory west of the Missouri River, from territory in the St. Louis Diocese, 1857. The Vicariate was succeeded by the Diocese of Omaha, 1885, which was elevated to the Archdiocese of Omaha, 1945. Omaha and its predecessor have served the following Native American mission, parishes, and schools in Nebraska and the Northern Plans.

1876-1879 (transferred to Vicariate Apostolic of Dakota [succeeded by Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota])	Standing Rock Reservation (Hunkpapa Lakota), Dakota Territory
1884-1887 (transferred to Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming)	St. Stephen's Mission (Arapaho, Shoshoni), St. Stephens, Wyoming
1909-present	St. Augustine Indian Mission (Winnebago, Omaha), Winnebago, Winnebago Reservation, Nebraska
1912-1957 (closed)	Sacred Heart Mission (Santee Dakota, Ponca), Santee, Nebraska
1947-present	Our Lady of Fatima Mission (Omaha), Macy, Nebraska
1948-1975 (closed)	St. William Mission (Santee Dakota, Ponca), Niobrara, Nebraska

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:

Inclusive dates: 1859-ongoing

Volume: At least .8 cubic foot

Description: Within 5 series.

 

/1 Parish files

Inclusive dates: 1876-ongoing

Volume: At least .4 cubic foot

Description: Correspondence arranged alphabetically by location of the mission or parish.

A. "Indian Missions," 1876-1904, 1 folder: major correspondents include Reverends J.B.M. Genin at Fort Totten Reservation, North Dakota, and Joseph Schell and Saint Katharine Drexel, S.B.S.

B. Macy, Nebraska, Our Lady of Fatima Mission, 1934-ongoing (majority 1950s), 1 folder: major correspondents include Reverend Francis Hulsman and Bishop Gerald T. Bergan

C. St. Stephens, Wyoming, St. Stephen's Mission, 1884, 1886-1887, 31 letters: major correspondents include Reverends Paul M. Ponziglione, S.J. and Francis X. Kuppens, S.J. and Bishop James O'Connor

D. Santee, Nebraska, Sacred Heart Mission, 1879, 1885-1889, 1904-1945 (bulk 1920s-1930s), .1 cubic foot: major correspondents include Rev. Sylvester Eisenman, O.S.B., Saint Katharine Drexel, S.B.S., the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, the superiors of St. Francis Mission, South Dakota, and St. Augustine Mission, Nebraska, Bishop James O'Connor, Bishop Jeremiah J. Harty, Bishop Joseph F. Rummel, and Bishop James H. Ryan

E. Winnebago, Nebraska, St. Augustine Mission and School, 1891-1892, 1904-1910, 1923-1942, 1950-ongoing, .2 cubic foot: major correspondents include Bishops Richard Scannell (1845-1916), Bishop Jeremiah Harty, Bishop Joseph Rummel, Bishop James Ryan, Bishop Gerald Bergan, Rev. John H. Griese, Rev. Francis J. Hulsman, and Rev. Joseph Schell

 

/2 Bishops' papers

Inclusive dates: 1859-1892

Volume: .2 cubic foot

Description: Arranged chronologically by administration. 

A. Bishop James O'Gorman (1814-1874), 1859-1874, 2 folders:

1. "Indian Matters," 1859-1876, 1 folder of correspondence: major correspondents include Rev. Francis N. Blanchet and Rev. J.B.M. Genin

2. "The Flathead (Salish) Indians," 1877, 72 pages: a journal of Bishop James O'Gorman's trip to the Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana

B. Bishop James O'Connor (1823-1890), 1876-1890, 121 letters:

1. "Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions," 1876-1888, 51 letters: major correspondents include the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, Rev. J.B.M. Genin, Bishop Martin Marty, and Bishop Rupert Seidenbusch

2. "Indian Affairs, Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska," 1876-1892, 70 letters: major correspondents include the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions and Jesuits at Holy Rosary Mission (now Red Cloud Indian School) (Oglala Lakota), South Dakota, St. Francis Mission (Brulé Lakota), South Dakota, and St. Stephen's Mission, Wyoming

 

/3 Priests' files

Inclusive dates: 1899-1943 

Volume: 2 folders

Description: Arranged alphabetically by surname.  

A. Griese, Rev. John H., 1899-1943, 1 folder: primarily financial matters and land transactions at St. Augustine Indian Mission, Winnebago, Nebraska

B. Schell, Rev. Joseph, 1904-1908, 1 folder: pertains to St. Augustine Indian Mission

 

/4 Financial and statistical reports

Inclusive dates: 1913-1946

Volume: 1 folder

Description: Arranged alphabetically by location of the parish and includes a file on Winnebago, St. Augustine Indian Mission. The reports are submitted annually to the Archdiocese.

 

/5 Diocesan newspaper 

Inclusive dates: 1903-ongoing 

Volume: Few articles 

Description: The Catholic Voice includes occasional articles on Native Americans in the Archdiocese. 

For student attendance records at Catholic schools that served Native Americans – see also -- Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Marquette University Special Collections and Archives, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

 

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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