GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
New Mexico: NM-28
Catholic Church. Diocese of Las Cruces. Archives
1280 Med Park Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88005
Phone: 505-523-7577
Hours: See website
Access: Some restrictions apply
Copying facilities: Yes
History: The Diocese of Las Cruces was erected for southern New Mexico from territory in the dioceses of El Paso and Tucson, 1982. Las Cruces and its predecessors have administered the following Native American parishes in New Mexico.
|
1914-present (Las Cruces, 1982-present) |
St. Joseph Mission (Apache), Mescalero, Mescalero Reservation |
|
1921-present (Las Cruces, 1982-present) |
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (Tortugas), Mesilla Park |
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1912-ongoing
Volume: At least 1 cubic foot
Description: 6 series includes Native Catholic records:
/1 Sacramental Records
Inclusive dates: 1888-1960
Volume: 8 small volumes
Description: Records (e.g. baptisms, marriages, burials) for Native American parishioners arranged alphabetically by location of parishes and there under by name of attended Native American missions and stations for non-Native parishes.
A. Mescalero, St. Joseph Mission, 1944-1960, 6 volumes; includes record diary, 1944, chronicle, 1945-1955, mass intensions book 2, undated, Mescalero Apache Indian family census, 1944, Mass intensions, 1960, chronology, 1959
B. Mesilla Park, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 1921-ca. 1940, 2 volumes; sacramental records; mostly baptisms
/2 Parish Files
Inclusive dates: 1912-ongoing
Volume: 4 folders
Description: Arranged alphabetically by location of parishes and there under by name; includes correspondence, clippings, histories, notes, and photographs (black and white and color prints and negatives); notable correspondents include pastors, bishops (Dallas and Las Cruces),
A. Mescalero, St. Joseph Mission, 1912-ongoing, 2 folders; includes:
1. Biographical sketch of Rev. Albert Braun, O.F.M. [Franciscans]
2. Clippings, 1959-ongoing
3. Histories, 1956-ongoing
4. St. Joseph Apache Mission Restoration Project, 1912-2005, undated (2004?)
B. Mesilla Park, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 1960-ongoing, 2 folders
1. “The Religious Rites of the Tiwa Indians [Tortugas] Honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe in Tortugas, New Mexico” by John Hass, 1981
2. “The Guadalupe Triduum in Tortugas, New Mexico” by Rev. Giles Carrie, O.F.M.Conv. [Conventual Franciscans], 1986
/3 Personnel Files
Inclusive dates: ca. 1982-ongoing
Volume: Few folders
Description: Arranged alphabetically by surname.
/4 Photograph Files
Inclusive dates: 1924-ongoing
Volume: 1 album and 1 folder
Description: Arranged alphabetically by name of community; includes Mesilla Park, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and School and St. Genevieve Church, 1924-1938, re: Tortugas parish, school, and community activities, Sisters of St. Francis, most likely Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (Oldenburg, Indiana), and bishops, Franciscans, President Woodrow Wilson [Wilson, Woodrow 1856-1924], and Cardinal Désiré-Joseph Mercier [Mercier Désiré 1851-1926].
/5 Religious Community Files
Inclusive dates: 1982, undated (1982?)
Volume: 4 folders
Description: Arranged alphabetically by name of community
A. Conventuals (Our Lady of Guadalupe Custody, Mesilla Park, New Mexico): with report to bishop re: Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Tortugas
B. Franciscans (St. John the Baptist Province, Cincinnati, Ohio)
C. Franciscans (Santa Barbara Province, Santa Barbara, California) d. Franciscans (Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, Albuquerque, New Mexico)
/6 Diocesan Newspaper
Inclusive dates: 1985-ongoing
Volume: Few articles
Description: Agua Vivia, the diocesan newspaper, has included occasional articles on Native Americans and the Catholic Church in the diocese.
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
