GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Texas: TX-25
Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Archives and Records
1700 San Jacinto Street
P.O. Box 907
Houston, TX 77001
Phone: 713-652-8282
Email: See website
Hours: See website
Access: No restrictions
Copying facilities: Yes
History: The Prefecture Apostolate of Texas was erected for the Republic of Texas, 1838, from portions of the Diocese of Linares, Mexico. The Vicariate Apostolate of Texas succeeded the prefecture, 1842; the Diocese of Galveston succeeded the vicariate, 1847; and the Galveston Diocese was renamed the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, 1959. Although Galveston-Houston did not administer any missions serving Native Americans (e.g. Apache, Caddo, Choctaw, Wichita), clergy at some parishes were engaged in evangelizing them.
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1840-1860
Volume: Approximately .1 cubic foot
Description: Within 2 series.
/1 “Bishops’ Papers”
Inclusive dates: 1851
Volume: 1 letter
Description: Correspondence to Bishop Jean Marie Odin (1801-1870), C.M., of Galveston from Louisa C. Heads of Eagle Pass, Texas; re: in part, commerce with Native Americans (e.g. Kickapoo) in Eagle Pass.
/2 “Sacramental Records”
Inclusive dates: 1840-1860
Volume: Some entries within 2 volumes and portions of more than 1 reel of microfilm
Description: Arranged alphabetically by place and there under by parish name; includes non-Native parishes with at least a few Native American parishioners; baptisms only.
A. “Sacred Heart Church, Nacogdoches,” 1847-ca. 1860, several entries within 1 volume; parishioners are identified as “Indian” without tribal affiliation
B. “St. Mary Cathedral, Galveston,” 1854-1856, a few entries within 1 volume; a few parishioners are identified as “sauvage” in French without tribal
affiliation
C. “St. Vincent Church, Houston,” 1846, a few entries within 1 volume; a few parishioners are identified as “sauvage” in French without tribal affiliation
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
