January 2008--Raynor Memorial Libraries' newest digital collection, The Indian Sentinel, provides the full run of the magazine from 1902-1962. Marquette's Libraries have housed the archives for the magazine's publisher, the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions (BCIM), for the past 30 years.

The Indian Sentinel magazine was the official publication of the Society for the Preservation of the Faith among Indian Children, a subsidiary fundraising organization to the BCIM that the Bureau had established in 1901. From 1902 to 1962 The Indian Sentinel featured articles about Native Americans across the United States and their evangelization by the Catholic Church. First-hand accounts by lifelong missionaries in the field were often illustrated with photographs they had taken. Also featured were articles, essays, and letters by Native Americans, many of whom were students in Catholic schools.

Users of the digital collection, built with CONTENTdm software, may search by keyword, by year, and by state/territory. Users may also browse all issues and conduct advanced keyword searches in selected fields. The ability to search almost 10,000 pages within the 319 issues will not only serve researchers, but will also assist archivists in conducting thorough reference service when working with this major collection. Containing more than 500 cubic feet of records, many other parts of the BCIM collection are integrally tied to The Indian Sentinel, including thousands of photographic images submitted for publication. The BCIM photographs formed one of the Libraries' first digital collections.

Questions about this collection may be directed to Amy Cooper Cary, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, (414) 288-5901.

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