GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 2: Midwest United States
Illinois: IL-9
United States. National Archives at Chicago
7358 South Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL 60629-5898
Phone: 773-948-9019
Email: chicago.reference@nara.gov
Hours: See website
Access: Some restrictions apply
Copying facilities: Yes
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1800-1961
Volume: Ca. 1 cubic foot (less than 1% within over 1,000 reels of microfilm)
Description: Native Catholic records are found within “Records Group 75, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.” Selected surveying indicates that most Catholic records are correspondence, quarterly school reports, and school contracts, which typically comprise between .04 and .2% of the records from Bureau of Indian Affairs Agencies, e.g. Menominee Agency, Wisconsin, between .1 to .2% of ca. 100 cubic feet and Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota, .04% of approximately 500 cubic feet. Major correspondents include the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, superiors of Catholic missions and schools [e.g. Capucins, Franciscans, Jesuits], Indian agents or superintendents, and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Primary subjects include financial matters and the transfer of students to and from mission schools.
/1 "Records of the Great Lakes Consolidated Agency in Wisconsin"
Inclusive dates: Between 1875-1952
Volume: Less than 1 % of ca. 350 cubic feet
Description: The Great Lakes Agency was created in 1936, superseding the Lac du Flambeau Agency, which had administered the Ojibwa of the La Pointe, Laona, Red Cliff, and Mackinac Agencies. In 1949 the Agency absorbed the Tomah Agency and was renamed the Great Lakes Consolidated Agency.
/2 "Records of the Hayward Boarding School in Wisconsin"
Inclusive dates: Between 1908-1928
Volume: Less than 1% of ca. 7 cubic feet Description: The Hayward Boarding School for Ojibwa Indians was opened in 1901 and was closed in 1933.
/3 "Records of the Lac du Flambeau Agency and School in Wisconsin" Inclusive dates: Between 1896-1932
Volume: Less than 1% of ca. 31 cubic feet
Description: The Lac du Flambeau Reservation for Ojibwa Indians was created in 1854 and was administered by the La Pointe Agency. A major reorganization in 1927 consolidated the La Pointe, Laona, Red Cliff, and Mackinac Agencies with the Lac du Flambeau Agency. In 1936 the Lac du Flambeau Agency was superseded by the Great Lakes Agency.
/4 "Records of the Mackinac Agency in Michigan"
Inclusive dates: Between 1903-1927
Volume: Less than 1 % of ca. 11 cubic feet
Description: The Mackinac Agency for the Ojibwa Indians was established in 1815 and was discontinued in the early 1890s. In 1899, it was reactivated with the appointment of a special agent headquartered at L'Anse, Michigan. The agent moved from L'Anse to Baraga, Michigan, in 1905, where the Agency remained until 1927, when it was consolidated with the Lac du Flambeau Agency.
/5 "Records of the Menominee Agencies in Wisconsin - Green Bay, Keshena, and Menominee Mills" Inclusive dates: Between 1892-1961
Volume: Less than 1% of ca. 100 cubic feet
Description: The Green Bay Agency was established in 1815 and was renamed the Keshena Agency in ca.1909. In ca.1943, the Keshena Agency and the Menominee Mill were consolidated to form the Menominee Agency. In 1961, the Menominee Agency closed.
/6 "Records of the Oneida School and Agency in Wisconsin"
Inclusive ates: Between 1897-1923
Volume: Less than 1% of 1.25 cubic feet
Description: A boarding school was established on the Oneida Reservation in 1892, and in 1900 it was made an independent jurisdiction. The Agency was closed in 1919, and the Oneida were placed under the Keshena Agency. In 1932 the Oneida were placed under the Tomah Agency.
/7 "Records of the Red Cliff School and Agency in Wisconsin"
Inclusive dates: Between 1901-1922
Volume: Less than 1% of ca. 6 cubic feet
Description: The Red Cliff Indian Reservation was created in 1856 and was placed under the jurisdiction of the La Pointe Agency. The Red Cliff School was made independent in 1913 and given agency status. The School was closed in 1922 and jurisdiction over the Ojibwa at Red Cliff was returned to the La Pointe Agency.
/8 "Records of the Tomah Indian School and Agency in Wisconsin" Inclusive dates: Between 1908-1934
Volume: Less than 1% of approximately 6 cubic feet
Description: The Tomah Indian School opened in 1893, and in 1911 the School was made the agency for the Winnebago Tribe in Wisconsin. In 1932, the Agency's jurisdiction was broadened to include the Winnebago Tribe in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa; the Stockbridge and Oneida Tribes in Wisconsin; and the Ottawa and Potawatomi in Michigan. In 1949, the Tomah Agency was incorporated into the Great Lakes Consolidated Agency.
/9 "Letters Received by the Office of the Secretary of War Relating to Indian Affairs, M271”
Inclusive dates: Between 1800-1823
Volume: Less than 1% of 4 reels of microfilm
/10 "Letters Sent by the Secretary of War Relating to Indian Affairs, M15” Inclusive dates: Between 1800-1824
Volume: Less than 1% of 6 reels of microfilm
/11 "Letters Sent by the Office of Indian Affairs"
Inclusive dates: Between 1824-1881
Volume: Less than 1% of 166 reels of microfilm
/12 "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs"
Inclusive dates: Between 1824-1881
Volume: Less than 1% of 926 reels of microfilm
/13 “Report Books of the Office of Indian Affairs, M348”
Inclusive dates: Between 1838-1885
Volume: Less than 1% within 53 reels of microfilm
/14 "Records of the Michigan Superintendency, M1"
Inclusive dates: Between 1814-1851
Volume: Less than 1% of 71 reels of microfilm
/15 “Records of the Oregon Superintendency, M2”
Inclusive dates: Between 1848-1873
Volume: Less than 1% within 29 reels of microfilm
/16 “Records of the Washington Superintendency, M5”
Inclusive dates: Between 1853-1874
Volume: Less than 1% of 26 reels of microfilm
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.
new1984/rev2006-2020
