GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 1: Eastern United States
Louisiana: LA-1

Catholic Church. Diocese of Alexandria. Archives
St. Joseph Catholic Center
4400 Coliseum Boulevard
Alexandria, LA 71303

P.O. Box 7417
Alexandria, LA 71306-0417

Phone: 318-445-2401, Extension 202
Email: See website

 

Hours: See website

Access: See website

Copying facilities: Yes

 

History: The Diocese of Alexandria was erected as the Diocese of Natchitoches from territory in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1853. Its name was changed to the Diocese of Alexandria, 1910. It was renamed the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport, 1976, which split and became the dioceses of Alexandria and Shreveport, 1968. Alexandria and its predecessors have served Native Americans through the following missions, parishes and organizations:

1717-1773 (Alexandria, 1881-1986)	San Miguel Chapel (Mestizos, Lipan Apache), Los Adayes Presidio [Spanish fort], Natchitoches, Texas
1728-present (Alexandria, 1853-present)	Immaculate Conception Basilica/ St. Francis Chapel (Metis), Natchitoches/ Fort Sainte Jean Baptiste, Louisiana
1835-present	Apalachee refuge descendants, Rapides Parish
1881-present (Alexandria, 1881-1986)	St. Joseph Church (Choctaw-Apache), Sabine Parish, Zwolle
1935-present (Alexandria, 1935-1986)	St. Ann Mission/ Church (Choctaw-Apache), Sabine Parish, Noble/ Ebarb
1939-present (Alexandria, 2015-present)	Tekakwitha Conference. National Center, Alexandria

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:

Inclusive dates: 1700s-ongoing

Volume: Less than 1 cubic foot

Description: 3 series with records.

 

/1 Bishops’ Papers

Inclusive dates: 1881-1986

Volume: Occasional letters

Description: Correspondence pertaining to Native Americans:

A. Immaculate Conception Basilica/ St. Francis Chapel (Metis), Natchitoches

B. St. Francis Xavier Cathedral/ Church, Alexandria

C. St. Joseph Church Choctaw-Apache), Zwolle

D. St. Ann Church (Choctaw-Apache), Ebarb/ Noble

 

/2 Sacramental records

Inclusive dates: 1700s-1800s

Volume: Several records

Description: Records (e.g. baptisms, marriages, burials) of the following parishes:

A. Alexandria, St. Francis Xavier Cathedral/ Church; believed to include Apalachee parishioners

B. Natchitoches/ Fort Sainte Jean Baptiste, Immaculate Conception Basilica/ St. Francis Chapel; believed to include Metis parishioners

 

/3 Diocesan Newspaper

Inclusive dates: 1968-ongoing

Volume: Occasional articles

Description: The Church Today, archived online, 2013-ongoing.

 

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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