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< St. Francis Mission Records Index < St. Francis Mission Notable Events & People

ST. FRANCIS MISSION RECORDS

Historical Note

St. Francis Mission was established by Jesuits in 1886.  This followed Spotted Tail's persistent requests for Catholic missionaries and the rescinding of federal restrictions on Christian evangelization.  The school has been continually staffed by Jesuits and Sisters of St. Francis until control was transferred to a local community corporation in 1972.  After some early federal funding, the school prospered through the private contributions of Katharine Drexel and the federal disbursement of tribal funds held in trust.

Catholicism flourished on the reservation during the first half of the 20th century. In most communities, local parishes were organized, each with a catechist, lay sodalities, and an itinerant Jesuit pastor. Annually, the faithful gathered for reservation wide general sodality meetings followed by the statewide Catholic Sioux Congress.

Christian fervor waned after World War II, which has been addressed by revitalization efforts since the 1970s.  Parishes were re-organized with more resident (and fewer itinerant) Jesuit and Native priests and deacons, and parish councils.  The general sodality meetings and Catholic Sioux Congresses remain popular among the elders, however, many faithful also attend Mini (diocesan) and National Tekakwitha Conferences and have organized parish Kateri Circles.

See also --  St. Francis Mission Notable Events & People.

See also --  Notable Authors and Photographers among the Jesuits and Sisters of St. Francis.

Scope and Content

Series: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Series-level highlights followed by an index to Native authors and subjects. Related record sources in other Marquette collections and elsewhere are also noted. 

St. Francis Mission Series 1, Mission and School Correspondence: Correspondence by Jesuits, Brulé [Sicangu] Indians, and others at St. Francis Mission. St. Francis Mission transferred the correspondence to Marquette University, which pertains to mission origins (1878, 1887), government school contracts (to ca. 1980), school sports and extracurricular activities (1899-1978) and the St. Francis School's transition from mission to local community control (1971-1980). Other notable topics includes baptisms and conversions (1894, 1907), the Messiah movement (1894), petitions requesting missionaries for the Santee (1930) and Yankton (1916) Reservations, Camp DeSmet--a summer camp for boys from St. Louis University High School--(1925), the Black Hills claim (1928), poverty, economic development, and tribal rights on/ off the reservation (1937-1970s), military service and life on/ off the reservation by Brulé men (1942-1956), and veneration of Kateri Tekakwitha (1969-1980). Series 1 also includes letters by and/or about the following:

Series 1, Index to Native American Authors and Subjects

Relevant items in Series 5 and 8 also noted.

Badhand, Yankee L. (Brulé)	1948
Bird, John R. (Brulé)	1945
Black Elk, Ben (Oglala),	1936
Blue Thunder, Vernon J. (Brulé)	1943-1944, 1947-1948, 1954, 1956, n.d.
Bordeaux, Leland M. (Brulé)	1975-1977; 6-1: 1975 or 1976
Catches, Peter (Oglala)	1948
Chief Eagle, Dallas (Brulé)	1947, 1972
Clark, Dick (Brulé)	1954
Compos, Thomas H. (Brulé)	1949
Cross Dog, Lincoln (Brulé)	1949
Cuny, Sister Genevieve, O.S.F. (Oglala)	1973, 1980; see also Series 5, Indian Catechist; and Series 8, News Clippings, 1975-1976, 1980
Face, John E. (Brulé)	1948
Giroux, Curtis (Brulé)	1950
LaPointe, Frank	1972-1974; 5: 1971-1980; 6-1: 1975 or 1976
Left Hand Bull, Silas (Brulé)	1951, 1964; see also Series 8, News Clippings, 1973-1974
Many Horses (Oglala)
Louis J.	1953
Benjamin J.	1948-1950
Calvin	1949, 1951-1952
Omaha Boy, Anthony (Brulé)	1942-1945
Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Brulé)	1954
Roubideaux, Arthur C. (Brulé)	1942-1945
Sharpfish
Clavin C.	1943-1946, 1948
Louise	1946
Track, Mathew S. (Brulé)	1956
Tuttle, Marvin (Brulé)	1940-1950
Yankton Sioux (Yankton)	1916

Other series within the St. Francis Missions Records and other Marquette University collections contain documentation relating to this series.

St. Francis Mission Series 2, Mission and School Reports: Reports by Jesuits, Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, and others at St. Francis Mission. St. Francis Mission transferred the reports to Marquette University. 

The chronicle (kronik) of the Sisters of St. Francis and the school diary describe various general and special events at the St. Francis Mission School. The chronicle (typescript, page 9) also describes events during the Messiah movement, 1890-1891. 

KINI Radio: Sicangu Chronicle "News Notes" and a transcript of No. 39-40, Fancy Dance Memoirs by Chico Her Many Horses (Oglala), 1980, are also included. Series 9 includes related KINI recordings.

The restricted reports (Series 2-2) include pupil admission, enrollment, and attendance records. The attendance records were compiled quarterly and submitted to the federal government for the purpose of receiving per capita tuition payments from tribal trust funds. Generally, the lists include names of pupils and staff members, Indian tribal and non-Indian ethnicity, degree of Indian blood, dates of attendance with related comments, and statistical summaries. Many pupil lists are first categorized by gender, ethnicity, and lodging status and there under arranged alphabetically by surname. 

Other series within the St. Francis Missions Records and other Marquette University collections contain documentation relating to this series. The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Series 2-1 Descriptive Inventory lists additional St. Francis Mission School pupil attendance records and the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Series 2-1 Scope and Content Note describes the background and current status of these records and how to gain access to them.

St. Francis Mission Series 3, Mission and School Financial Records: St. Francis Mission transferred the records to Marquette University, which pertain primarily to the St. Francis School and Camp De Smet, a summer camp for boys enrolled at St. Louis University High School.

St. Francis Mission Series 4, Mission and School Proceedings: Proceedings by Jesuits, Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, and others at St. Francis Mission. St. Francis Mission transferred the proceedings to Marquette University, which pertain primarily to operations of the school operations and its transition to community control (1970s-1980s). The local sodality proceedings include some information on veneration of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Catholic Sioux Congress, and the Tekakwitha Conference.

Other series within the St. Francis Missions Records and other Marquette University collections contain documentation relating to this series. The Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records, Series 4, contains records of the Catholic Sioux Congress for Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and the Wisconsin Jesuit Province Indian Mission Board, which pertains to Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School, St. Francis Mission, and Mother Butler Center/St. Isaac Jogues Church. 

St. Francis Mission Series 5, Mission and School Publications: Publications by Jesuits, Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, and others at St. Francis Mission. St. Francis Mission transferred the bulk of the publications to Marquette University with the exception of a few items donated directly to Marquette University. This series includes school publications and mission fundraising newsletters and calendars plus transcripts of select recordings.

Other series within the St. Francis Missions Records and other Marquette University collections contain documentation relating to this series. The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 14-1, contains the most comprehensive holdings of St. Francis Mission periodicals (originals and microfilm).

Work in-progress: The Marquette University Libraries are developing bibliographic records for the publications in this collection. This includes all books, pamphlets, magazines, newsletters, prayer cards, published maps, published sound and video recordings, etc., and excludes clipping files and reprints of articles. As they are created, the bibliographic records will appear in Marqcat, the Marquette University online catalog. Furthermore, as an interim and supplemental search tool, most titles to publications in this and related collections appear in the Index to Publications in Native America Collections.        

St. Francis Mission Series 6, Mission, School, Jesuit, and General Photography: Photography by Jesuits at St. Francis Mission and the Rosebud Reservation with collected images from other photographers. St. Francis Mission transferred the bulk of the images to Marquette University with the exception of some items donated by Jesuits themselves. While most images pertain to St. Francis Mission, Brulé [Sicangu] Indians, and the Rosebud Reservation, some images pertain to Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School, Oglala Indians, and the Pine Ridge Reservation or elsewhere in South Dakota and adjacent states. This reflects, the diverse ministries served by Jesuits and their propensity to retain and share their personal papers with other Jesuits. Prominent subjects include school sports and extra-curricular activities (1930s-present), home visitations, reservation parishes, and tribal events. Substantial information on the veneration of Kateri Tekakwitha is found in the photographs (1970). Other series within the St. Francis Missions Records and other Marquette University collections contain documentation relating to this series. Both the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Digital Collection and the St. Francis Mission Digital Collection contain selected images pertaining to St. Francis Mission and the Rosebud Reservation.

Jesuit Photography: Fathers Buechel and Zimmerman are believed to have photographed the bulk of the images attributed to them. However, discrepancies have been noted. Buechel reportedly created 2,300 photographs between 1922 and 1945. But his collection comprises over 3,000 images, including one dated 1905, i.e. ordination of Reverend Henry I. Westropp, S.J. Zimmerman, who entered the Jesuits in 1907, studied in Ohio during the fall and spring semesters in 1907-1911 and 1923, so it is doubtful that he would have taken any photographs in South Dakota during those times.   

Buechel, Reverend Eugene, S.J. Collection: ca. 1905-1945 [bulk 1922-1945], 5.0 feet (unprocessed): Comprised of over 3,000 photographic images, primarily from the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations in South Dakota. Film negatives comprise the bulk of the collection. The subjects include Catholic Sioux Congresses, community celebrations, and mission, school, and sodality activities involving Oglala and Brulé Indians, Jesuits, and Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity. The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Digital Collection includes images by and about Father Buechel.

General Motion Pictures, Series 10, The movie titled, "The Blackrobe," includes views of Reverend Eugene Buechel, S.J.   

Zimmerman, Reverend Joseph A., S.J., Collection: 1908?-1950?, 7.0 feet (unprocessed): Comprised of 1,650 photographic images, primarily from the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations in South Dakota. Glass-plate negatives comprise the bulk of the collection with some film negatives. The images include community celebrations, religious events, and mission and school activities involving Oglala and Brulé Indians, Jesuits, and Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity. Many portraits of individuals and groups are also included. Zimmerman is believed to be the photographer of the bulk of the images attributed to him. However, some discrepancies have been noted. The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Digital Collection and the St. Francis Mission Digital Collection include images by and about Father Zimmerman. Note: The St. Francis Mission Digital Collection does not identify Zimmerman as the photographer.

St. Francis Mission Series 7, Jesuit Papers: Personal papers of Jesuits with papers of others collected by Jesuits at St. Francis Mission. St. Francis Mission transferred the bulk of the papers to Marquette University with the exception of some items donated by Jesuits themselves. While most papers pertain to St. Francis Mission, Brulé [Sicangu] Indians, and the Rosebud Reservation, some papers pertain to Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School, Oglala Indians, and the Pine Ridge Reservation or elsewhere in South Dakota and adjacent states. This reflects, the diverse ministries served by Jesuits and their propensity to retain and share their personal papers with other Jesuits. Other series within the St. Francis Missions Records and other Marquette University collections contain documentation relating to this series.

Work in-progress: The Marquette University Libraries are developing bibliographic records for the publications in this collection. This includes all books, pamphlets, magazines, newsletters, prayer cards, published maps, published sound and video recordings, etc., and excludes clipping files and reprints of articles. As they are created, the bibliographic records will appear in Marqcat, the Marquette University online catalog. Furthermore, as an interim and supplemental search tool, most titles to publications in this and related collections appear in the Index to Publications in Native America Collections.    

Bucko, Reverend Raymond A., S.J.: Father Buckos papers pertain to St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation, and the Diocese of Rapid City. See also the Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records and the Inculturation Task Forces Records of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad-Hoc Committee on Native American Catholics. 

Buechel, Reverend Eugene, S.J.: The St. Francis Mission Jesuit Papers contain Father Buechel's diary, personal correspondence, and sermons at Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, and St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation. See also the records of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School, and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records. The Jesuit Papers of the Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records include the bulk of his research papers regarding Lakota language and culture.

Digmann, Reverend P. Florentine, S.J.: Father Digmann's papers pertain to Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, and St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation. Besides the St. Francis Mission Jesuit Papers, see also the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, the Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records, and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records.

Doll, Reverend Don, S.J.: Father Doll's photography and related research pertains to St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation, Red Cloud Indian School, Pine Ridge Reservation, and the Dakota Indians in South Dakota and adjacent states. See also the Don Doll, S.J. Collection.

Fagan, Reverend Bernard, S.J.: See also the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records.

Goll, Reverend Louis J., S.J.: The writings of Father Goll pertain to Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, and St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation. See also the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, the Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records, and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records.

Hatcher, Reverend John E., S.J.: The writings of Father Hatcher pertain to Native Catholics in general as well as St. Francis Mission. See also the records of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School, Inculturation Task Forces, Tekakwitha Conference, and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records.

Hilbert, Reverend Robert J., S.J.: See also the Tekakwitha Conference Records.

Jutz, Reverend John B., S.J.: The writings of Father Jutz pertain to Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, and St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation. See also the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, the Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records, and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records.

Nunlist, Brother Ursus, S.J.: Although brief, the writings of Brother Nunlist pertain to the founding of Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation, and St. Stephen's Mission, Wind River Reservation. See also the Jesuit Papers in the Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records, and the St. Stephen's Mission Records.

Perrig, Reverend Emil, S.J.: Father Perrig's papers pertain to Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, and St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation. His diary includes several entries pertaining to the Messiah movement, 1889-1891. See also the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, the Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records, and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records. 

Sialm, Reverend Placidus F., S.J.: Father Sialm's papers pertain to Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, and St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation. See also the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, the Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records, and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records.  

Stolzman, Reverend William F.: Father Stolzman left the Society of Jesus. However, from 1973-1978, he was a Jesuit involved in ministry to Native Americans and in so doing, he chaired the Medicine Men and Clergy Meetings held at St. Francis Mission. The meetings were a theological dialogue comprised of 85 sessions between Brulé and Oglala Indian medicine men (with spouses and associates) and Jesuit priests. The record is comprised of eight open reel recordings and 233 audio cassettes (St. Francis Mission Records, Series 9), approximately 1,000 pages of transcripts (St. Francis Mission Records, Series 7), and related drafts and presentations (Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records, Series 7 and 9, and St. Francis Mission Records, Series 7 and 9). From and with these documents, Stolzman wrote The Pipe and Christ: A Christian-Sioux Dialogue, 1986, a comparative analysis of Catholic and Native belief and ritual. For more information, see the Medicine Men and Clergy Dialogue.      

Related recordings produced and/ or collected by Stolzman (St. Francis Mission Records, Series 9) include talks by several medicine men on religious topics and the retelling of a vision quest experience by a non-Indian Fordham University theology student who lived on the on the Rosebud Reservation for one summer, ca. 1976-1979.

From 1995-2002, the Lakota Task Force (Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota) held a follow up dialogue that built on the Medicine Men and Clergy Meetings that comprises the Inculturation Task Forces Records (Lakota Inculturation Task Force, Series 2). See also the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records and the Tekakwitha Conference Records.

Westropp, Reverend Henry I., S.J.: Father Westropp's papers pertain to Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation, and St. Paul's Mission, Yankton Reservation, to 1917 when he transferred to the Jesuit missions in India. See also the records of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, and Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School, and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records.  

Zimmerman, Reverend Joseph A., S.J.: Father Zimmerman's papers pertain to Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation and St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation. See also the records of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, and Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School, and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records.   

Zuern, Reverend Ted F., S.J.: Father Zeurn's papers pertain to Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, St. Francis Mission, Rosebud Reservation, St. Isaac Jogues Church, Rapid City, and the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, where he served as its Associate Director. See also the records of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School, St. Isaac Jogues Church, and elsewhere in the St. Francis Mission Records.    

St. Francis Mission Series 8, General Publications: Publications, clippings, and U.S. Government documents pertaining to the Rosebud Reservation, at least in part. St. Francis Mission collected the bulk of these items with additional ones added by the Marquette University Archives. The newspaper clippings contain information on school curriculum, sports, and extracurricular activities (1920-1989), Camp DeSmet (1920s), the Catholic Sioux Congress and sodalities (1936), reservation poverty, economic development, and tribal rights (1937-1970s), Tekakwitha Conference (1936), veneration of Kateri Tekakwitha (1970-1975, 1980), school bicultural education (1973), Dakota [Lakota] language, beliefs and traditions (1973-1976), lay ministry and the diaconate (1974-1976), and radio ministry (1974, 1979, 1987). Other series within the St. Francis Missions Records and other Marquette University collections contain documentation relating to this series.

Work in-progress: The Marquette University Libraries are developing bibliographic records for the publications in this collection. This includes all books, pamphlets, magazines, newsletters, prayer cards, published maps, published sound and video recordings, etc., and excludes clipping files and reprints of articles. As they are created, the bibliographic records will appear in Marqcat, the Marquette University online catalog. Furthermore, as an interim and supplemental search tool, most titles to publications in this and related collections appear in the Index to Publications in Native America Collections.         

St. Francis Mission Series 9, Mission, Jesuit, and General Sound Recordings: Sound recordings recorded or collected by Jesuits at St. Francis Mission. St. Francis Mission transferred the bulk of the recordings to Marquette University with the exception of a few related items added by archives staff. While most papers pertain to St. Francis Mission, Brulé [Sicangu] Indians, and the Rosebud Reservation, some recordings pertain to Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School, Oglala Indians, and the Pine Ridge Reservation or elsewhere in South Dakota and adjacent states. This reflects, the diverse ministries served by Jesuits and their propensity to retain and share their recordings with other Jesuits. Other series within the St. Francis Missions Records and other Marquette University collections contain documentation relating to this series.

Work in-progress: The Marquette University Libraries are developing bibliographic records for the publications in this collection. This includes all books, pamphlets, magazines, newsletters, prayer cards, published maps, published sound and video recordings, etc., and excludes clipping files and reprints of articles. As they are created, the bibliographic records will appear in Marqcat, the Marquette University online catalog. Furthermore, as an interim and supplemental search tool, most titles to publications in this and related collections appear in the Index to Publications in Native America Collections.  

General Recordings

Holy Rosary Mission Summer Session: Towards an Indian Perspective: A 1978 summer conference at Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge Reservation, that featured Brule and Oglala Indians, Jesuits, and others familiar with Catholic Church involvement on Indian reservations in South Dakota. The presentation, "An Educator Looks at Catholic Church Teaching" by Agnes Picotte has been transcribed and is located in St. Francis Mission Records, Series 5, Mission and School Publications.  

Jesuit Recordings

Stolzman, Reverend William F.: Father Stolzman left the Society of Jesus. However, from 1973-1978, he was a Jesuit involved in ministry to Native Americans and in so doing, he chaired the Medicine Men and Clergy Meetings held at St. Francis Mission. The meetings were a theological dialogue comprised of 85 sessions between Brulé and Oglala Indian medicine men (with spouses and associates) and Jesuit priests. The record is comprised of eight open reel recordings and 233 audio cassettes (St. Francis Mission Records, Series 9), approximately 1,000 pages of transcripts (St. Francis Mission Records, Series 7), and related drafts and presentations (Holy Rosary Mission/Red Cloud Indian School Records, Series 7 and 9, and St. Francis Mission Records, Series 7 and 9). From and with these documents, Stolzman wrote The Pipe and Christ: A Christian-Sioux Dialogue, 1986, a comparative analysis of Catholic and Native belief and ritual. For more information, see the Medicine Men and Clergy Dialogue.      

Related recordings produced and/ or collected by Father Stolzman include talks by several medicine men on religious topics and the retelling of a vision quest experience by a non-Indian Fordham University theology student who lived on the on the Rosebud Reservation for one summer, ca. 1976-1979.

From 1995-2002, the Lakota Task Force (Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota) held a follow up dialogue that built on the Medicine Men and Clergy Meetings. See the Inculturation Task Forces Records (Lakota Inculturation Task Force, Series 2).

KINI Radio: Includes broadcast series such as Sioux for Christ and Sicangu Chronicle, a news commentary. Series 2-1 Mission and School Reports includes the scripts for the KINI Radio: Sicangu Chronicle "News Notes" and a transcript of No. 39-40, Fancy Dance Memoirs by Chico Her Many Horses (Oglala), 1980.

St. Francis Mission Series 10, General Motion Pictures: Scenes filmed by Reverend Joseph A. Zimmerman, S.J., including the Catholic Sioux Congress, Rapid City Indian Camp, St. Francis Mission, and the Tekakwitha Conference. Also included are two films by Chulack Productions titled, "The Blackrobe" and "The Sisters." The former includes views of Reverend Eugene Buechel, S.J. Other series within the St. Francis Missions Records and other Marquette University collections contain documentation relating to this series.

St. Francis Mission Series 0, Unprocessed Records: Marquette University also holds unprocessed archival records from St. Francis Mission. These records have not been prepared for research use. Some restrictions may apply. 

Related Collections at Other Repositories