Genealogy Requests

Several collections at Marquette University contain Native American genealogical records. Generally, the most useful are sacramental and church census records, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs census records, high school transcripts, and mission school attendance records, which are highlighted here. Several collections contain photographs of children and adults, but they are not described here. Records that are not restricted are available to archives visitors or borrowers of the corresponding microfilm via interlibrary loan. Under limited circumstances, on-site visitors may be permitted to conduct research in some restricted records.

Sacramental and Church Census Records

To protect personal privacy, records after 1930 are restricted and the corresponding microfilm will not be loaned. Also, records (originals and microfilm) from 1930 and earlier may be restricted if co-mingled with later records. However, archives staff at Marquette University will conduct genealogical searches for patrons who fill out the Genealogy Request Form (below). The following collections contain sacramental and church census records:

Kansas: St. Mary's Mission Records, 1851-1871 (no restrictions), available via interlibrary loan

Michigan: Sacred Heart Franciscan Records, church census and sacramental records, 1840-1947, reels 5-6 and 8 (no restrictions), available via interlibrary loan

Montana: Diocese of Helena Records, sacramental records, 1855-2003, reels 1-3 (restrictions apply), not available via interlibrary loan

North Dakota: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Pembina, baptismal records, 1856-1862, in the Julius M. Belleau Papers, reel 3 (no restrictions), not available via interlibrary loan

Wisconsin: The Sacred Heart Franciscan Records, sacramental records, reel 28 (no restrictions), available via interlibrary loan

South Dakota, Pine Ridge Reservation: Holy Rosary Mission-Red Cloud Indian School Records, sacramental records, and church census records, 1884-1987 (Series 2-1 and 2-2 (restrictions apply); not available via interlibrary loan; Episcopal Church in South Dakota, Pine Ridge Reservation sacramental records, 1879-1908 (microfilm reel 1, Center for Western Studies, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota) (no restrictions), not available via interlibrary loan

School Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 restricts all student-related records at Marquette University, irregardless of their antiquity. Comparable records at regional centers of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration are not restricted. However, archives staff at Marquette University will conduct genealogical searches for patrons who fill out the Genealogy Request Form (below). The records often list individual names, dates of school attendance, tribal affiliation, degree of Indian blood, and comments explaining attendance and performance in school. The following collections contain school records:

Arizona: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

California: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

Idaho: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

Kansas: Osage Mission School Records, 1847-1866 (restrictions apply)

Michigan: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply) and Sacred Heart Franciscan Records, Reel 9 (restrictions apply)

Minnesota: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

Montana: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

New Mexico: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

North Dakota: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

Oklahoma: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

Oregon: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

South Dakota: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply), Holy Rosary Mission-Red Cloud Indian School Records (Pine Ridge Reservation), Series 2-1 and 2-2 (restrictions apply), and the St. Francis Mission Records (Rosebud Reservation), Series 2-1 and 2-2 (restrictions apply)

Washington: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

Wisconsin: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply), and Sacred Heart Franciscan Records (Menominee Reservation), reels 15-16 (restrictions apply)

Wyoming: Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, Series 2-1 (restrictions apply)

U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Census Records

South Dakota: Holy Rosary Mission-Red Cloud Indian School Records (Pine Ridge Reservation), Series 2-2 Restricted Reports Indian Roll Census, boxes 3-5 and 10 (restrictions apply): Per agreement with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Enrollment Office, January 26, 1996, certified copies of two forms of personal identity documents must be presented in person for each genealogical request using these records. For further information, contact the Oglala Sioux Tribe Enrollment Office, Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770, telephone 605-867-1321.

Red Cloud High School Transcripts

South Dakota: Holy Rosary Mission-Red Cloud Indian School Records (South Dakota, Pine Ridge Reservation), Series 2-2 Restricted Reports, boxes 10-16 (restrictions apply) and Series 0 (restrictions apply): Per agreement with Red Cloud High School, all requests for transcripts must be made through the Red Cloud High School Office during regular business hours. Facsimile copies may be sent to any third party authorized through Red Cloud High School. For further information, contact Red Cloud High School, 100 Mission Drive, Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770-2100, telephone 605-867-5888.

Requesting a Genealogical Search

Please fill out the form below as best you can and return via e-mail to Mark Thiel or U.S. Postal Service.

After reviewing your request, if we determine that the information you need is within records not restricted, instead of conducting a search, we will notify you about borrowing the records on microfilm via interlibrary loan according to our Guidelines for Interlibrary Loans.

Because our staff time is limited, please allow up to 6 to 8 weeks for your response. We will conduct up to two hours of complementary searching per year per patron at no charge, however donations are always appreciated. Fees may be charged for copies (see fee schedule) and additional research time. Please make checks payable to Marquette University (Federal EIN #39-080-6251) in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank. For more information, please contact archivist Mark Thiel.

Navigational Resources

Marquette University Links
Guides to Catholic-Related Records for the United States about Native Americans

See also Reference Publications, Notable Works on African Americans and Native American Using Marquette University Archival Collections, and Afraid of Bear to Zuni: Surnames in English of Native American Origin found within Marquette University Archival Collections.

Portal Websites
Index of Native American Resources on the Internet, http://www.hanksville.org/NAresources/
National Indian Law Library, http://www.narf.org/nill/Nillindex.html
Native American Home Pages, http://www.nativeculture.com/lisamitten/indians.html
Native Web, http://www.nativeweb.org/

Print Publications
Humling, Virginia, comp., U.S. Catholic Sources, A Diocesan Research Guide. Ancestry, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1995
Kirkham, E. Kay, comp. Our Native Americans, Their Records of Genealogical Value, Vols. 1 and 2. The Everton Publishers, Logan Utah, 1980 and 1984

Genealogy Request Form
* = Required ** = Approximation Required

Contact Information:
*Name :**
Phone Number:
Email:
Address:
The best way to contact you is by: Phone Email U.S. Mail
Genealogical Request
To protect the privacy of others, please indicate your relationship by checking one of the following. * I am seeking information and/or record copies about… Myself Parent, grandparent, or brother/sister Other (please specify)
Last Name: * List the most likely spelling first followed by spelling variations and alternate surnames, if any.
First Name: * List the most likely spelling first followed by spelling variations and alternate first names or nicknames, if any.
Place: ** Give the known or suspected state and reservation/community, church, mission, or school, where this person was associated. List most likely place first followed by less likely places, if there is more than one possibility.
Date: ** Date(s) or year(s) of attendance, membership, residence, or sacrament, if known.
Tribe: Give the person's tribal affiliation(s), if known, listing the most likely one first followed by other possibilities.
Birth Date: Birth date or year, if known.
Death Date: Death date or year, if known.
Father: Father's Name and tribal affiliations, if known.
Mother: Mother's Name and tribal affiliations, if known.
Other: Please provide a brief description of the problem, including additional questions and whatever else you feel is pertinent.
* = Required ** = Approximation Required

Also, you may print and complete the above form and mail or fax it to:

Mark G. Thiel, C.A., Archivist
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Raynor Memorial Libraries
Marquette University
1355 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53233
P.O. Box 3141
Milwaukee, WI 53201-3141

FAX (414) 288-6709; Phone (414) 288-5904

ALL VISITORS AND RESEARCHERS ARE WELCOME
Service Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evening and weekend hours by appointment.

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Genealogy Request Form

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Genealogical Request