Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions
Record Group 1
Scope and Content: Series 2-4 Catechist Reports

Statistical summaries prepared quarterly on the activities of Catholic catechists who were Native Americans. The reports are arranged alphabetically by state, there under by locality and mission, and chronologically within folders. Most files are very incomplete and no reports exist for many missions. Typical reports include names of catechists and affiliated mission, number of meetings held for public prayers and religious instruction; average attendance at meetings; numbers of sick calls, baptisms and burials; and remarks.

Reformatted records: The microfilm version of the Series 2-4 Catechist Reports is available via interlibrary loan within the United States; please follow the "Guidelines for Interlibrary Loans." PDF copies are available as well, for which fees may be assessed according to the Fee Schedule.

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General Information

These records contain extensive and diverse historical narratives about Native Americans and their communities, and especially Native American Catholics and their Catholic parishes and events. Also detailed are the Catholic missionaries and their evangelization through parishes, schools, and special events. These accounts are especially valuable whenever related historical records have not survived elsewhere.