GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 2: Midwest United States
Michigan: MI-9
Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Detroit. Archives
12 State Street
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: 313-237-5846
Email: archives@aod.org
Hours: See website
Access: See access
Copying facilities: Yes
History: The Diocese of Detroit was erected for Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota east of the Missouri River, 1833. Detroit lost territory for erecting new dioceses, 1843-1938, and was elevated to the Archdiocese of Detroit, 1937. Previously, Detroit had been part of the dioceses of Cincinnati, 1821-1838, Bardstown, 1808-1821, Baltimore, 1796-1808, and Québec, 1674-1796. The Archdiocese of Detroit and its predecessors administered the following missions, parishes, and schools among Native Americans:
|
1701-1830s (no longer Native) (Detroit, 1833-1830s) |
Sainte Anne Church (Métis, Wyandot), Detroit/ Fort St. Joseph, Michigan Territory/ Indiana Territory/ Northwest Territory/ Quebec |
|
1780-1840s (no longer Native) (Detroit, 1833-1840s) |
St. Anne Church (Ojibwa), Mackinac Island, Michigan/ Michigan Territory/ Indiana Territory/ Northwest Territory/ Quebec |
|
1799-present (no longer Native) (Detroit, 1833-1882) |
Holy Childhood of Jesus/ St. Peter Church (Ottawa), Harbor Springs/ New Arbre Croche, Michigan/ Michigan Territory/ Indiana Territory/ Northwest Territory |
|
1829-present (Detroit, 1833-1882) |
Holy Cross Church (Ottawa), Cross Village, Michigan/ Michigan Territory |
|
1831-1836 (closed) (Detroit, 1833-1836) |
Native School (Menominee, Metis), Green Bay, Wisconsin Territory |
|
1832-1893 (closed) (Detroit, 1833-1882) |
St. Leopold Mission (Ojibwa, Ottawa), Beaver Island, Michigan/ Michigan Territory |
|
1833-1835 (closed) |
Winnebago Mission (Winnebago), Wisconsin Territory |
|
1833-1845 (no longer Native) |
Church of the Blessed Virgin (Ojibwa, Ottawa), Grand River, Michigan/ Michigan Territory |
|
1833-1853 (closed) |
St. Vincent de Paul Mission (Ojibwa, Ottawa), Manistique, Michigan/ Michigan Territory |
|
1833-present (Detroit, 1833-1882) |
St. Ignatius/ St. Francis Xavier Mission (Ojibwa, Ottawa), Middle Village/ Middletown, Michigan/ Michigan Territory |
|
1834-1920s (no longer Native) (Detroit, 1834-1882) |
Holy Name of Mary Church (Ojibwa), Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan/ Michigan Territory |
|
1845-1870s (no longer Native) (Detroit, 1845-1870s) |
Sacred Heart of Mary Mission (Potawatomi), Dowagiac/ Silver Creek |
|
1971-1974 (closed) |
Aniwim Community Parish (e.g. Huron, Mohawk, Ottawa), Detroit |
|
1980s-present |
St. Clement of Rome Church (e.g. Huron, Mohawk, Ottawa), Romeo |
|
1980s-2012 (closed) |
St. Elizabeth Church (e.g. Huron, Mohawk, Ottawa), Wyandotte |
|
2012-present |
St. Vincent Pallotti Church (e.g. Huron, Mohawk, Ottawa), Wyandotte |
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1838, 1970s-ongoing
Volume: Few records
Description: Within 2 series.
/1 Bishops Papers
Inclusive dates: 1838
Volume: 1 ledger book
Description: This ledger book of Ottawa Indian drawings from Harbor Springs is believed to have been made in 1838 when it became part of the ethnographic collection of Bishop John Friedrich Résé, Detroit’s first Bishop. Then, the Leopoldinen-Stiftung im Kaisertume Oesterreich (Leopoldine Society of Vienna) provided substantial funding for evangelization of Native Americans in the diocese. In gratitude, Bishop Résé gave the ethnographic collection to the society’s secretary, Johann Georg Schwarz, and eventually, it was transferred to the Museum für Volkerkunde (Vienna, Austria).
/2 Sacramental records
Inclusive dates: 1970s-1974
Volume: Several records
Description: The archdiocesan archives, or a successor parish, administers the sacramental records (e.g. baptisms, marriages, burials) of closed parishes whereas open parishes administer their own sacramental records and those of predecessor parishes. For open and closed parishes that had Native American parishioners, the disposition of sacramental records is as follows:
A. Detroit, Aniwim Community parish, 1971-1974: Archdiocesan Archives, Detroit
B. Detroit, St. Clement Church, 1970s-ongoing: St. Clement Church, Detroit
C. Wyandotte, St. Elizabeth Church, 1970s-2012: St. Vincent Pallotti Church, Wyandotte
D. Wyandotte, St. Vincent Pallotti Church, 2010s-ongoing: St. Vincent Pallotti Church, Wyandotte
/3 Parish files
Inclusive dates: 1970s
Volume: Few records
Description: May include clippings and photographs of Native American parishioners:
A. Detroit, Aniwim Community parish, 1971-1974
B. Detroit, St. Clement Church, 1970s-ongoing
C. Wyandotte, St. Elizabeth Church, 1970s-2012
D. Wyandotte, St. Vincent Pallotti Church, 2010s-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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