GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Montana: MT-23

Montana Historical Society. Research Library and Photo Archives
225 North Roberts Street
P.O. Box 201201
Helena, MT 59620

Phone: 406-444-2681

 

Alternate search: See Northwest Digital Archives online

Hours: Library/Archives and Photograph Archives: See website

Access: No restrictions 

Copying facilities: Yes

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans: 

Inclusive dates: 1863-1994, undated 

Volume: Ca. 1 cubic foot   

Description: 12 manuscript and 23 photography collections include Native Catholic records.

 

Manuscript Collections:

/1 “Catherine Belgarde Interview, OH 1894”

Inclusive dates: 1980

Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot 

Description: Includes experiences at St. Peter’s Mission (Siksika), Montana. 

 

/2 “Joseph M. Cataldo Letters, SC 80” 

Inclusive dates: 1887

Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot

Description: 2 handwritten petitions (copies), one in French, to Rev. Joseph M. Cataldo, S.J. [Jesuits] (1837-1928) from citizens of Helena, Montana, requesting that the Jesuits establish a Catholic college in Helena; from the Jesuit Oregon Province Archives, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington. 

 

/3 “Pierre-Jean De Smet Papers, SC 620”

Inclusive dates: 1863, 1866

Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot

Description: Letters of James Hainson to Rev. Pierre-Jean De Smet, S.J. [Jesuits] (1801-1873), 1866; Rev. De Smet (in French) to Rev. Mother Superior [possibly of the Sisters of Charity of Providence] in Washington Territory, 1863; and Rev. De Smet at Fort McKenzie to possibly Andrew Dawson, 1863.    

 

/4 “General Montana History Collection”

Inclusive dates: ca. 1968, 1983, 1993-1994

Volume: Ca. .1 cubic foot

Description: 

A. OH 1652: “Art Carrier (1918-1993) Interview,” 1993, 42-page transcript; re: includes boarding school life [Siksika] at Holy Family Mission, Blackfeet Reservation, Montana

B. OH 1514: “Evelyn Sloan Webster (1903-1996) Interview,” 1983, 1 audiotape and 2-page summary; re: includes boarding school life [Salish, Kootenai] at St. Ignatius Mission, Flathead Reservation, St. Ignatius, Montana

C. OH 1388: “Mother Amata Dunne [O.S.U.] Interview,” ca. 1968, 1 audiotape; re: her life as a nun

D. OH 1653: “Richard Kenck (1906-2002) Interview,” 1994, 35-pages transcript; re: includes boarding school life at St. Peter’s Mission (Siksika), Montana

 

/5 “Montana Attorney General's Office Records, Collection RS 76”

Inclusive dates: 1953

Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot

Description: Box 102, Folder 122, re: Josephine Cannon Estate, Billings, with bequest to the Little Flower Church, Blackfeet Reservation, Browning, Montana.   

 

/6 “Montana Office of Public Instruction Records, Collection RS 147”

Inclusive dates: 1949-1953, 1958-1964

Volume: Ca. .1 cubic foot

Description: Includes enrollment statistics for Catholic schools serving American Indians in Montana. 

 

/7 “New Deal in Montana/ Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project, OH 1162”

Inclusive dates: 1989

Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot

Description: “Mae Takes Gun Childs Interview,” 1989, 1 audiotape and 13-page transcript; re: includes experiences of Takes Gun Childs (Crow, 1894-1995) at St. Xavier School, Crow Reservation, with the Ursulines.

 

/8 “Owen, John Papers, Collection MC 44”

Inclusive dates: 1850

Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot

Description: Box 2, Folder 4 includes a bill of sale for St. Mary Mission lands, Stevensville, Montana, purchased from the Jesuits by Owen (1818-1889).

 

/9 “Ravalli, Anthony Papers, SC 679”

Inclusive dates: 1884

Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot

Description: An undated manuscript in Latin and a letter to Narcissa Caldwell by Rev. Anthony Ravalli, S.J. [Jesuits] (1812-1884). 

 

/10 “Mabel Pepin Salois Interview, OH 1887”

Inclusive dates: 1995

Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot

Description: Early 20th century experiences at Holy Family Mission School (Siksika) and the Blackfeet Reservation with retold reminiscences from her mother that include the 1885 rebellion led by Louis Riel (Métis).  

 

/11 Small Town Montana Oral History Project Inclusive dates: 1984

Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot 

Description:

A. OH 829: “Lucille L. Durocher Interview,” 1984, 1 audiotape and 2-page summary; includes relationships between churches in Cut Bank, her involvement in St. Margaret Church, and changes in Catholic practices

B. OH 834: “Wilbur Werner Interview” 1984, 2 audiotapes and 4-page summary; includes relationships between the non-Indian community in Cut Bank, the Blackfeet Reservation, and St. Margaret Church, ca. 1930s-1980s

 

/12 “Society of Jesus Religious Text, 1900, SC 2400”

Inclusive dates: 1900

Volume: .1 cubic foot

Description: The New and Old Testaments in the Crow Indian Language (with copy) by an unidentified Jesuit; from St. Xavier Mission, Crow Reservation, Montana.  

 

Photograph Collections:

/13 “Amadeus, Rev. Mother, #940-349”

Inclusive dates: 1884

Volume: 1 print

Description: Founding mother superior of the Ursulines in Montana.   

 

/14 “Beckx, Peter, #940-831”

Inclusive dates: undated

Volume: 1 print

Description: Rev. Peter Beckx, S.J. [Jesuits]

 

/15 “Brings, William J. Collection, Lot 10”

Inclusive dates: 1908-1909

Volume: 48 prints

Description: Crow Indians at St. Xavier Mission, Crow Reservation, Montana.  

 

/16 “Cataldo, Joseph M., #941-472”

Inclusive dates: undated

Volume: 1 print

Description: Rev. Joseph M. Cataldo, S.J. [Jesuits]

 

/17 “Cataldo Mission, Idaho, #940-936-937”

Inclusive dates: ca. 1929

Volume: 2 prints

Description: Sacred Heart Mission, Coeur d’Alene Reservation, Cataldo, Idaho.  

 

/18 “DeSmet, Pierre Jean, #941-955-959”

Inclusive dates: undated

Volume: 4 prints and 1 engraving

Description: Rev. Pierre-Jean de Smet, S.J. [Jesuits]

 

/19 “Dumont, Gabriel, #944-022-023”

Inclusive dates: ca. 1885

Volume: 2 prints

Description: Métis.       

 

/20 “Fort Belknap Agency Collection, #955-360-404”

Inclusive dates: ca. 1900

Volume: 2 prints

Description: Assiniboine and Atsina Indians and St. Paul Mission, Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana.   

 

/21 “Huffman, Laton Alton Collection, #981-054-057, 981-220-222”

Inclusive dates: undated

Volume: 2 prints

Description: Cheyenne Indians and St. Labre School, Ashland, Montana, near Northern Cheyenne Reservation. 

 

/22 “McBride, Sister G. Collection, Pac87-47”

Inclusive dates: 1880-1900

Volume: 5 prints

Description: Siksika Indians, Ursulines, and St. Peter’s Mission, Montana. 

 

/23 “Palladino, Lawrence Benedict, #944-255”

Inclusive dates: undated

Volume: 1 print

Description: Rev. Lawrence Palladino, S.J. [Jesuits]

 

/24 “Ravalli, Anthony, #944-496-499”

Inclusive dates: undated

Volume: 4 prints 

Description: Rev. Anthony Ravalli, S.J.     

 

/25 “Riel, Louis, Tomb of, #944-566 and 944-568”

Inclusive dates: undated

Volume: 2 prints

Description: Métis.

 

/26 “Riel Rebellion, 1885, 944-569-572”

Inclusive dates: 1940

Volume: 4 prints

Description: St. Anthony Church, wagon trail, and Métis graves.

 

/27 “St. Ignatius Mission, 950-719-739”

Inclusive dates: 1867-1960

Volume: 20 prints

Description: St. Ignatius Mission (Salish, Kootenai), Flathead Reservation, St. Ignatius, Montana.  

 

/28 “St. Mary Mission, 950-742-759”

Inclusive dates: 1916-1974

Volume: 17 prints

Description: St. Mary Mission (Salish), Stevensville, Montana.

 

/29 “St. Mary Mission, Pac 98-79”

Inclusive dates: 1948

Volume: 17 prints

Description: St. Mary Mission (Salish), Stevensville, Montana.  

 

/30 “St. Paul’s Mission, 950-760-768”

Inclusive dates: 1900-1954 

Volume: 9 prints

Description: St. Paul’s Mission (Assiniboine, Atsina, Métis), Fort Belknap Reservation, Hays, Montana.   

 

/31 “St. Peter’s Mission, Pac 74-104.279 GP”

Inclusive dates: undated

Volume: 1 print

Description: St. Peter’s Mission (Siksika, Métis), Montana.   

 

/32 “Catholic Church at St. Paul’s Mission, Pac 74-109.207 GP”

Inclusive dates: undated 

Volume: 1 print

Description: St. Paul’s Mission (Assiniboine, Atsina, Métis), Fort Belknap Reservation, Hays, Montana.    

 

/33 “Catholic Church at St. Paul’s Mission, Pac 92-59 Album”

Inclusive dates: 1889 

Volume: 1 print

Description: In album; St. Paul’s Mission (Assiniboine, Atsina, Métis), Fort Belknap Reservation, Hays, Montana.   

 

/34 “St. Xavier Mission, 950-800-805”

Inclusive dates: ca. 1890-1954

Volume: 6 prints

Description: St. Xavier Mission (Crow), Crow Reservation, Montana.  

 

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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