GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 2: Midwest United States
Wisconsin: WI-17
Catholic Church. Diocese of La Crosse. Archives
3710 East Avenue South
P.O. Box 4004
La Crosse, WI 54602-4004
Phone: 608-791-0162
Email: archives@diolc.org
Hours: See website
Access: See website
Copying facilities: Yes
History: The Diocese of La Crosse was erected for western Wisconsin, 1868. La Crosse and its predecessors (Cincinnati-1821-1833; Detroit, 1833-1843; Milwaukee, 1843-1868) have served the following missions and parishes with Native American parishioners:
1660-1765 (La Crosse, 1868-present) |
Prairie du Chien Mission (e.g. Ojibwa, Winnebago), Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin |
1835-present (La Crosse, 1868-1905) |
St. Joseph Mission (Ojibwa), La Pointe, Wisconsin |
1855-1910s (no longer Native) (La Crosse, 1868-1905) |
St. Francis Xavier/ Assumption Church (Ojibwa), Superior, Wisconsin |
1860-present (La Crosse, 1868-1905) |
Holy Family/ Christ Church (Ojibwa), Bayfield, Wisconsin |
1868-present (La Crosse, 1868-1905) |
St. Mary/ Our Lady of Seven Dolors Mission (Ojibwa), Odanah, Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin |
1878-1910s (no longer Native) (La Crosse, 1878-1905) |
St. Agnes Church (Ojibwa), Ashland, Wisconsin |
1880-present (La Crosse, 1880-1905) |
St. Francis of Assisi Mission (Ojibwa), Flambeau/ Flambeaufarm, Wisconsin |
1882-1919 (closed) (La Crosse, 1882-1905) |
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission (Ojibwa), Mouth of Yellow River, Wisconsin |
1882-1934 (closed) (La Crosse, 1882-1905) |
St. Anthony of Padua Mission (Ojibwa), Pakwawong, Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation, Wisconsin |
1882-present (La Crosse, 1882-1894) |
Holy Family Church (Ojibwa), Cloquet, Minnesota |
1885-present (La Crosse, 1885-1905) |
St. Francis Solanus Church (Ojibwa), Reserve, Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation, Wisconsin |
1889-1942 (closed) (La Crosse, 1889-1905) |
St. Joseph Mission (Ojibwa), Bellilfalls, Wisconsin |
1889-ca. 1920s (no longer Native) (La Crosse, 1889-1905) |
Our Lady of Good Counsel/ St. Mary of Good Counsel Mission (Ojibwa), Solon Springs, Wisconsin |
1880s-present (La Crosse, 1889-1905) |
St. Anthony of Padua/ St. Mary of the Angels Mission (Ojibwa), Gordon, Wisconsin |
1892-1937 (closed) (La Crosse, 1892-1905) |
Holy Angels Mission (Ojibwa), Mud Lake, Wisconsin |
1893-present (La Crosse, 1893-1905) |
St. Francis Church (Ojibwa), Red Cliff, Red Cliff Reservation, Wisconsin |
1894-present (La Crosse, 1894-1905) |
St. Anthony of Padua Mission (Ojibwa), Lac du Flambeau, Lac du Flambeau Reservation, Wisconsin |
1895-ca. 1915 (closed) (La Crosse, 1895-1905) |
St. Joseph Mission (Ojibwa), New Village, Lac du Flambeau, Lac du Flambeau Reservation, Wisconsin |
1900-1962 (closed) (La Crosse, 1900-1905) |
St. Anthony Mission (Ojibwa), Belanger Settlement, Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation, Wisconsin |
ca. 1904-1910 (closed) (La Crosse, ca. 1904-1905) |
Sacred Heart Mission (Ojibwa), Trade River, Wisconsin |
1920s-present |
St. Anthony de Padua Church (Winnebago), Augusta |
1920s-present |
St. Joseph Church (Winnebago), Black River Falls |
1950s-present |
St. Mary Church (Winnebago), Lyndon Station |
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1873-1904, 1920s-ongoing
Volume: Less than 1 cubic foot
Description: Within 4 series.
/1 "Bishops' Papers"
Inclusive dates: 1873-1904
Volume: 4 letters
Description: Arranged chronologically by administration; pertain to Ojibwa Indians:
A. Bishop Michael Heiss (1818-1890), 1873, 1 letter: From Rev. Eustace Vollmer, O.F.M. Christ Church, Bayfield
B. Bishop Kilian C. Flasch (1837-1891), 1889, 2 letters: From Rev. Martin Marty, O.S.B., and Rev. John Gafron, O.F.M., Christ Church, Bayfield
C. Bishop James Schwebach (1847-1921), 1904, 1 letter: From Rev. Sabinus Molitor, O.F.M., St. Agnes Church, Ashland
/2 Priest Files: Rev. Georges P. Mathieu
Inclusive dates: Unknown-1996
Volume: At least 1 folder
Description: Includes Rev. Mathieu (Potawatomi, 1912-1996), Director of Diocese of La Crosse Native American Ministry, 1972-1980s.
/3 Diocesan Newspaper
Inclusive dates: 1936-ongoing
Volume: Occasional articles
Description: The Times Review, formerly the La Crosse Register.
/4 Sacramental records
Inclusive dates: 1920s-ongoing
Volume: Few records
Description: Sacramental records (e.g. baptisms, marriages, burials) for Winnebago [Ho Chunk] Indian parishioners before 1960. See the parish for records after 1960.
A. Augusta, St. Anthony de Padua Church, 1920s-1998
B. Black River Falls, St. Joseph Church, 1920s-ongoing
C. Fall Creek, St. Raymond of Peñaford Church, 1998-ongoing
D. Lyndon Station, St. Mary Church, 1950s-ongoing
Unless noted otherwise, the repository named above holds (or held) the records described and not the Marquette University Archives. However, Marquette’s holdings, e.g. Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Records, include related records about these Native and Catholic groups and places.
new1984/rev2006-2020