GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 1: Eastern United States
Louisiana: LA-21
Catholic Church. Archdiocese of New Orleans. Archives and Records
1100 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
Phone: 505-861-6241
Email: archives@archdioceseno.org
Hours: See website
Access: See website
Copying facilities: Yes
History: The Diocese of Louisiana and the Two Floridas (a.k.a. Diocese of St. Louis of New Orleans) was erected for the Spanish provinces of La Florida and Louisiana from territory of the Diocese of San Cristobal de la Habana, Cuba, 1793. With its territory reduced to the state of Louisiana, the diocese was renamed the Diocese of New Orleans, 1826, and elevated to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1850. It lost territory as more in-state dioceses were erected, 1825-1977. Statewide, New Orleans and its predecessor supported the following missions, parishes, and evangelization among Native Americans:
1698-1800s (New Orleans, 1793-1800s) |
First Capuchins and Jesuits, and then, diocesan priests intermittently evangelized Native Americans (e.g. Apalachee, Chickasaw, Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma) |
Ca. 1725-1761 (New Orleans, 1793) |
At the Ursuline Convent, New Orleans (now the Archdiocese of New Orleans Archives), Sister Mary Turpin, O.S.U. (mixed-race Illinois, 1709-1761) became the first native-born professed religious in the present-day United States |
1844-present (New Orleans, 1844-1918) |
Immaculate Conception Church (Chitamacha), Charenton |
1864-present (New Orleans, 1864-1977) |
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (e.g. Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma) Montegut/ Bayou Terrebonne |
1873-present (New Orleans, 1873-1977) |
Our Lady of the Rosary/ Notre Dame du Rosaire Church (e.g. Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma) Montegut, Larose |
1875-present (New Orleans, 1875-1977) |
St. Eloi Church (e.g. Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma), Theriot/ Bayou du Large |
1908-present (New Orleans, 1908-1977) |
St. Ann Church (e.g. Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma), Bourg |
1915-present (New Orleans, 1915-1977) |
Sacred Heart Church (e.g. Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma), Cut Off |
1915-present (New Orleans, 1915-1977) |
St. Bridget Church (e.g. Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma), Schreiber/ Terrebonne Station |
1915-present (New Orleans, 1915-1977) |
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church (e.g. Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma), Golden Meadow |
1952-present (New Orleans, 1952-1977) |
Holy Family Church (e.g. Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma), Dulac/ Grand Caillou |
1963-present (New Orleans, 1963-1977) |
Maria Immaculata Church (e.g. Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma), Houma |
1971-present (New Orleans, 1971-1977) |
St. Charles Borromeo Church (e.g. Chitamacha, Choctaw, Houma), Montegut/ Pointe-aux-Chênes |
Unknown-present (New Orleans, unknown-1977) |
Annunziata Church (e.g. Chitimacha, Choctaw, Houma), Houma |
Unknown-present (New Orleans, unknown-1977) |
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church (e.g. Chitimacha, Choctaw, Houma), Houma |
Unknown-present (New Orleans, unknown-1977) |
St. Louis Church (e.g. Chitimacha, Choctaw, Houma), Houma/ Bayou Blue |
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1576-present; bulk 1820s-1860s
Volume: Less than 1 cubic foot anticipated
Description: 3 series with records.
/1 Arch/ Bishops papers
Inclusive dates: 1576-1897; bulk 1802-1860s
Volume: Occasional letters
Description: Correspondence between Louisiana bishops and missionaries, including Rev. Adrian Rouquette who evangelized Choctaw Indians, 1850s-1860s.
A. Bishop Luis Ignatius Peñalver y Cárdinas, 1794-1801
B. Bishop Francisco Porró y Reinado, 1801-1803
C. Bishop Louis-Guillaume-Valentin Dubourg, S.S. [Sulpicians], 1815-1826
D. Bishop Leo Raymond de Neckère, C.M. [Vincentians], 1829-1833
E. Archbishop Anthony Blanc, 1835-1860
F. Archbishop Jean Marie Odin, C.M., 1861-1870
G. Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché, 1870-1883
H. Archbishop Francis Xavier Leray, 1887-1893
I. Archbishop Francis August Anthony Joseph Janssens, 1888-1897
/2 Sacramental records
Inclusive dates: 1718-1829
Volume: Several records
Description: Sacramental Records of the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, volumes 1-18, published; see website.
/3 Arch/ diocesan newspapers
Inclusive dates: 1842-ongoing
Volume: Occasional articles
Description: A succession of Catholic newspapers served the Arch/Diocese of New Orleans:
A. La Propagateur, 1842-1864; French language
B. Catholic Standard, 1855-1862
C. The Morning Star, 1868-1930
D. Catholic Action of the South, 1932-1963
E. Clarion Herald, 1963-present; see website
Unless otherwise noted, the repository on this page holds (or held) the records described here and they are not held at the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Archives.
new2017/rev2020