GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 2: Midwest United States
Wisconsin: WI-24

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
Holy Family Convent
2409 South Alverno Road
Manitowoc, WI 54220

Phone: 920-682-772
Email: See website

 

History: The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, founded 1869, self-identify with the post-nominal initials, "O.S.F." and have staffed the following schools serving Native Americans:

1897-1920, 1924-1953	Holy Cross School (Ottawa, Ojibwa), Cross Village, Michigan
1913-present	St. Joseph School (Oneida), Oneida, Oneida Reservation, Wisconsin
1929-present	Immaculate Conception School (Oneida), De Pere, Oneida Reservation, Wisconsin
1936-1973	Sacred Heart School (Tohono O’odham), Covered Wells, Tohono O’odham Reservation, Arizona
1936-present	St. Anthony of Padua School (Menominee), Neopit, Menominee Reservation, Wisconsin
1936-present	San Jose School (Tohono O’odham), Pisinemo, Tohono O’odham Reservation, Arizona
1936-present	St. Peter School (Pima), Bapchule, Pima Reservation, Arizona
1938-1990 (closed)	St. John School (Apache, Pima, Tohono O’odham), Laveen/ Komatke, Gila River Reservation, Arizona
1939-1960	St. Joseph School (Tohono O’odham), San Miguel, Tohono O’odham Reservation, Arizona
1940-present	San Xavier del Bac School (Tohono O’odham), Tucson, San Xavier Reservation, Arizona
1941-1961	Our Lady of Guadalupe School (Tohono O’odham), Cowlic, Tohono O’odham Reservation, Arizona
1942-present	St. Catherine School (Tohono O’odham), Topawa, Tohono O’odham Reservation, Arizona

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:

Inclusive dates: 1920s-ongoing, undated

Volume: Over 2 cubic feet

Description: Within 5 series.

 

/1 "General Administration"

Inclusive dates: 1930-1952, undated

Volume: .3 cubic foot 

Description: Arranged chronologically by administration. 

A. Mother Inez Phelan, O.S.F. (1927-1933), 1930-1933, 1935, .1 cubic foot:

1. Correspondence with Franciscans at the Arizona missions, 1930-1933, 30 letters: Major correspondents include Rev. Fidelis Voss, O.F.M., Rev. Novatus Benzing, O.F.M. [Franciscans], and Rev. Antonine Willenbrink O.F.M.

2. "Personal Possessions," 1930, 1935, 2 photograph albums with 100 prints of the Arizona missions

B. Mother Generose Cahill, O.S.F. (1919-1927, 1933-1939), ca. 1930s, .15 cubic foot:

1. Correspondence with Franciscans and Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity at the Arizona missions, 1935-1939, .1 cubic foot:

a. "Re Covered Wells," 1936-1937, 4 letters: Major correspondent is Sister Borromeo, O.S.F.

b. "Re: Pisinemo," 1936, 1939, 3 letters

c. "Re: Casa Blanca, Covered Wells, Santa Barbara," 1935-1936, l folder: Major correspondent is Rev. Novatus Benzing, O.F.M.

d. "Re: St. John School, Komatke [Laveen]," 1938, 1 folder: Major correspondent is Rev. Novatus Benzing, O.F.M.

e. "Re: Bapchule and St. John School, Komatke [Laveen]," 1937-1939, 1 folder

f. "Re: Topawa," 1938-1939, 9 letters: Major correspondents include Rev. Burkard Kuksht, O.F.M. and Rev. Augustine Schwarz, O.F.M.

g. "Re: Tucson," 1939, 3 letters: Major correspondent is Rev. Bonaventure Oblasser, O.F.M.

h. "Miscellaneous," 1937, 1939, 4 letters

2. "Personal Possessions," 1930s, 2 photograph albums, re: Arizona missions

C. Mother Edna Ryan (1945-1957), 1946-1952, undated, 46 letters: correspondence primarily with Franciscans at the Arizona missions; major correspondents include Rev. Alfred Boeddeker, Rev. Burkard Kuksht, O.F.M., Rev. Marcian Bucher, O.F.M., and Rev. Mathias Curtin, O.F.M.

 

/2 "Congregation and the Church"

Inclusive dates: 1930-1967 

Volume: 1 folder

Description: Correspondence between the mother superiors and bishops of the Tucson Diocese, re: primarily financial matters of the missions served.

 

/3 "Meetings and General Chapters"

Inclusive dates: 1936-ongoing

Volume: 1 folder

Description: Minutes of Council meetings, which include discussions of the Arizona missions and schools.

 

/4 "Local Houses"

Inclusive dates: 1920s-ongoing, undated

Volume: .6 cubic foot

Description: Arranged alphabetically by location of the house. 

A. Bapchule, Arizona, St. Peter School, 1936-ongoing, .1 cubic foot:

1. Correspondence, 1936-present, 1 folder: major correspondents include Mother Generose Cahill, O.S.F., Mother M. Perpetua, O.S.F., Mother Edna Ryan, O.S.F., Mother M. Agna, O.S.F., Sister M. Henrielda Cloutier, O.S.F., and the local superiors of the Franciscans and Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity

2. Photographs, 1940s-1960s, 87 prints

B. Covered Wells, Arizona, Sacred Heart School, 1936-1960s, 2 folders:

1. Correspondence, 1936-1938, 1951, 1956, 1968, 20 letters: major correspondents include Mother Generose Cahill, O.S.F., Sister Borromeo, O.S.F., and Reverend Augustine Schwarz, O.F.M.

2. Photographs, 1940s-1960s, 26 prints

C. Cowlic, Arizona, Our Lady of Guadalupe School, 1941-1960s, 2 folders:

1. Correspondence, 1944, 2 letters

2. Annals, 1941-1961

3. Financial records, 1952-1955: receipts and expenditures

4. Photographs, 1940s-1960s, 22 prints

D. Cross Village, Michigan, Holy Cross School, 1920s-1950s, undated, .1 cubic foot:

1. Correspondence, 1923, 1929-1930, 1938-1939, 1941-1942, 1945-1949, 1952, 1955, 1958, 36 letters: major correspondents include Mother Generose Cahill, O.S.F., Mother Edna Ryan, O.S.F., and the local superiors of the Franciscans and Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity

1. School enrollment cards, 1926-1952

2. Historical notes, undated

3. Photographs, ca. 1920s-1950s, 30 prints

E. Komatke, Arizona, St. John School, 1930s-1990, .15 cubic foot:

1. Correspondence, 1938-present, 1 folder: major correspondents include Mother Generose Cahill, O.S.F., Mother M. Perpetua, O.S.F., Mother Edna Ryan, O.S.F., Mother M. Agna, O.S.F., Sister M. Henrielda Cloutier, O.S.F., and the local superiors of the Franciscans and Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity

2. Photographs, 1930s-1960s, 150 prints

F. Neopit, Wisconsin, St. Anthony of Padua School, 1938-present, 1 folder of correspondence: Major correspondents include Mother Generose Cahill, O.S.F., Mother M. Perpetua, O.S.F., Mother Edna Ryan, O.S.F., Mother M. Agna, O.S.F., Sister M. Henrielda Cloutier, O.S.F., and the local superiors of the Franciscans and Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity

G. Pisinemo, Arizona, San Jose School, 1937-ongoing, undated, 2 folders:

1. Correspondence, 1937-present, l folder: Major correspondents include Mother Generose Cahill, O.S.F., Mother M. Perpetua, O.S.F., Mother Edna Ryan, O.S.F., Mother M. Agna, O.S.F., Sister M. Henrielda Cloutier, O.S.F., and the local superiors of the Franciscans and Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity

2. Historical notes, 1942, undated, 8 typed pages: 2 articles by Sister Francis Steinbrecher, O.S.F.

3. Photographs, 1940s-1960s, 25 prints

H. San Miguel, Arizona, St. Joseph's School, 1934-1960s, 1 folder:

1. Correspondence, 1934, 1937, 3 letters

2. Annals, 1951-1960

3. Financial records, 1954-1955

4. Photographs, 1940s-1960s, 35 prints

I. Topawa, Arizona, St. Catherine's School, 1936-present, undated, 2 folders:

1. Correspondence, 1936-present, 1 folder: major correspondents include Mothers Generose Cahill, O.S.F., M. Perpetua, O.S.F., Edna Ryan, O.S.F., and M. Agna, O.S.F., and Sister M. Henrielda Cloutier, O.S.F., and the local superiors of the Franciscans and Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity

1. Historical notes, clippings, undated

2. Photographs, 1940s-1960s, 30 prints

J. Tucson, Arizona, San Xavier del Bac School, 1940s-present, undated, 2 folders:

1. Correspondence, 1959-present, 1 folder: Major correspondents include Mother M. Agna, O.S.F., Sister M. Henrielda Cloutier, O.S.F., and the local superiors of the Franciscans and Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity

2. Clippings, undated

3. Photographs, 1940s-1960s, 34 prints

 

/5 Photographs

Inclusive dates: 1940s-1960s, undated

Volume: Ca. 1,000 prints 

Description: Primarily albums with photographs from the Arizona missions and schools. 

 

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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