Frederic Baraga Papers

Source

Department of the Interior material: National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Other material: the Archives of the University of Notre Dame.

Preferred Citation

Frederic Baraga Papers (BAR), University of Notre Dame Archives (UNDA), Notre Dame, IN 46556

Scope and Content

Copies of typewritten transcripts of documentation assembled by the Bishop Baraga Association in support of the cause for his canonization as a saint; consisting of correspondence, reports, journal and account-book entries, and invoices.

Also microfilm containing correspondence, 1850s-1860s; an Indian language (Ottawa or Chippewa) catechism; an introduction to Catholicism in North America, in German, possibly written for the Leopoldine Society; and correspondence and records of the Michigan Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, 1825-1850, concerning a conflict between Baptist and Catholic officials over the proceeds coming from the sale of mission lands near Grand Rapids, Michigan, with correspondents including Bishop Peter LeFevre, John Tyler, James Polk, department officials and representatives of the litigants.

In English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Slovenian, Ojibwa (Chippewa), and Ottawa.

Background

Frederic Barage worked as a missionary among the Chippewas in Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan (1831-1853). Consecrated a bishop in 1853, he served as Bishop of Sainte-Marie (1857-1865) and of Sault Sainte-Marie and Marquette (1865-1868).

The Bishop Baraga Association collected documents involving Baraga from many archives and manuscript repositories, transcribed them, translated them into English, and prepared typewritten copies. The Archives of the University of Notre Dame cooperated in this effort and received a copy (described below).

Index :

 Baraga, Frederic, 1797-1868. 
 Indians of North America -- Missions. 
 Lefevre, Peter Paul, 1804-1869. 
 Tyler, John, 1790-1862. 
 Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849. 
 Bishop Baraga Association. 
 United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Michigan 
Superintendency. 
 Ojibwa Indians -- Catechisms. 
 Ottawa Indians -- Catechisms. 
 Catechisms 
 Letters. 
 Account books. 

• CBAR Frederic Baraga: Manuscripts

  Typewritten transcriptions or translations of documents involving Frederic Baraga. In each entry, after the box/folder number, we have retained the document number assigned by the Bishop Baraga Association. At the end of each entry code letters indicate languages and original repositories. Language codes: C = Chippewa; E = English; F = French; G = German; I = Italian; L = Latin; O = Ottawa; S = Slovenian. The letter X indicates a translation: FXE means French translated into English.

  The final letters in each entry identify the repository that holds the original document:

  • AFCP-NY = American Fur Company Papers, New York Historical Society
  • ALF = Archives, Leopoldine Foundation, Vienna
  • ALMS = Archives, Ludwig Mission Society, Munich
  • APFL = Archives, Propagation of the Faith, Lyons (now in Fribourg, Switzerland)
  • APFP = Archives, Propagation of the Faith, Paris
  • APFR = Archives, Propaganda Fide, Rome
  • AUND = Archives, University of Notre Dame
  • BBC = Bishop Baraga Collection
  • BC-DPL = Burton Collection, Detroit Public Library
  • DALY = Diocesan Archives, Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • DAMQ = Diocesan Archives, Marquette, Michigan
  • NA-OIA = National Archives, Office of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC
  • RC = Monsignor A.I. Rezek Collection
  • YNA = Yugoslav National Archives
  • ZC = Monsignor J.L. Zaplotnik Collection

  The Archives of the University of Notre Dame holds the original documents bearing the code AUND; we also have microfilm representing the archives of the Austrian, German, and French mission societies listed above and of the Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide (ALF, ALMS, APFL, APFP, and APFR).

  • CBAR 1/01 Folder : Baraga Documents 1809-1812
    • CBAR 1/01 : 944 Letter : From Government School, Ljubljana, Baraga Certificate 1809/0821
      Baraga, Education, Primary; Walland, Joseph, Ljubljana; Eggenberger, John, Ljubljana. 1p. GXE DAMQ.
    • CBAR 1/01 : 1022 Letter : John Nep. Baraga, Trebnje, Last Will and Testament. 1812/0928
      Made in presence of four witnesses. Son Frederic named as residuary legatee. Beneficiaries include daughters Amalia and Antoinette, son Francis from the testator's first marriage, the housekeeper Barbara v. Fodransberg and the parish church of Trebnje. Claims of beneficiaries are entered on will. GXE. NALY.
  • CBAR 1/02 Folder : Baraga Documents 1821-1830
    • CBAR 1/02 : 950 Letter : From Archdiocese Consistory of Vienna, to Frederic Baraga, Vienna 1821/0817
      Baraga, Petition, Seminary entrance; Vienna, Seminary; Ljubljana, Diocese. 1p. LXE DAMQ.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1016 Letter : University of Vienna, Certificate, Frederic Baraga. 1821/0821
      Graduation certificate giving his grades for courses taken from the years 1818 to 1821. E DAMQ.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1002 Letter : Frederic Baraga, Ljubljana, to Diocesan Ordinariate of Ljubljana. 1821/1022
      Makes application to combine three years of theology in two. Bases his petition on his previous studies in Vienna. E DALY.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1049 Letter : Provincial Government Office, Ljubljana, to Diocesan Ordinariate of Jubljana. 1821/1109
      Frederic Baraga's petition for change in studies received favorably. no hesitation in granting request to attend classes on Slovene language. GXE. DALY.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1074 Letter : Imperial Government Office, Ljubljana, to Diocesan Ordinariate of Ljubljana. 1822/0125
      His majesty approves courses of studies for Frederic Baraga in the seminary of Ljubljana. GXE. DALY.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1025 Letter : Rev. Frederic Baraga, Ljubljana, to Imperial Government Office, Ljubljana. 1824/0206
      Request for a government imprimatur for a sermon composed by writer. GXE NALY.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1026 Letter : Provincial Government Office, Ljubljana, to Rev. Frederic Baraga, Ljubljana. 1824/0213
      Government returns application for imprimatur for a sermon composed by Rev. Frederic Baraga at the latter's decision to withdraw the request. GXE. NALY.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1079 Letter : Rev. Fred. Baraga, St. Martin near Kranj, to Diocesan Ordinariate of Ljubljana. 1827/0104
      Requests imprimatur for his Slovene prayer book, Spiritual Food. GXE. DALY.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1069 Letter : Rev. Francis Vojska, Ljubljana, to Diocesan Ordinariate, Ljubljana. 1827/0519
      As censor, the writer recommends that the manuscript Spiritual Food be corrected and improved. He also recommends that some prayers be removed. GXE. DALY.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 867 Letter : From Rev. Fred. Baraga, St. Martin, near Kranj, to Rev. George Kallan, St. Martin, near Kranj 1828/0321
      Stara Loka, Dean of; Heart of Jesus, Fraternity; Franciscan Fathers, Ljubljanal; Baraga, Accused by, Dean, Stara Loka; Crowners of Mary, St. Martin; Baraga, St. Martin, Charity; Baraga, Obedience; Baraga, Defense against Accusation. 2p. GXE DALY.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1045 Letter : Rev. George Kalan, St. Martin, near Kranj, to Diocesan Ordinariate, Ljubljana. 1828/0414
      Has submitted substance of Dean Bozic's complaint to Father Baraga in writing. Learned that Sacred Heart Fratenity is spread over many parishes. Baraga's answers enclosed. The latter answered some evasively. Kalan believes that object has been attained by Baraga's promise to cease such activity. Praises him for his piety, charity and high moral conduct, but criticizes him for overloading himself with priestly work and for neglecting the school. Claims that he exerts undue influence on some persons. Baraga must remain consistent until the ordinariate finds another place for him. GXE. DALY.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1062 Letter : Diocesan Ordinariate of Ljubljana, to Rev. George Kalan, St. Martin, Near Kranj, Slovenia. 1828/0419
      The compliance of Father Baraga to higher orders closes case against him. His zeal is to be directed to more uniform application. GXE. DALY.
    • CBAR 1/02 : 1080 Letter : Diocesan Ordinariate of Ljubljana, to Very Rev. Bartholomew Bozic, Stara Loka, Slovenia. 1828/0419
      GXE. DALY.