MUSEUM-1

he Archdiocesan Archives Museum was established in April 1997. The intention of the museum is to display collected treasures for a greater understanding of Chicago Catholicism.
The museum shows a part of an American heritage. The Archives & Records Center mounts frequent exhibitions from its collections, which the public is encouraged to visit. A brief introductory tour of the museum exhibit is available to researches and the general public. The exhibit is suitable for diverse audiences.

Welcome to our exhibition:
Room I: Coming to Chicago (1833-Present) Putting the Church on the map. Reaching out, speaking out.
Room II: At Crossroads: Old St. Patrick's
Room III: Archives & Records Center: Surrounding Places

ROOM I

Coming to Chicago (1833-Present).

Putting the Church on the map, 1916-1958

Reaching out, speaking out, 1959-present

Coming to Chicago

Mothers of the Church

Theresa Dudzik, O.S.F.

Agata O’Brien, R.S.M.

Maria Kaupas, S.S.C. Frances Cabrini, M.S.C.

Agata Hurley, B.V.M

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Old Catholic Cemetery
Plat. December 1845

Old St. Mary Baptismal Register 1833. The first baptism performed was for George Beaubien, on May 22, 1833. The officiating priest was Father St. Cyr.

Sisters of Mercy Arrival, 1846.
An entry in Bishop William Quarter's diary documents the arrival of the first women's religious order in Chicago.

The first burial ground, acquired by the Church, was purchased by Rev. Maurice de St.Palais 1843. The ten acres, south of Milliam Tract, were located in an area bounded by North Avenue, Dearborn Parkway, Burton Place, and State Street. The northwest quarter of it was directly across the street from the present residence of the cardinal. Catholics were buried in land set aside by village authorities, in 1835, on the South Side, at 23rd Street. In 1859, Calvary Cemetery opened in Evanston and the bodies were removed from the Lincoln Park site.

Right Reverend William Quarter, D.D.1844-1848.
Right Reverend James O.Van De Velde, D.D.1849-1853

Right Reverend Anthony O'Regan, D.D. 1854-1858
Right Revered James Duggan, D.D. 1859-1870

Right Reverend Thomas Foley, D.D. 1870-1879
Most Reverend James Edward Quiqley, D.D. 1903-1915
Most Revered Patrick A. Feehan, D.D. 1880-1902

hen the Catholic Diocese of Chicago was established in 1843, it encompassed the entire state of Illinois. Over the next century and a half, five other dioceses were created within the state. The early bishops of Chicago faced nearly overwhelming challenges of growth in this frontier boomtown. One of them, James Duggan, was removed and committed to an insane asylum. Without the heroic work of women religious, for many different ethnic groups, the bishops and priests could not have overcome these challenges.

Timeline:

DATE	EVENTS
1833	City of Chicago incorporated; First parish, St. Mary.
1843	Founding of the Diocese of Chicago.
1844	First bishop, William J. Quarter.
1846	First German parishes, St. Joseph, and St. Peter; First religious order of women, the Sisters of Mercy.
1863	First Bohemian parish, St. Wenceslaus.
1867	First Polish parish, St. Stanislaus Kostka.
1871	Great Chicago Fire.
1880	Chicago established as an Archdiocese.
1881	First Italian parish, Assumption (Illinois Street) BVM.
1889	First African-American parish, St. Monica.
1892	First Lithuanian parish, St. Michael the Archangel.
1905	Cathedral College Minor Seminary Founded by James E. Quigley (Renamed Quigley Seminary in 1918).

NEXT

Putting the Church on the
map 1916-1958

Reaching out,speaking out,
1959-present.

Room II: At the crossroads:
Old St. Patrick's

Room III: Archives & Records Center:
Surrounding Places.

MUSEUM ENTRANCE

Connect to:

Location and Services

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Archdiocese of Chicago's Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives & Records Center
711 West Monroe
Chicago, Illinois 60661
Tel. (312) 831- 0711
Fax: (312) 831- 0610
Vice Chancellor: jtreanor@archchicago.org

Web page designed by Aleksandra Borecka. Comments: at motoole@archchicago.org
Last updated: February 3, 2003.

03/21/07