Saint Lawrence Church records MSS.050 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit November 02, 2012 Describing Archives: A Content Standard Ball State University Archives and Special Collections Alexander M. Bracken Library 2000 W. University Avenue Muncie, Indiana, 47306 765-285-5078 libarchives@bsu.edu
Table of Contents Summary Information... 3 Administrative History...4 Scope and Contents... 4 Arrangement...5 Administrative Information...5 Controlled Access Headings...6 Collection Inventory... 7 Series 1: Saint Lawrence Church directories, 1924-1971...7 Series 2: Saint Lawrence Church histories, 1908-1981; undated... 7 Series 3: Saint Lawrence Church records, 1874-1981...7 Series 4: Saint Lawrence Church photographs, 1932-1940...8 - Page 2 -
Summary Information Repository Ball State University Archives and Special Collections Creator Saint Lawrence Church. (Muncie, Ind.) Title Saint Lawrence Church records and photographs Date 1874-1981 Extent 0.3 Cubic feet 1 box and 1 folder Language English Preferred Citation Saint Lawrence Church records and photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries - Page 3 -
Administrative History The first Catholic mass in Muncie was celebrated in 1853 at the home of Patrick Tuhey, located on the site of the present public library, by Rev. Daniel Maloney of Indianapolis. Rev. Maloney continued his missionary visits to Muncie for nearly four years, celebrating mass monthly at the homes of Patrick Tuhey and Peter Mutch. In 1857, Rev. Michael Clark led unsuccessful efforts to establish a permanent church in Muncie. In 1869, however, Rev. Lawrence Lamour, from Union City, began the construction of a church for a congregation of 75 members. Saint Lawrence was chosen as the patron saint. The church was built on lots located at the corner of Charles and Hackley, the present site of St. Lawrence Church. The building, a brick structure, was dedicated in 1873 as the first Catholic Church in Muncie. In December 1874, the Rev. William G. Schmidt was named as the first resident priest of Saint Lawrence. At this time, the parish had a membership of approximately forty-five families. Under Rev. Schmidt's leadership, the church grew significantly. In 1891, the parish school was founded. In 1893, Rev. Schmidt led efforts for the construction of the church s present building. The new building was completed and dedicated in 1895 at the cost of $43,000. The old structure was converted into a school building until a new school was constructed in 1901. In addition, a rectory was constructed in 1899 at a cost of $6,000. Rev. Schmidt left the parish in 1917. A permanent priest was not named until 1920, when Rev. Edward Houlihan arrived. Rev. Houlihan served the parish until his death in 1940. He was succeeded by Rev. Msgr. Felix Seroczynski (1940-1960), who brought many changes to the parish, including construction of a junior high school and a new convent. Rev. Msgr. Emil Schweier (1960-78) brought additional improvements and renovations. In 1975 Rev. John Schultz and Rev. Raymond Wieber were named copriests. They served until 1981, when Rev. Louis Heitz was named parish priest. In that same year, Saint Lawrence School celebrated its 100th anniversary. Serving the area for over 130 years, Saint Lawrence, along with Muncie's two newer parishes, Saint Mary and Saint Francis, continues to play an important role in Muncie s Catholic community. Scope and Contents The collection includes church directories (1924-1971), church histories (1908-1981), and other church records (1874-1899). PSC.210 includes photographs of Saint Lawrence School basketball team (1932-1933) and Saint Lawrence altar boys (circa 1940). - Page 4 -
Arrangement Arranged in the following series: Series 1: Saint Lawrence Church directories, 1924-1971 Series 2: Saint Lawrence Church histories, 1908-1981 Series 3: Saint Lawrence Church records, 1874-1899 Series 4: Saint Lawrence Church photographs, 1932-1940 Administrative Information Publication Information Ball State University Archives and Special Collections Conditions Governing Access This collection is open for research. Copyright Notice Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Archives and Special Collections. Conditions Governing Use Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Archives and Special Collections. Custodial History This collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a donation. Accruals - Page 5 -
No further additions are expected. Saint Lawrence Church records MSS.050 Processing Information Collection processing completed 1994/02/25 by M. Sears. Finding aid created 1994/02/25 by M. Sears. Finding aid revised 1996/02/07 by M. Seelinger. EAD finding aid completed 2009/01/11 by Maren L. Read. EAD finding aid revised 2009/08/04 by Maren L. Read. Controlled Access Headings Genre(s) Clippings Documents Programs Geographic Name(s) Muncie (Ind.) Subject(s) Catholicism Church history Stoeckel Archives of Local History - Page 6 -
Series 1: Saint Lawrence Church directories, 1924-1971 Saint Lawrence Church records MSS.050 Collection Inventory Series 1: Saint Lawrence Church directories, 1924-1971 Box Folder Directory and history, 1924 1 1 Directory and history, 1971 1 2 Series 2: Saint Lawrence Church histories, 1908-1981; undated Box Folder "History of St. Lawrence Church" pamphlet, 1908 1 3 History documents, circa 1930 1 4 "Celebrating 100 Years at St. Lawrence School" pamphlet, 1981 1 5 Church organ documents, undated 1 6 Quirk, Jack "The History of the Roman Catholic Church in Delaware County, Indiana," pamphlet, undated 1 7 Series 3: Saint Lawrence Church records, 1874-1981 Box Folder - Page 7 -
Series 4: Saint Lawrence Church photographs, 1932-1940 St. Lawrence pastors documents, 1874-1981 1 8 Newspaper clippings, 1945 1 9 Prayer cards, 1875, 1889, 1890, 1899 1 10 Rev. William Schmidt's "Silver Jubilee" program, 1899/12/19 1 11 PSC.210 Series 4: Saint Lawrence Church photographs, 1932-1940 Box 9 Folder PSC 210 Saint Lawrence School basketball team photograph, 1932-1933 Saint Lawrence Church altar boys, circa 1940 - Page 8 -