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Special Collections at Seton Hall University

19th Century Catholic Church History Archival Materials

The Center collects materials that document the history of the Roman Catholic Church in New Jersey, the United States, and the world in the 19th century, particularly after the founding of the Diocese of Newark in 1853. The following is a partial list of archival collections in this area, and will be added to as more collections are processed. Clicking on the title of the collection will take you to the finding aid for this collection; unless otherwise indicated, materials in these collections are not digitally available.

  • Anti-Catholic Ephemera collection, 1765-1952 (Bulk: 1765-1844), MSS 0108
    This small collection dates from 1765 to 1844 and comprises pamphlets and other ephemera relating to anti-Catholic sentiment. It includes addresses denouncing Catholicism and materials relating to the Philadelphia Nativist Riots, in which Protestant nativists groups lashed out against Irish Catholic immigrants and burned several Catholic churches. 
    0.08 linear feet
  • Archdiocese of Newark Church reports, 1843-1925, ADN 0010.001
    The Diocese of Newark was created in 1853 and was elevated to an Archdiocese in 1937. The Chancery Office required parish priests to submit yearly reports reflecting the financial and spiritual condition of their churches. The Diocese of Newark Church reports include the annual reports of parish priests to the Chancery Office from 1843-1925, which themselves include information on population and sacramental statistics.
    20.0 Linear feet, Approximately 6,000 items.
  • Archdiocese of Newark Parish records, 1856-2012, ADN 0010.005
    The Archdiocese of Newark has 221 parishes. The Archdiocese of Newark Parish records include correspondence, parish histories, parish reports, brochures, and other materials documenting the activities of the parishes and their parishioners. Parishes that have closed have also sent their sacramental records to the Archives. For more information on sacramental records, please see our homepage. Types of records vary across parishes, and there is material from parishes outside the Archdiocese, as well.
    Approximately 100 linear feet.
  • James Roosevelt Bayley papers, 1836-1872, ADN 0002.001
    Papers of James Roosevelt Bayley, the first Bishop of Newark, New Jersey.
    8.0 Linear feet 25 boxes
  • Collection on Pope Pius IX, 1878, Mss 0045
    Pope Pius IX was head of the Roman Catholic Church from 16 June 1846 until his death on 7 February 1878, making him the longest-reigning elected pope in history. The collection on Pope Pius IX consists of two issues of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper from 1878, commemorating the death of Pope Pius IX.
    2 items.
  • Michael A. Corrigan papers, 1870-1902, ADN 0002.002
    Michael A. Corrigan was the second Bishop of Newark and the third president of Seton Hall College. The Michael A. Corrigan papers primarily consist of materials related to Corrigan's tenure as Bishop.
    4.5 Linear feet , 10 boxes, 1 microfilm reel and 3 bound volumes.
  • Winand Wigger papers, 1864-1919, ADN 0002.003
    Papers and records of Bishop Winand Wigger from his time as Bishop in the Diocese of Newark, New Jersey.
    34.5 Linear feet , 74 boxes/containers

19th Century Catholic Church History Rare Books

The following bibliography represents titles found in our Rare Book holdings collection relating to general or specific aspects of Catholic Church History during the 19th century. These and other volumes are available upon request for reference via the Archives & Special Collections Center.