Archives Virtual Tour

Welcome to the Archdiocesan Archives and Records Program!

The Archdiocese of St. Louis Archives and Records serve as the corporate archives of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.  In so doing, we are the stewards of diocesan records from the Bishop and his Office, Departments and Agencies that carry out the mission of the Archdiocese, the sacramental records of closed parishes which we maintain and from which we issue certificates and historical records which document the footprint of the church in this area.  Our mission includes ongoing service to the Curia, the parishes and outside researchers in need of information relating to the church in this area and its records.  Below we have attempted to provide a short overview of the service we do provide and encourage you to contact us if we can indeed be of assistance.  

And now for the tour .....

The Archdiocese of St. Louis provides a professional repository that identifies and collects, organizes and preserves, and provides access to all historically and canonically significant, non-current documents, artifacts and other works of enduring value pertaining to the operation of the Archdiocese, its parishes, agencies, institutions and people. The Archives actively maintains the sacramental registers of all closed parishes and provides direction and support to parishes and agencies in the managment of their  active records.  The Archives makes available and extends its materials to researchers as permitted by canon law, civil law and conservation considerations.     

The Archives is the official repository for the records of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and serves as the memory of the established Catholic Church in this area. We are centrally located in the Cardinal Rigali Center, the former site of Kenrick Seminary where thousands of priests received their formation from 1913 until 1987.   The Archives maintains an extensive sacramental register collection producing 1173 certificates and 1496 annotations and assisting 139 historical and family history researchers and responding to 574 reference questions in FY2011 .     

The Archives is staffed by five employees (4 FTE): Director Audrey P. Newcomer, MSLS, MPA, CA; processing archivist Amy Nelson,  MLIS; archives and records assistant Alicia Detelich; Secretary Elaine Snyder and part time archives assistant Walt Gemmer.   The work of the Archives is also dependent on volunteers who assist with scanning and inventory work and index sacramental registers.     

An additional exhibit area maintained by the Archives is the Rosati Museum located on the first floor of the building near the main entrance.   The  display depicts the history of the Archdiocese and its bishops.  Acuria cabinet on the second floor of the Cardinal Rigali Center features small exhibits tied to current activities.