Title: Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac Records
Inclusive Dates: 1860
Inclusive Dates: 1862
Inclusive Dates: 1837-1935

Creator:

• Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac

Call Number: Oshkosh Mss AZ

Quantity: 2.0 c.f. (5 archives boxes)

Repository:

Housed at the Archives & Area Research Center, Polk Library, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

UW-Oshkosh Polk Library / Oshkosh Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Official records of the organization and administration of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac from its creation from the Diocese of Wisconsin in 1874. Files of the first four bishops, Hobart Brown (1875-1888), Charles Grafton (1889-1916), Reginald Weller (coadjutor bishop 1900-1916 and bishop 1916-1933) and Harwood Sturtevant (coadjutor bishop 1929- ), relate to the administration of diocesan affairs, the creation of parishes and missions, the division of the dioceses, and creation of the Diocese of Eau Claire. Also included are statistical and financial reports from individual parishes for scattered years, 1892-1901; and papers on a controversy regarding the Old Catholic Mission and its administrator, Reverend Rene Vilatte.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-osh00az

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The Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac, formerly part of the Diocese of Wisconsin, was organized December 1, 1874, and created by a special ecclesiastical council called by the Bishop of Wisconsin in 1875. The House of Bishops and the House of Delegates of the Diocese of Wisconsin elected the Reverend Hobart Brown as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

The new diocese was established under the cathedral system with its See at St. Paul's Cathedral, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The presiding rector became Dean of the Cathedral. Adhering to canon law, the new diocese was administered by the statutes and constitutions of the Diocese of Wisconsin while new conciliar committees, in collaboration with Bishop Brown, outlined the scope and objectives of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. Bishop Brown, by virtue of his office, became the presiding head of all governing boards.

The second bishop of Fond du Lac, Reverend Charles Grafton, was elected by the Conciliar Council in 1889, one year after the death of Bishop Brown. During his episcopate Bishop Grafton continued and strengthened the Cathedral system, and in 1900 consented to the consecration of Coadjutor Bishop Reginald Weller who in 1916 succeeded to the bishopric at the death of Bishop Grafton.

Under Bishop Weller the new Diocese of Eau Claire was erected by the authority of the fifty-third Council of the Diocese of Fond du Lac and the eightieth Council of the Diocese of Milwaukee, each Council ceding part of its territory to the new Diocese of Eau Claire. The division of jurisdiction is dated 1927. Bishop Weller served the Diocese of Fond du Lac for thirty-three years, consenting in 1929 to the consecration of Coadjutor Bishop Sturtevant.

The records of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac reflect its organization and administration through its bishops, councils, and standing committees. Official documents make up the bulk of the records. Some correspondence is included, but most of it supports the official documents. The collection is organized in three parts: Correspondence and Organizational Records, Council Records, and Standing Committee Records.

Included in Correspondence and Organizational Records are those correspondence and documents concerning the creation of the new Diocese of Fond du Lac, formerly part of the Diocese of Wisconsin; personal files of the first four bishops, Brown, Grafton, Weller, and Sturtevant; and plans for the erection of a cathedral system with the See at St. Paul's Parish, St. Paul's Cathedral. Other important papers reflecting the organization and administration of the diocese are the following: papers presenting scope, purpose, and administration of the episcopacy; official records for erection of parishes and missions; material relating to the division of the diocese and creation of a new diocese at Eau Claire; and annual reports of the episcopacy for counciliar years.

Papers reflecting controversies are those of reports of judicial investigation, dispensations, and ecclesiastical differences regarding the Old Catholic Mission and its administrator, Reverend Rene Vilatte.

Parochial reports to the bishop include names of officials of the local parish and statistics for the following: congregation size; official acts including baptism, burials, confirmations, communicants, and marriages; services; and organizations such as Sunday School, catechisings, industrial school, parish school, choir, and others. The financial section of the reports note receipts, disbursements, indebtedness, and property evaluation.

Reports were filed for the following parishes: Algoma, Amherst, Antigo, Appleton, Ashland, Bayfield, Berlin, Caroline, Chenequa, Chilton, Fish Creek, Fond du Lac, Gardner, Green Bay, Jacksonport, Manitowoc, Marinette, Medford, Menasha, Merrill, Mosinee, Oakfield, Oconto, Omro, Onieda, Oshkosh, Plymouth, Rhinelander, Ripon, Shawano, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, Stevens Point, Sturgeon Bay, Tomahawk, Two Rivers, Washburn, Waupaca, Waupun, Wausau, and Westboro.

The Council Records vary in completeness for each council but the more complete contain committee reports, personal reports of clergymen, resolutions, and miscellaneous items. Committee reports include the following: Board of Missions, Building Fund, Cathedral School, Church Extension, Credentials, Dispatch of Business, Grafton Hall, Incorporation, Legislation, Sisters of the Holy Nativity, Standing Committee, Treasurer, Trustees, and Ways and Means.

Miscellaneous items include the following: lists of clergy, bishops' addresses, council minutes, diocesan assessments, diocesan budgets, acceptance of churches into the council, and lists of parishes delinquent to the diocesan fund.

Records are lacking for several councils.

Standing Committee Records comprise a file of records of the Standing Committee concerning the selection of bishops (filed by decade) and Standing Committee records concerning priests and laity (filed alphabetically). Letters and documents relate to the selection of bishops, bishop coadjutors, and assistant bishops for the Diocese of Fond du Lac, other dioceses throughout the United States, and other countries. Types of documents include canonical testimonials, certificates of election, certificates of request and consent, notices of resignation, and requests for consecration. There is a small amount of correspondence concerned with refusals or protest for the election of certain bishops.

The bulk of the priests and laity files consists of letters of application for the priesthood or diaconate. The applications are supported by certificates of candidacy, testimonials, transcripts of grades, reports of examining committees, evidence of ordination, and acceptance of application. Of special note are two packets of deposition papers for priests leaving the ministry in the years 1883-1900.

Acquisition Information

Presented by the Rt. Rev. William H. Brady, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, September 7, 1961.

Processing Information

Processed by FGH's class and Margaret Hafstad, August 30, 1968.

	Correspondence and Organizational Records
	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   1	1873-1889
Box   1 Folder   2	1890-1899
Box   1 Folder   3	1900-1908, 1917, 1928-1929, undated
Box   1 Folder   4	Organizational matters, 1860, 1862, 1875-1877, 1893, 1898, 1928, undated
Box   1 Folder   5	Parochial reports, 1899, 1901
Box   1 Folder   6	Vilatte Controversy - Old Catholic Mission, 1885-1896
	Council Records
Box   2 Folder   1	1875, 1888
Box   2 Folder   2	1892, 1894
Box   2	1895, 1900
Box   2 Folder   4	1901
Box   2 Folder   5	1929
	Certificates of lay delegates to councils
Box   3 Folder   1	1888, 1890, 1892, 1894
Box   3 Folder   2	1899, 1901, 1929
	Standing Committee Records
	Standing Committee records re selection of bishops
Box   3 Folder   3	1870-1879
Box   3 Folder   4	1880-1889
Box   4 Folder   1	1890-1899
Box   4 Folder   2	1900-1909
Box   4 Folder   3	1910-1919, 1935
	Standing Committee records re priests and laity
Box   5 Folder   1	A-F
Box   5 Folder   2	G-K
Box   5 Folder   3	L-R
Box   5 Folder   4	S-Z
Box   5 Folder   5	Depositions for priests, 1883-1900 Physical Description: In 2 packages