What’s in the Archdiocese of Newark’s archives?
American Archives Month takes place in October and is intended to raise public awareness about the importance of historic documents and records and celebrate the keeper of these documents — the archivist. For the Archdiocese of Newark, that person is archivist Brianna LoSardo who oversees the 3,000 linear feet of Archdiocesan archives housed in the Msgr. William Noé, Field Archives and Special Collections Center at Seton Hall University, on the bottom floor of the white domed library since 1976.
The mission of the archive department is to preserve and provide access to the records of parishes, schools, organizations, and administration of the archdiocese. As they could be the only documentation of a birth, a marriage, and a death, the records are used widely for research. Historians also look to the archives — dating back to 1826 when the first Catholic Church, St. John’s opened in Newark — to compile the history of a community, neighborhood, or city.
LoSardo assists those researchers who seek scholarly, genealogical, and historical documents. In addition, a large part of her job is to catalog all documents and photos and to put them into context to better understand the archdiocese’s history.
LoSardo says she has always loved history and spent a lot of time in the library. After garnering a degree in Museum Studies and archival certification, LoSardo became the first woman and layperson to oversee the Archdiocese of Newark archives, replacing Msgr. Francis Seymour, who was archivist for nearly 50 years. Before becoming the “keeper of the records” in 2019, LoSardo worked with Msgr. Seymour and began an inventory of the archives, and answered queries from journalists, researchers, historians, or amateur genealogists. Stepping in as Msgr. Seymour’s replacement was a smooth transition, she says.
What’s in the archives?
The use and maintenance of sacramental records are governed by Canon Law and are regarded by many as the same as vital statistics kept by the government. In earlier times, Sacramental records were often the only documents of our ancestors. These records hold the history of not only individuals, but the parishes (which at one time numbered 268), the communities, and the times as well.
Each parish maintains paper records in bound book format of baptisms, marriages, confirmations, and deaths. (Burial records are mostly kept as part of cemetery records.) The sacramental records are still input by hand, and therefore why most records are not accessed through a few clicks of a keyboard. First Holy Communions and the Book of the Elect are kept in separate logs.
Records of ordinations or reception of the Sacrament of Holy Orders for priests and the religious are kept within the Archdiocesan archives for dates prior to 1995. Dates after that are kept at the seminary and all nun and sister professions of vows are usually kept with the order.
The Archdiocesan Archives has copies of sacramental records on microfilm from 1830-1930 for many parishes. When a parish closes, the original sacramental register books are often transferred to the Archives. Open parishes maintain their sacramental books at the parish.
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What people are seeking
LoSardo said the number one request pertains to ancestors and comes from people researching their genealogy. Next are from parishes working on their history for a special anniversary, and third are people researching adoption papers. The Archdiocese has little on adoptions from St. Mary’s Orphan Asylum and often refers people to Catholic Charities, which oversaw the orphanage that opened in 1853 and closed in 1978.
Sacramental records are highly sought by genealogists, with baptismal records holding a lot of information such as the baby’s name and the names of the parents, including the maiden name of the mother.
Sacramental records are also used by ecclesiastical tribunals seeking information for marriage cases and dispensations, and by individuals for civil purposes, such as applying for dual citizenship, LoSardo said.
Some tips on your search
Researching a female ordained relative could be difficult if her ordained name is unknown, LoSardo said. It is also important to know which religious order she belonged to, as information about women religious is often filed by order.
For Sacramental Records for family history research, a records request will be required to be filled out with the name of the parish in which the sacrament was performed. People seeking ancestry information through Sacramental Records after 1930 have to prove to be a direct relative, LoSardo said.
Individuals seeking their own sacramental records can contact the parish directly if it is still open or contact the Archdiocesan Archives if the parish is closed. If you do not know the parish, reach out to the Archdiocesan Archives for guidance.
The archives also contain all the correspondences and papers of the 10 ordinaries of the Archdiocese of Newark first established in 1853 through a Papal Brief of Pope Pius IX.
The Catholic Advocate and New Jersey Catholic ceased publishing by the Archdiocese of Newark in October 2020 and was replaced by www.JerseyCatholic.org. The Catholic Advocate, begun in 1951, from 1956-1976 can be accessed here. Editions 2013-2020 can be accessed here.
According to LoSardo, The Catholic Advocate is one of the top three Catholic newspapers searched for in the U.S. on the Catholic Research Resources Alliance, Catholic News Archive website
New Jersey Catholic archives can be accessed here.
The Archives also house the earliest sacramental record books of the Archdiocese, hundreds of photos, blueprints for buildings, Sacred vestments, nurse uniforms from St. Mary’s Hospital, a Pre-Vatican II Lace Alb, and even a chalice dating back to 1870.
“I love history, the research aspect, and figuring out a mystery,” LoSardo said. “And I get to see some cool stuff.”
Featured image: Archivist Brianna LoSardo who oversees the 3,000 linear feet of Archdiocesan photos, documents, and items. (Jaimie Julia Winters)
