“Holy Cross is one of several parishes that began about the same time. Bishop Mathias Loras mentions in an 1842 letter that he was called to the Sweeney home in Concord Township to minister to a dying man. While there, he was asked to bless some ground in which the man could be buried and directed the sons to prepare an oak cross. It was raised upon the hill where church and town now stand, and a monument in the cemetery commemorates that holy cross. In 1843 a log church was built. With a deed signed by President Zachary Taylor in 1849, Bishop Loras secured title to the 40 acres of land. It was the bishop’s policy to provide sufficient acreage for the pastor’s horses and cow in rural parishes of his young diocese.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #4: Holy Cross, Holy Cross.” Dubuque: The Witness, 21 December 1986.

]]> Centennial Booklet (1 document)

Centennial Holy Cross Church 1988 (2 documents)

Centennial Souvenir Church 1945 (1 document)

Earl’s Plumbing and Heating Proposal (1 compilation)

Fr. Wilke History Letter

Financial Statement (1 collection)

History (4 documents)

Letter to Parents regarding Catholic Education Fr. Augustine Bomholt ca. 1930-1940 (1 document)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

Photographs Church Interior, Church Exterior, Way Teacher Residence, Rectory (4 documents)

Timeline Card (1 document)

Kurt, “Church Bells.” 20 July 2001.]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 174 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “At the first parish meeting in January 1923 a building committee was formed. Bids for a church building were opened at the next meeting on May 25, and ground was broken on May 28. The cornerstone was laid on July 8, and Archbishop Keane preached for an hour. The stained glass windows and main altar came from the Buffalo church (Saint Joseph Church south of Prairieburg), which had been in the care of Father Keffeler and was being razed. The Blessed Virgin’s altar was a gift of the Franciscan Sisters in Dubuque. Pews came from Saint Mary Church, Dubuque, where Father Schuh had been an assistant. The Young Ladies Sodality of Saint Mary’s gave vestments.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #203: Saint Luke Parish, Hopkinton.” Dubuque: The Witness, 9 December 1990.

]]> History (3 documents)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

Pastor List (1 document)

Timeline (4 documents)

Treasurer’s Office 1937 Taxes (1 document)

Welcome Packet/Invitation/Informative Catholic Church information (1 packet)

]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 106 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “The Catholics of Independence built a frame church in 1856 in the block where the present Buchanan County courthouse stands, dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. Their spiritual needs have been served by priests traveling from Dubuque. After the church was built, Father James Slatery came regularly from Saint Martin’s in Cascade. In 1862 Father John Gosker was appointed the first resident pastor. During his stay of 16 years, a brick church was built in 1864, and this was probably the occasion for the change to the name of Saint John the Evangelist.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #24: Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Independence.” Dubuque: The Witness, 17 May 1987.

]]> Archdiocesan Chancery Letter 1938 regarding Mt. Calvary Cemetery (1 document)

Financial Report (1 booklet, 3 Parishioner letters)

Historical Information Booklet 1856-1976 (1 booklet)

History (5 documents)

History and Inventory Letter (1 document)

Notre Dame Seminary 1884-1984 Yearbook Compilation (1 book)

Parish Directory 1983 (2 booklets)

Pastor Cards (2 collections)

Photographs Church Postcard, Grade and High School 1954, High School 1954, Rectory 1941 Church with Tornado Damage 1953 (5 documents)

Priest List (1 document)

“Salute to St. John’s High School 1869-1989 Souvenir Edition Independence Bulletin-Journal 18 May 1989 (1 newspaper)

Sneak Peak for St. John’s School (1 document)

Warranty Deed 1993 (2 documents)

Women Gathered for Peace Addresses (2 document)

Hohenbrink, Michael. “Never a dull day in parish ministry.” The Witness, 14 September 2008, 3.

Hohenbrink, Michael. “Pro-life activities bring teaching moment.” Dubuque: The Witness, Vol. 89 No. 2, 18 January 2009, 1-2.

Smith, Rick. “Back to fish on Friday?” The Cedar Rapids Gazette, 13 November 1997.

]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 163 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “The third pastor, Father Henry H. Forkenbrock, stayed for five years and saw to the building of the rectory and improvements in the church. In 1902 he equipped the second floor of the 1900 rectory with schoolrooms. Since Sisters were not available until 1903, the thirty pupils were taught by Miss Mae Markham for one year and by Miss Emily Schoemacher for the second year. Then three Dubuque Franciscan Sisters took charge. To accommodate the Sisters, Father Forkenbrock converted the parish hall to a Sisters convent. High school classes were added in 1904.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #156: Saint Boniface, Ionia.” Dubuque: The Witness, 7 January 1990.

]]> Annual History (1 document)

Annual Parish History Update for the Archives (1 document)

Annual Report 1983-1986 (4 documents)

History (1 document)

History Timeline (1 document)

Pastor cards (1 collection)

Pastor List (2 documents)

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #191: Saint Mark Parish, Iowa Falls.” Dubuque: The Witness, 16 September 1990.

]]> Abstract/Title Certificate for Church and Cemetery/Resolution of the Board of Directors (1 compilation)

Anniversary 125^th Bulletin (1 document)

Anniversary 125^th Mass (1 document)

Annual Report 1985-1986 (2 documents)

Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque pgs. 514-515 (2 documents)

Financial Statement 1925 (1 document)

Hardin County Times 24 June 1952 regarding the dedication and interior of St. Mark’s (ENTIRE Newspaper)

History (1 document)

History Letter Kurt (1 document)

Lift Letters (1 document)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

St. Mark’s Parish Community Welcome Booklet 1974 (1 document)

Various News Articles from the Witness, Iowa Falls Citizen ca. 1950-1953 (5 documents)

“Dedication of St. Mark’s Church Proceeds,” Iowa Falls Citizen, 26 June 1952.

Kurt, Rev. Msgr. Edgar, “Parish Profile #191, Saint Mark Parish, Iowa Falls.” The Witness, 16 September 1990.]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 134 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “When Father Patrick Burke was appointed pastor of Independence to succeed Father Gosker in 1878, he planned a church for Jesup congregation. It was built in 1880 and dedicated to Saint Athanasius. That year Father Peter O’Dowd succeeded Father Burke at Independence. In 1890 the first church was moved from its foundation and later sold. A larger frame church, built on the site, was completed in 1891. It served the parish until 1955.

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #180: Saint Athanasius Parish, Jesup.” Dubuque: The Witness, 24 June 1990.

]]> Annual History Report 1913, 1960, 1976, 1978-79, 79-80, 1980-81 (6 compilations)

Centennial (1 document)

Dunn, Rev. Francis D., The Life and Times of St. Athanasius Parish. 1961. (over 94 pages)

Golf Outing 5^th Annual 1991 (1 document)

Golf Outing 10^th Annual 1997 (1 document)

History (3 compilations)

History Summary 1937-1961 (4 documents)

Norb Bahl Letter (1 document)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

Parish History Letter and Envelope Fr. Wilke 1961 (2 documents)

Parish Financial Report (3 documents)

Pro-life of St. Athanasius Letter (1 document)

Photographs Directory Document (1 document)

Photographs Grade School, Gym, Recreation Hall, Convent, Church, Rectory ca. 1961 (4 documents)

Holt, Deb. “Knights of Columbus of Jesup earns honors.” The Witness, 17 August 2003, 3.

Holt, Deb. “Luke Bader: Jesup student wins top prize with his invention.” The Witness, 10 August 2003, 1.

“Keeping Warm.” The Witness, 13 January 2008.

]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 139 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “Catholics residing southwest of Dubuque, in Mosalem and Table Mound Townships, were organized into a parish in 1872 by Father Thomas J. O’Reilly, a priest of the Cathedral in Dubuque. Father Samuel Mazzuchelli and Bishop Mathias Loras had celebrated Mass in the area much earlier. In the 1840s Bishop Loras had a small frame church built on Table Mound, a short distance from the present Key West church and near the Old Mount Saint Bernard Seminary, but it lasted only a few years. Father James Ward was appointed the first resident pastor of about 35 families in June of 1873. He lodged with one of the families and a rectory was finished in 1874. But Father Ward was not about to live in it, as he turned it over to the Presentation Sisters, newly arrived from Ireland. It was their first motherhouse in Iowa.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #70: Saint Joseph Parish, Key West.” Dubuque: The Witness, 17 April 1988.

]]> Articles Incorporation 1911 (1 document)

Articles of Reincorporation and certificate 1961 (4 documents)

Bulletin 10 December 1991 (1 document)

Centennial of Presentation Sisters and Catholic schooling for Key West 1975 (1 document)

Drawing (1 document)

Drawings of Proposed addition to school 1962 (2 documents)

Erection of Church (1 document)

Fall Festival 1993, 1997 (2 documents)

Financial Statement (4 documents)

History (2 documents)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

Photograph and Pastor Picture 1975, 1985 (2 documents)

Photographs Church, Convent, School, Rectory (4 documents)

Photograph/Pastor’s Message/Brief History Packet (1 packet)

Hoverman, Carol. “Key West religious education students back local Marines.” Dubuque: The Witness, 13 April 2008, p. 1.

“Key West Church Dedicated Sunday.” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 15 February 1926.

McCormick, John. “The blue cross.” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 3 October 1980. (3 documents)

Nevans-Pederson, Mary. “Its strength builds over time.” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 30 December 2000.

“St. Joseph’s – Key West, Mt. Olivet Cemetery tour.” Dubuque: The Witness, 28 May 2000, p. 8.

Voight, Sandye. “Ministers on the move.” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 18 January 1997, p. 12A.

Voight, Sandye. “Budgeting for faith: Parishes plan accordingly.” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 20 January 2001.

]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 147 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “During Father Kelly’s pastorate the people of Forest City also decided to build a church. Just before the church was completed, Father James P. Taken was appointed pastor of Forest City and Lake Mills with his residence in Forest City. Father Taken roomed in the Anderson Hotel until a rectory could be built in Forest City. Father Taken was caring for the Catholics at Armstrong, Bristol, Buffalo Center, Forest City, Lake Mills, Northwood, and Thompson during his seven years as pastor.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #173: Saint Patrick Parish, Lake Mills.” Dubuque: The Witness, 6 May 1990.

]]> Annual History 1969, 1978-1989 (10 collections)

Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque pgs. 405-408

Financial Statement 1982-1989 (6 documents)

Timeline of Pastors (1 document)

Hejik, Kristi. “Linked parishes return from Rome pilgrimage.” Dubuque: The Witness, 15 March 2009, p. 7.

]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of about 149 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “Immaculate Conception Parish came into existence early in the history of the archdiocese because the town of Lansing in northeast Iowa was an important trading and shipping center on the great waterway of the Mississippi. The Catholics in that area depended upon the occasional visits of Father Michael Kinsella and other missionary priests. Then under direction of Trappist Father Francis Walsh, pastor of Wexford, the first church was built in 1855. They continued to be cared for from Wexford and Waukon, until Father Louis Corneiis came in 1867 as resident pastor.”

- Rev. Msgr. “Parish Profile #25: Immaculate Conception Parish, Lansing.” Dubuque: The Witness, 24 May 1987.

]]> Annual Report 1968, 1987 (2 collections)

Catholic Church Convent and Parsonage horse and buggy drawing (1 document)

Centennial Booklet 1855-1955 (1 document)

Centennial Dubuque Archdiocese Article 1937-1938 (1 document)

History (3 collections)

Historian’s Report Annual 1979-1980, 1980-1987 (7 collections)

Jacoby (Rev. Father) and Church and Parsonage Photograph (1 document)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

Pastor List 1880-1958 (1 document)

Rectory (1 document)

Witness Correspondence (2 documents)

“A Brief History of the Catholic Church in Lansing Deanery, Allamakee Co...” Lansing and Waukon, Iowa: Allamakee Journal, 27 October 1937.

“Centennial of First Church at Lansing.” The Witness, 17 November 1955. (2 documents)

“Dedicated 50 Years Ago Yesterday.” Lansing and Waukon, Iowa: Allamakee Journal and Lansing Mirror (?), December, ca. 1936.

“Diamond and Golden Jubilees Being Celebrated, Red Letter Day in History of Local Catholics.” Lansing and Waukon, Iowa: Allamakee Journal and Lansing Mirror, 4 June 1930. (1 of 3)

“Lansing marks opening of religious ed building.” The Witness, 29 April 2007.

“Lansing parish is 125 years old.” The Witness, 25 September 1980, p. 2.

“Monsignor Haxmeier Has Been Pastor at Lansing, Iowa for Fifty-Six Years.” Lansing: Lansing Mirror (?), ca. 1936.

“Scouts Honored.” The Witness, 12 August 1990.]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 164 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.]]> “Before building a frame church in 1887, the Catholics of La Porte City in Black Hawk County gathered for monthly Mass in the home of Peter Trost whenever Father Thomas F. O’Brien visited them from his Eagle Center Parish. These pioneers built a frame church for two thousand dollars under Father O’Brien’s direction and sponsored a fair in the local opera house to complete it free of debt. The first Mass was celebrated at the dedication in 1888, Father O’Brien continued to care for them until 1892.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #78: Sacred Heart Parish, La Porte City.” Dubuque: The Witness, 12 June 1988.

]]> Bicentennial Parish Directory 1976 (1 document)
Building History of Prince of Peace Cluster (1 document)
Centennial (1 document)
Centennial Booklet covering the Sesquicentennial of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Centennial of Sacred Heart, and the Golden Anniversary of ordination for Rev. Bernard G. Collins (1 document)
Financial Statement 1968, 1976, 1982, 1983 (4 documents)
History 1937-1961 (1 document)
Kolash, the Letter (1 document)
Pastor cards (1 collection)
Priest List (3 documents)
Photographs Church and Rectory (2 documents) ]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 131 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]>