ABSTRACT: Photograph of the Sisters of St. Francis on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, circa 1890.
SCOPE: This matted photograph shows a group of Catholic sisters at the St. Francis Mission on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. The back of the image credits J.A. Anderson as the photographer for the Rosebud Agency.
EXTENT: One matted photograph.
HISTORY: In the mid-19th century, Jesuit priest Father Pierre-Jean de Smet, a St. Louis resident, traveled extensively and developed relationships with members of the Northern Plains Tribes. Using the foundation of these experiences, Lakota Chief Spotted Tail met with President Rutherford B. Hayes to advocate for an English language education for Lakota children. In 1886, the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity accompanied priests to South Dakota and established the St. Francis Mission school.
After the passage of the Dawes Act and the subsequent partitioning of the Great Sioux Reservation, the Rosebud Indian Reservation was established. Members of the Sicangu Sioux tribe, a sub-tribe of the Lakota nation, continue to reside on the reservation.
Sources:
“South Dakota: Rosebud Reservation.” Partnership with Native Americans, www.nativepartnership.org/site/PageNavigator/PWNA_Native_Reservations_Rosebud.
“About.” St. Francis Mission Among the Lakota, https://sfmission.org/about/.
ACCESS: This collection can be viewed on-site in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the material may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, subject to condition and other access restrictions. Information on conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building on the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ north campus.
Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is “From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis."
