Processed Collections

1. Chancery Files Collection

1. Pre-Paterson 1853-1937 5 boxes 2.1 linear feet
   These files from the oldest parishes in the diocese were transported along with deeds and other documents, wrapped in clothes line rope, from the Newark Chancery and deposited at the new chancery on DeGrasse Street in April, 1938.
2. Bishop McLaughlin 1937-1947 16 boxes 6.6 linear feet
   These files are the chancery office files for the administration of the first Bishop of Paterson, Most Rev. Thomas H. McLaughlin, S.T.D. from April 1937 to June 1947.
3. Bishop Boland 1947-1953 10 boxes 4.2 linear feet
   These files are the Chancery Office files for the administration of the second Bishop of Paterson, Most Rev. Thomas A. Boland, S.T.D. from June 1947 to April 1953.
4. Bishop McNulty 1953-1963 36 boxes 14.5 linear feet
   These files are the Chancery Office files for the administration of the third Bishop of Paterson, Most Rev, James A. McNulty, D.D. from April 1953 to February 1963.
5. Bishop Navagh 1963-1966 26 boxes 11.6 linear feet
   These files are the Chancery Office files for the administration of the fourth Bishop of Paterson, Most Rev. James J. Navagh, D.D. from February 1963 to March 1966.
6. Bishop Casey 1966-1977 91 boxes 40.8 linear feet
   These files are the Chancery Office files for the administration of the fifth Bishop of Paterson, Most Rev, Lawrence B, Casey, D.D. from March 1966 to December 1977. Included in this series are papers relating to the world-famous 1975 Karen Ann Quinlan right-to-die case.
7. Bishop Rodimer 1977-2004 139 boxes 62.5 linear feet
   These files are the Chancery Office files for the administration of the sixth Bishop of Paterson, Most Rev. Frank J. Rodimer, J.C.D. from December 1977 to June 2004.

2. Deed Files Collection 39 boxes 9.0 linear feet

• This collection includes deeds, certificates of incorporation, easements, mortgages, and other legal documents of the parishes of the diocese dating back to the 1840s.

3. Bishop O’Connor Collection 12 boxes 5.6 linear feet

• This collection includes papers, writings, homilies, class notes, and other memorabilia from the Most Rev. John J. O’Connor, fourth Bishop of Newark, 1901-1927. Paterson’s first Bishop, Most Rev. Thomas H. McLaughlin, serving as President of Seton Hall College and Rector of Immaculate Conception Seminary, was the executor of Bishop O’Connor’s estate.

4. Bishop Casey Homily Collection 11 boxes 4.9 linear feet

• This collection includes homilies and bulletin articles from Paterson’s fifth bishop, Most Rev. Lawrence B. Casey, 1966-1977, dating back to his time as Rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester, New York.

5. John Nolan Collection 21 boxes 8.7 linear feet

• John Nolan, a Paterson attorney, served as the attorney for the Paterson Diocese from its inception in 1937 until the 1970s. These files represent his legal work on behalf of the Bishops of Paterson, and the parishes of the diocese.

6. Diocesan Clergy Files Collection

1. Dead Priest Files 68 cartons 79.6 linear feet
   This considerable collection includes the chancery personnel files maintained in the Bishop’s Office for the priests of the Paterson Diocese. These files represent both those who are deceased, and those who have abandoned priestly ministry.
2. Clergy Personnel Office Files
   While often duplicating materials in the Dead Priests Files, these files were separately maintained by the Office of Clergy Personnel.
3. Seminarian Files 14 cartons 15.2 linear feet
   This more recent collection includes the files from the Diocesan Vocations Office, from its inception as a full-time office. These files include both those seminarians who were ordained priests, and those who were not. Seminarian records for earlier priests are included in their individual file in the Dead Priests Collection.
4. Laicization Files 2 linear feet
   Formerly known as the “Secret Archives,” this collection includes the files of cases for Laicization from the Clerical State processed through the Paterson Diocesan Tribunal. Most of these cases are for non-Paterson priests who happened to be living in the Paterson Diocese at the time the case was processed.

7. Women Religious Collection

• This collection includes special files pertaining to congregations of religious women of diocesan right.

1. Morristown Carmel Files 2 cartons 2.2. linear feet
   These files pertain to the difficulties experienced by the Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Morristown, New Jersey, 1970-2004.
2. Franciscan Sisters of Ringwood Files 1 carton 1.1 linear feet
   These files deal with the dissolution of the Franciscan Sisters of Ringwood, a community of diocesan right, and its merger with the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia, 2001-2002.

8. Annual Pastoral Reports Collection 14 cartons 15.2 linear feet

• Following several changing formats over the years, this collection includes the annual statistical and pastoral reporting from the parishes to the Diocese since 1939.

9. Commemorative Book Collection 70 boxes 31.7 linear feet

• This collection includes parish histories and other commemorative works from the parishes and institutions of the Paterson Diocese.

10. Photo Collection 18 boxes 8.2 linear feet

• This collection includes photos of individuals, groups, buildings, and events from the three countries that comprise the Paterson Diocese. The earliest photos date from the 1840s.

11. Miscellaneous Collection 17 boxes 7.7 linear feet

• As its title suggests, this collection contains a wide range of materials from the parishes, institutions, and individuals of the Paterson Diocese, as well as those impacting the Paterson Diocese, including articles, descriptions, commemorative programs, etc. The range extends from diocesan priesthood ordination programs, to a descriptive booklet for Saint Hubert’s Chapel on an island in Lake Kinnelon, to the sheet music for “There is a Little Church in Walpack,” a song written about the former Saint Matthew’s Chapel in Walpack.

12. "Living Stones” Collection 5 boxes 1.1 linear feet

• This collection includes articles, notes, correspondence, and other materials relating to the writing of Living Stones. A History of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Paterson in 1986 by Rev. Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke.

Among the holdings of the Diocesan Archives are many books including some of the following categories.

The Official Catholic Directory (complete run since 1938)

Annuario Pontificio (incomplete run)

Catholic Telephone Guide, New York Metropolitan Area (incomplete run)

New Jersey Provincial Directory (incomplete run)

Diocese of Paterson Directory (complete run 1964-2012)

Books relating to the history and culture of New Jersey, particularly the three Counties of Northwestern New Jersey Books by or about clergy of the Paterson Diocese United States diocesan histories The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907 edition American Catholic apologetic and devotional works from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Bound copes of The Advocate, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Paterson 1962-1966.

Bound copies of The Beacon, newspaper of the Diocese of Paterson 1975-present.

The Diocesan Archives contains a number of artifacts and other physical items that are related to the life of the diocese and its bishops. Among these items are:

Pontifical regalia belonging to various bishops

Bishop McLaughlin’s portable throne, with platform, chair, canopy and hangings

Monsignor James Doyle’s U.S. Navy portable Mass kit

Bishop Navagh’s portable Mass kit

A pinnacle from the old wooden Hinchcliffe Main altar from Saint John’s Cathedral (the major section currently frames the tabernacle in the Cathedral’s Lady Chapel)

Plaster study busts for the statue of Dean McNulty in front of the Cathedral sculpted by the Paterson artist, Gaetano Federici

Wooden episcopal coats-of-arms which once hung over the Bishop’sThrone in the Cathedral

With the single exception of a register containing Baptisms and Marriages from the Boonton and Dover Missions in the 1840s, the Diocesan Archives does not house Sacramental records.

In the Diocese of Paterson, Records of Baptisms, Confirmations, First Communions, Marriages and Funerals are all held in the individual parishes. There are a few minor exceptions, as follows:

• Our Lady of Mercy, Whippany Baptisms for 1877-1882 are at Saint Virgil, Morris Plains
• Saint Joseph, West Milford Baptisms for 1836-1852 are at Seton Hall University Archives, South Orange
• College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station Marriages are in the office of the college sacristan

For churches that have been closed, the records are kept at a nearby parish as follows:

• Immaculate Conception, Paterson (1939-1972) records at Our Lady of Lourdes, Paterson
• Our Lady of Blue Mountain, Sandyston Township (1966-1970) records at Saint James the Greater, Montague
• Our Lady of the Lake, Culvers Lake (1938-1970) records at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Branchville
• Our Lady of the Lake, Greenwood Lake (1907-1974) records at Our Lady Queen of Peace, West Milford
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Netcong (1910-1915) records at Saint Michael, Netcong
• Our Lady of Providence, Paterson (1954-1965) records at Our Lady of Victories, Paterson
• Our Lady Queen of the Holy Rosary, Dover (1959-2018) records at Sacred Heart and Our Lady Queen of the Holy Rosary, Dover
• Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, Lafayette (1945-1951) records at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Branchville
• Saint Boniface, Paterson (1859-1976) records at Saint John the Baptist Cathedral, Paterson
• Saint Casimir, Paterson (1912-2015) records at Saint John the Baptist Cathedral, Paterson
• Saint Cecilia, Upper Greenwood Lake (1938-1983) records at Our Lady Queen of Peace, West Milford
• Saint Charles, Hurdtown (1889-1911) records at Saint Bernard, Mount Hope
• Saint George, Paterson (1897-2015) records at Saint Brendan and Saint George, Clifton
• Saint Hyacinth, Paterson (1927-1980) records at Saint Stephen, Paterson
• Saint Joseph, Northwood (1931—1976) records at Our Lady of the Lake, Mount Arlington and Saint Jude, Hopatcong
• Saint Matthew, Walpack (1942-1972) records at Saint James the Greater, Montague
• Saint Michael, Middleville (1945-1950) records at Saint Joseph, Newton
• Saint Patrick, Hibernia (1865-1928) records at Saint Cecilia, Rockaway and Sacred Heart, Rockaway
• Saint Peter Claver, Paterson (1941-1965) records at Our Lady of Victories, Paterson