Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records: Keeper of the history of Catholic Church in Chicago

An original copy of a pastoral letter written in 1860 to the Diocese of Chicago by Bishop James Duggan, the diocese’s fourth bishop. He writes about piety and devotion and comments on the “unfortunate” political situation of Pope Pius IX losing most of the Papal States in the formation of the nation of Italy. (Archives and Records)

An aerial view of the International Eucharistic Congress at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein in 1926. The congress was held both in Mundelein and Chicago. The Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records has a sizable collection of photos and memorabilia from the congress. Orchestrated by Cardinal George Mundelein, the gathering was a large display of the rising prominence of Chicago in the Catholic world. Estimates vary, but some newspapers reported up to 500,000 people attended. (Archives and Records)

From left, papal delegate Cardinal Giovanni Bonzano and Cardinal George Mundelein ride in a parade in downtown Chicago for the International Eucharistic Congress in 1926. The congress was held both in Mundelein and Chicago. The Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records has a sizable collection of photos and memorabilia from the congress. Orchestrated by Cardinal George Mundelein, the gathering was a large display of the rising prominence of Chicago in the Catholic world. Estimates vary, but some newspapers reported up to 500,000 people attended. (Archives and Records)

Small-sized newsletters like this one from Holy Name Cathedral were precursors to today’s bulletins. This issue from 1915 commemorated Archbishop James Quigley, who had recently died. They contained small spiritual articles and advertisements. (Archives and Records)

A classroom photograph from St. Anselm School on South Indiana Avenue from 1959. The center maintains records from all closed schools and parishes in the archdiocese. Those records sometimes include class photos. (Archives and Records)

Cardinal Samuel Stritch administers the sacrament of confirmation to young people at Angel Guardian Orphanage in this undated photo. Cardinal Stritch, who had previously been the archbishop of Milwaukee, was appointed to Chicago following Cardinal Mundelein’s death in 1939. He became Chicago’s second cardinal. The Archives and Records Center has a collection for each of Chicago’s ordinaries. (Archives and Records)

A 1966 handbook for the Archdiocese of Chicago that outlined the changes to the Mass following the Second Vatican Council. This handbook outlined how priests, altar servers and celebrants would move about the sanctuary during the liturgy. (Archives and Records)

A 1983 special edition of the Chicago Catholic outlining the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter “The Challenge of Peace.” Issues of Chicago Catholic dating to its inception as the New World in 1892 are available at the center on microfilm. (Archives and Records)