“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.]]> “The early Irish settlers […] were cared for by Father John Gosker of Independence, fifteen miles to the west. Mass in home or school continued until they built a church holding eight pews. Two ladies of the parish deserve the credit for getting the church built. Mrs. Mary Ryan, who was in her eighties, and Mrs. McElmeel went house to house soliciting funds. The date of building the frame church is not recorded. The first baptism of record was administered on March 25, 1883, by Father J. F. Richardson, an assistant at Saint Raphael Cathedral in Dubuque.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #114: Immaculate Conception Parish, Masonville.” Dubuque: The Witness, 5 March 1989.

]]> Annual Parish History for the Archives 1993, 1960, 1976, 1980-1990 (11 compilations)

Financial Statement 1967-1968, 1985-1986 (4 documents)

Fr. Caffery regarding Masonville History Letter 1939 (1 document)

Handwritten Comprehensive History written in 1961 (1 compilation)

Immaculate Conception Booklet 1972 (1 booklet)

Inventory of Resource Materials (1 document)

Mortgage Papers (2 documents)

Mrs. Mary Malone Burial Information Letter 20 July 1954 (1 document)

Pastor Card (1 document)

Pastor List (1 document)

Rev. Kurt Letter to Rev. Kruse regarding Parish Profile information (1 document)

Updates on A.C.C.W. History Project (1 document)

Vocations Information (1 document)

Warranty Deed 1870 (1 document)

Bonefas, June, “A Valentine for St. Patrick and Immaculate Conception.” The Winthrop News, 29 February 1996, p. 29.

“First Communion,” E.B. Shopping Guide, 24 May 1990, p. 8.

“Missed Parish Drive,” Dubuque: The Witness, Vol. LXVI NO. 39, 23 November 1986.

]]> 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 116 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.]]> “North Buena Vista clings to the hillsides of the great river, which often offered better transportation than the twisting valley roads. While Father Garrett T. Nagle was pastor of Holy Cross, 24 families pledged support for a small frame church, which was built of lumber from the surrounding hills. When it was dedicated in October 1905, it was placed under the protection of the Immaculate Conception.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile: #177: Immaculate Conception, North Buena Vista.” Dubuque: The Witness, 27 May 1990.

]]> Annual History Report, Fr. Wilkie, 1961 (1 document)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

Bielema, Ross. “Buenie Picnic goes dry.” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 13 June 1989.

Hanson, Lyn. “Beer, gambling proceeds help parish festivals prosper.” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 16 July 1989.

Herman, Bill. “Differing view on picnic,” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 8 September 1989.

Japsen, Bruce. “‘Buenie’ picnic dry, but fun.” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 4 September 1989.

Lee, Jennifer Dukes. “Wagering bug bit state after church picnic raid.” The Des Moines Register, 30 August 2001, p. 1A, 4A.

“North Buena Vista I.C. celebrating centennial.” The Witness, 30 October 2005.

Pins, Kenneth. “Famed ‘Buenie picnic’ to have bingo, but no beer.” The Register, ca. 1989.

“Photograph of Barbara Murphy sports her Buena Vista church picnic T-Shirt.” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 4 September 1989.

Richard, Lord Acton and Patricia Nassif Acton. To Go Free: A Treasury of Iowa’s Legal Heritage. Ames: Iowa State University Press, 1995, p. 313-322.]]> 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"]]> its priests and parishioners.]]> “North Washington in Chickasaw County was established as a trading center in the early 1850s. As the number of settlers increased, they saw a need for a church. Then the death of a child was the occasion for Paul Roethler to donate a portion of land for church and cemetery, and that was evidently the beginning of Immaculate Conception Parish. It was not until 1863 that a church was built, the first Catholic church in the county. On Sundays when no missionary priest came to celebrate Mass, the people gathered in the log church and prayed and sang under the direction of a fellow parishioner.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #34: Immaculate Conception Parish, North Washington.” Dubuque: The Witness, 2 August 1987.

]]> Centennial Committee Jubilee 1937 (1 Letter)

History (2 documents)

History 1937-1961 (2 documents)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

Pastor List (1 document)

Phyllis Glaser (Mrs. Joe) History (1 document)

Rev. Foley and Fr. Puetz 1937 Letter (1 document)

Rev. Wolfe 1937 Letter (1 document)

School History 1937 (1 document)

Warranty Deed 1867 (1 document)

Kurt, Rev. Edgar, “Immaculate Conception Parish, North Washington,” Dubuque: The Witness, Vol. LXVII NO. 23, 2 August 1987. (2 documents)

“New Immaculate Conception Church at North Washington Dedicated,” New Hampton Iowa, N.P., 11 June 1924.

“North Washington marks anniversary,” Dubuque: The Witness, Vol. LXXIII No. 21, 4 July 1993.

“North Washington Parish to Celebrate Centennial,” The Witness, 15 August 1968.]]> 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 156 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.]]>
- Kurt, Rev. Msgr. Edgar, Parish Profile #104, The Witness, December 18, 1988.

]]> Annual Parish History Report for the Archives 1992-1993 (6 documents)

Blue Prints (1 document)

Correspondence of Rev. Joseph W. Bohr regarding photographs (1 document)

Dedication May 8, 1960 Booklet (2 booklets)

Directory Booklet 1990 (1 booklet)

History A.C.C.W. Parish History Project (1 compilation)

History 1937-1961 regarding Fr. O’Sullivan, Fr. Connell, Fr. McDonald, Fr. Stirn, Rev. Bohr (1 document)

“Immaculate Conception Church, Riceville,” from Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, p. 368-370.

Notations after finishing the parish profile on December 14, 1988 document (1 document)

Pastor Cards (1 compilation)

Pastor Timeline (4 documents)

Riceville Recorder 1959-ca.1980 (1 collection)

Synder Architects Letter 1987 (1 document)

Cross, Merri. Riceville, Iowa. 1855-2005. A 150-year history of our little town along the Wapsi, p. 245, 69-73.

Kurt, Rev. Msgr. Edgar. “Immaculate Conception Parish, Riceville.” Dubuque: The Witness, Vol. LXVIII NO. 43, 18 December 1988. (3 documents)

“Riceville parish holds centennial celebration.” N.P. N.D.]]> 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 140 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]>
-Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, Parish Profile #179, The Witness, June 17, 1990.]]> Deed/Legal Documents (3 documents)
History (1 document)
History booklet (1 document)
News Articles (3 documents)
Oratory (1 document)

Hanus, Most Rev. Jerome. O.S.B. “Decree of Parish Closure.” Chancery, Dubuque, Iowa, 2 June 1997.

Kurt, Rev. Msgr. Edgar. “Parish Profile #179: Immaculate Conception Parish, Sand Springs.” The Witness. 17 June 1990.

Miller, Kiley. “The new center of Sand Springs.” Cascade Pioneer. 09 January 2002.

“The Immaculate Conception Church, Sand Springs.” Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. 544,545.]]> 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 117 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.]]> “In 1892 the Catholic pioneers judged their numbers were sufficient to build a church. That year they raised some money by means of a fair in the Cass Opera House. In August they began hauling rocks for the foundation. The church was a white frame building 30 x 50 with a seating capacity of 175 and had an entry and belfry. The cost was $600. On November 13, 1892, the completed church was dedicated to the Blessed Mother under the title of her Immaculate Conception. In 1895 a new altar was placed in the church and the pews were obtained from the now abandoned Christian Prairie Church, the next year Stations of the Cross were added.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #223: Immaculate Conception, Sumner,” Dubuque: The Witness, 5 May 1991.]]> ACCW “Growth and Development of Parish Society” (1 packet)

ACCW - Lacordaire “A Priest” poem – Parish History and News Clippings (1 packet)

ACCW Parish History 1962 (1 packet)

Annual History - n.d, ca. 1976 (2 documents)

Centennial History (1 document)

Centennial Mass (1 booklet)

Centennial News Clippings Page (1 document)

Cluster Agreement (1 packet)

History (1 compilation)

History Pages with Pictures – Immaculate Conception and St. Briget’s (1 document)

Merger Picture Page (1 document)

Timeline (3 documents)

“ICC Church celebrates 100 years Sunday,” unknown publisher, 1994.

“Immaculate Conception Church started in 1884,” unknown publisher, n.d. (3 documents)

“Immaculate Conception Sumner marks centennial,” Dubuque: The Witness, 7 August 1994.

Kurt, Rev. Msgr. Edgar, “Parish Profile #223: Immaculate Conception Parish, Sumner,” Dubuque: The Witness, 5 May 1991.

“Smouldering Candle a Year Ago results in “New” Church Today.

“Zambia Africa,” Dubuque: The Witness, Vol. LXV No. 23, 4 August 1985.]]> 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 135 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.]]> “The Catholic Church in Benton County began with the deeding of two sections of prairie near Keystone, Iowa, to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana in January 1863. Francis Murphy, a Benton county pioneer, gave those 1,280 acres in return for education of his two sons. In the spring of 1866, the provincial of the Holy Cross Fathers sent Father Paul E. Gillen together with Brothers Matthew, Cesaire, and Aloysius, to take possession of the tract of land and to care for the spiritual needs of settlers in the area, and eventually to open a college there if it is found advisable. Father Paul, a Civil War chaplain, drove his old war horse “Sarsfield” all the way from Indiana with his Mass kit and other needs in a buggy. The Brothers drove two yokes of oxen with wagons loaded with implements to break up the fertile prairie and raise potatoes to supply the community and students at Notre Dame.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #93: Immaculate Conception, Van Horne,” Dubuque: The Witness, 2 October 1988.

]]> Annual Financial Statement 1925, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1936 (5 booklets)

Annual History Report 1990-1991 (3 documents)

Holy Card for Frater Leland M. Barry, S.S.J., 1940 (1 document)

Holy Cross Cemetery in Keystone, Iowa (2 documents)

Historical Data, Reid 4/1/88 (1 packet)

Letter regarding Baptismal Book Record Request 1947 J. Remair Jones

Letter regarding Christmas and welcome letter 14 December 1970 (1 document)

Letter regarding grave of Ellen Crothy 10 August 1945 (1 document)

Letter regarding Archdiocese History Rev. Churchhill to Rev. Byrne (2 documents)

Pastor List (2 documents)

Cullen, Brother Franklin, C.S.C. “Holy Cross in Iowa, Five Apostolates – 1944-1977.” Brothers of Holy Cross, Mountain View, California, 1989.

Martin, Mrs. John. “History of Immaculate Conception Church.” A.C.C.W. Parish History Project, ca. 1960. (2 copies)

“Started by Notre Dame: Early Iowa Church Just a Memory.” Dubuque: The Witness, 10 May 1956.]]> 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 152 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.]]> “Immaculate Conception Parish owes its origin to Father Thomas Hore, a native of the parish of Our Lady’s Island in County Wexford, Ireland. His life would be good material for an interesting saga. Father Hore, born in 1796, completed his theological studies in 1820 and came to the United States with the newly appointed Bishop of Richmond, who ordained him on their arrival there. After six years of pastoral work in Virginia, Father Hore returned to his native diocese. In 1850 Father Hore prepared to lead more than 450 fellow Irishmen to Arkansas because the Bishop of Little Rock had frequently returned to Ireland seeking priests and Sisters. Arriving there the group met its first great disappointment. Most of the land was already occupied, and they could not find a suitable place to settle. In late January of 1851, Father Hore came to Dubuque, visited Bishop Loras and New Melleray Abbey.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #15: Immaculate Conception Parish, Wexford.” Dubuque: The Witness, 15 March 1987.

]]> History to 1937 (1 packet)

History and Letter 1937-1961 (3 documents)

Pastor/Priest Cards (1 set)

Wexford and its founders (1 packet)

Wexford and Other County Parishes (1 packet)

Byrne, John P., “Wexford Church Observes Centennial.” Des Moines: Iowa Press Clipping Bureau, 21 July 1948.

“Church at Wexford is 100 Years Old Sunday.” Des Moines: Iowa Press Clipping Bureau, 15 July 1948.

“Iowa Church Will Observe Century Date: Irish Families Came Direct to Homes in State.” Des Moines: Iowa Press Clipping Bureau, 17 July 1948.

“Iowa’s Churches – Wexford Catholic.” Cedar Rapids: The Gazette, n.d.

Schmitz, Kenneth P., B.A., “Wexford Iowa, 1851-1876,” A Dissertation Submitted to Saint Paul Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1959.

The Past: The Organ of the Uí Cinsealaigh Historical Society, Iris Chumann Seanchais Uí Cinsealaigh, edited by Séamus S. de Vál, No. II, 1975-1976.

"The First Church in Allamakee County." Waukon: Unknown publisher, 3 Decmeber 1930.

“Wexford Church is the Oldest West of the Mississippi River.” Dubuque: Herald, 30 June 1935.

“Wexford Plans Jubilee Social.” Des Moines: Iowa Press Clipping Bureau, 31 July 1940.