HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG4014.AM: Catholic Cemeteries (Omaha, Neb.)
Records: 1873-1990
Omaha, Douglas County, Neb.: Cemeteries
Size: 19 reels of microfilm
BACKGROUND NOTE
The cemetery of Holy Sepulchre in Omaha, Nebraska was opened on June 1, 1873, its sole purpose being a burial place for Catholics. Forty acres of land, costing two thousand dollars, were purchased from the Byron Reed Company. Holy Sepulchre was not the first Catholic cemetery in Omaha, however. Ten acres of land near 24th and Howard had been purchased for burial purposes on March 10, 1863. When the city was about to open up this area, in May of 1887, about 162 burials there were removed to either Holy Sepulchre or St. Mary’s. Therefore, Holy Sepulchre is probably the oldest continuing Catholic cemetery in Omaha.
On December 12, 1881, Bishop James O’Conner purchased property in south Omaha for another Catholic cemetery. He purchased what was originally known as Cassidy’s Burial Ground, a non-sectarian cemetery located between 33rd and 36th Streets, and “Q” to “S” Streets. The first burial at St. Mary’s was made on November 29, 1883.
In 1906 Holy Sepulchre and St. Mary’s were brought together into a corporation. The purpose of the corporation was to acquire title to both cemeteries, to manage and conduct their affairs, as well as to purchase more property when necessary. Holy Sepulchre and St. Mary’s remain incorporated today. Calvary Cemetery joined their corporation in the 1950s.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of ten volumes of manuscript material and loose burial cards on 19 reels of microfilm arranged in four series: 1) Interment Registers, 1873-1940(?); 2) Lot Ownership Registers; 3) Ledger, 1873-1877; and 4) Burial Cards, 1873-1990. This material relates to burials made at three cemeteries – Calvary, Holy Sepulchre, and St. Mary’s – all of Omaha, Nebraska.
Series 1 consists of Interment Registers and indexes for their use. Volumes 1-3 are indexes which record names and where the individual is buried, as well as citing a volume and page number where the individual can be found in the registers. These indexes cite information from registers of both St. Mary’s and Holy Sepulchre, yet this collection includes only three volumes of registers, November 29, 1883 – June 1940, all from St. Mary’s. The registers in this series show the individual’s name, date of death and burial, place of birth, age at death, cause of death, and grave location.
The Lot Owner Registers of Series 2 provide alphabetical listings of lot owners by the first letter of the last name. Entries show names of owners, age, date, and location of the land held. Series 3 consists of a Ledger showing expenses and receipts of Holy Sepulchre, June 1873 – November 1877. The cemetery’s opening is recorded on the first page and a subscription list is included.
The Burial Cards of Series 4 are arranged alphabetically for each of the three cemeteries, Calvary, Holy Sepulchre, and St. Mary’s. For each individual, the cards show the person’s name, age, address, vault, grave location, burial and death dates, birth and death places, church and the cause of death. Also listed are the lot owner, price paid, and the undertaker. This series is on 17 reels of 16mm microfilm. The rest of the collection is on 35mm microfilm (two reels).
INVENTORY
Series 1 – Interment Registers, 1873-1940(?)
Reel 1 (#18975) – reel ends at vol. 5, p. 84 (1913)
Volume
- Index for St. Mary’s and Holy Sepulchre: Holy Sepulchre, June 6, 1873 – December 1905; St. Mary’s, November 29, 1883 – December 1905
- Index for St. Mary’s and Holy Sepulchre, January 1, 1906 – December 31, 1933
- Index for St. Mary’s and Holy Sepulchre, January 1, 1933 – ?
- St. Mary’s Interment Register, November 29, 1883 – June 1902
- St. Mary’s Interment Register, January 3, 1900 – January 29, 1901 (partial); July 1, 1902 – October 13, 1915
Reel 2 (#18976) begins on p. 85 (1913)
Volume
- (cont.) St. Mary’s Interment Register, January 3, 1900 – January 29, 1901 (partial); July 1, 1902 – October 13, 1915
- St. Mary’s Interment Register, October 10, 1915 – June 1940
Series 2 – Lot Ownership Registers
- Holy Sepulchre (alpha)
- Holy Sepulchre and St. Mary’s (alpha)
- Holy Sepulchre and St. Mary’s (alpha)
Series 3 – Ledger, 1873-1877
- Holy Sepulchre, June 1873 – November 1877
Series 4 – Burial Cards, ca. 1873-1990
Reel 3 (#24,520) Calvary Cemetery, 1952 – September 17, 1980: A-I
Reel 4 (#24,521) Calvary Cemetery, 1952 – September 17, 1980: J-Sladovnik
Reel 5 (#24,522) Calvary Cemetery, 1952 – September 17, 1980: Slama-Z
Reel 6 (#24,523) Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, ? – September 17, 1980: A-Daugherty
Reel 7 (#24,524) Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, ? – September 17, 1980: Daughton-Gilliard
Reel 8 (#24,525) Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, ? – September 17, 1980: Gillick-Komorski (card for Iapichello, Filadelfo at end of the “I’s”)
Reel 9 (#24,526) Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, ? – September 17, 1980: Koneck-Mary
Reel 10 (#24,527) Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, ? – September 17, 1980: Mascarekko-Q
Reel 11 (#24,528) Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, ? – September 17, 1980: R-U
Reel 12 (#24,529) Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, ? – September 17, 1980: V-Z
Reel 13 (#24,530) St. Mary’s Cemetery, ? – September 17, 1980: A-Hanousek
Reel 14 (#24,531) St. Mary’s Cemetery, ? – September 17, 1980: Hanrahan-Q
Reel 15 (#24,532) St. Mary’s Cemetery, ? – September 17, 1980: R-Z
Added January 28, 1991: Catholic Cemeteries Burial Cards covering September 1980 – 1990
Reel 16 (#24,533) A – G
Reel 17 (#24,534) H – M
Reel 18 (#24,535) N – V
Reel 19 (#24,536) W – Z
Subject headings:
Calvary Cemetery (Omaha, Neb.)
Catholic Church — Nebraska — Omaha
Cemeteries — Nebraska — Omaha
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (Omaha, Neb.)
St. Mary’s Cemetery (Omaha, Neb.)
AIP/lm 11-10-1980
Revised TMM 08-10-2011