From its beginnings in the late 1700s, the Archdiocese of Atlanta has become a vibrant, diverse and rapidly growing Catholic community. When the first Catholic settlers arrived in what is today the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the entire United States was part of the Diocese of Baltimore. As the nation’s Catholic population grew, new dioceses were established throughout the country.
Interactive History Map
The Office of Archives and Records has designed an interactive history map to be an immersive history of our Catholic community’s unique experiences. You can scroll or swipe through the historical narrative of each decade, while witnessing the geographical growth of our parishes, missions, and schools as they appear on the map. This is a great resource for a big picture view of the history of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
Historical Research
The Office of Archives and Records maintains the archival collections of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, including its parishes, missions, schools, and other entities. Materials focus specifically on the rich history of Catholics and of the Church in North Georgia. The collections consist of documents, oral histories, photographs, videos, artifacts, and more.
In-person access to the archival collections is available by appointment only. However, the Office of Archives and Records can also provide information via email for the majority of requests. Please contact archives@archatl.com with your research request or archives/history related question.
closed catholic school records
The Office of Archives and Records manages the historical records and transcripts for all closed archdiocesan schools. To request transcripts from a closed Catholic school, please download the form below and submit it to records@archatl.com along with a copy of your government issued photo ID.
Genealogy Research
Sacramental records more than 75 years old are open for genealogy research. The Archivist will conduct the genealogy research and provide the information to the researcher within four weeks of receiving the request. No appointments will be made to allow a researcher to conduct their own genealogy research.
The table below shows a list of the parishes for which we have sacramental registers available in the Office of Archives and Records. It provides the parish name, parish location, and the date range of the registers. Please note that not all sacraments are available for all date ranges and that some registers may contain dates that are not yet open for research.
Name of Parish | Location | Years |
|---|---|---|
Immaculate Conception | Atlanta, GA | 1846-1949 |
Our Lady of Lourdes | Atlanta, GA | 1913-1943 |
Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Sharon, GA | 1822-2013 |
Sacred Heart | Griffin, GA | 1910-1942 |
Sacred Heart | Milledgeville, GA | 1872-1971 |
Sacred Heart of Jesus | Atlanta, GA | 1880-1947 |
Saint Anthony of Padua | Atlanta, GA | 1903-1956 |
Saint Joseph (Saint Patrick) | Washington, GA | 1854-1954 |
Saint Mary | Rome, GA | 1883-1956 |
The Archdiocese of Atlanta has digitized their historical sacramental registers and made them available through Ancestry.com. You can conduct your own research through our collection on their website (subscription may apply).
Records of Enslaved Individuals
In 2016, at the request of then-Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, the Office of Archives and Records searched through our archival collections for records of enslaved individuals. Research revealed records of enslaved individuals in the historical sacramental registers of several parishes that pre-date the Civil War located within the boundaries of what would become the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1962. We created a spreadsheet inventory of those entries and have made it available publicly to promote transparency and reconciliation.
Land Acknowledgement Statement
This archdiocese rests on the traditional homelands of the ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East) and Mvskoke (Muscogee) peoples. This awareness is significantly important to our ministry as stewards of God’s creation. Our commitment to protecting land and water—through teaching, advocacy and honoring local history—helps weave a future rooted in respect and reciprocity. May our actions reflect not only care for the environment, but also a deepening relationship with the stories, presence and enduring connections of the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded this land since time immemorial.
