Milestones:History of Black Catholics in Milwaukee Archdiocese 1886-2014

This document has been updated to reflect the history of Black Catholics in the Milwaukee Archdiocese beginning in 1886 through 2007. The opportunity to share the history of Black Catholics in this diocese was predicated and influenced by the writings of Fr. Cyprian Davis which included archdiocesean milestones in his book: "The History of Black Catholics" published by Crossroads. Our history in the archdiocese is rich, varied and full beginning with Catholic Layman, Charles Boettinger, a member of Old St. Gall Church which was run by the Jesuit Fathers at 4th and State Streets, launched efforts to convert Milwaukee Blacks to Catholicism. One hundred and forty converts are received that year. Continuing on in 1908 with Captain Lincoln C. Valle, a Black Catholic layman from Chicago and his wife organized a few Black Catholics found in Milwaukee at a store on 4th Street. Valle’s efforts won the sympathy of Archbishop Sebastian Messmer who helped him secure a meeting place in the church hall of Old St. Mary’s Church in downtown Milwaukee. Door to door visits by the Valle’s and some priests netted a small increase in the number of Black Catholics. Evangelization continued with St. Benedict the Moor "Colored" Mission and the development of the boarding school to educate Black children in the 1911 which my grandmother Cecilia Philips Bobo attended as a young girl. In 2007 our history continues as we continue with pride to be "authentically" Black and "truly" Catholic.

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