Office of Historic-Artistic Patrimony & Archives

Archdiocesan Museum Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. - 4 p.m., closed during
the lunch hour

223 Cathedral Place
Santa Fe, NM 87501

The mission of the Archdiocesan Archives is to collect, organize, preserve, and make available for research historical and vital records pertaining to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, as well as materials about the work of the Catholic Church within the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

The purpose of the Office of Historic-Artistic Patrimony and Archives is to preserve and promote the historical records and patrimony of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe through exhibits in the Archdiocesan Museum and by assisting the churches in the archdiocese that retain historical patrimony utilized in our churches.

The Archdiocesan Museum is open to the general public.

Hours of operation: Monday- Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Note: the Archdiocesan Museum is closed during lunch or as stated on the front door due to meetings of the Archbishop's Commission for the Preservation of Historic New Mexico Churches, Pastoral Center holidays, etc.

The Archdiocesan Archives does not provide in-house research appointments; call 505.983.3811 for assistance and information.

The forms section is at the bottom of the page. It includes forms for historical and sacramental research requests, the archdiocesan photo/film policy and application, non-film location use applications, closed parish sacramental record requests, and frequently asked questions.

The Archdiocesan Museum is open to the general public. Hours of operation are Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and closed during the lunch hour or as stated on the door due to commission meetings, etc.
 

At this time, the Archdiocesan Archives no longer provides in-house research appointments to the general public. If you need to access documents from the archives, please call 505.983.3811.

You will need to fill out the sacramental record request form, closed parish sacramental request form, or historical research form; links to the forms are at the bottom of this webpage.

Please note due to the reduction of staff in 2020, the turnaround time for requested research inquiries is between eight to ten weeks to receive a response.

Thank you for your patience!

Publications Available for Sale at the Archdiocesan Museum

The sale of the following publications is available at the archdiocesan museum:

• "Four Hundred Years of Faith, Seeds of Struggle-Harvest of Faith" (Archdiocesan Publication, $20)
• "The Lord and New Mexico" (Archdiocesan Publication, $20) 
• "Monuments of Adobe"
• "The Religious Architecture and Traditions of New Mexico," by Michael Miller, $20
• "Lamy's Legion," by Nancy Hanks, $20 
• "Reluctant Dawn," by Rev. Juan Romero, $10

Publication requests can be made via telephone or by visiting the archdiocesan museum (for shipment, an additional fee of $10.55 will be added to the purchase).

Archival Sacramental Record Search

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe's Office of Historic-Artistic Patrimony and Archives does not conduct extensive family genealogical research. Archival sacramental record searches must be within the time frame of circa 1700 to circa 1956, searches are limited to one person at a rate of $20 research fee (check or money order made payable to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe) for a two-hour search with a turn-around time of six to eight weeks.  The research fee is nonrefundable.
E-mailed archival sacramental record searches and/or credit cards are not accepted. Residents can drop off archival sacramental record search requests via curbside drop-off.
If you are seeking sacramental record information to be a sponsor for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, etc., or for Real ID certification and were born between circa 1955 to circa 2007, you will need to contact your parish directly to obtain your information.

The form to fill out is in the documents section.

Research

The Office of Historic-Artistic Patrimony and Archives and the museum is closed until further notice.   

Photograph and Filming Policy 

Professional photography and filming of archdiocesan parishes, mission churches, and archdiocesan properties for academic or commercial use are not permitted without the submission of an application for photography/filming.  Application requests must be submitted to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Office of Historic-Artistic Patrimony and Archives one month (1 month) prior to photograph/filming project date(s) and alternative dates are required. Applications are reviewed through a committee process, and production deadline dates cannot be accommodated if the project date(s) requested is the same date the applications are submitted.  Due to the demands of production companies throughout the years, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe will not expedite committee reviews for last-minute applications, and application requests are not guaranteed approval.  The $25 application fee is non-refundable. 

Applications must be submitted via regular US mail to the Archdiocese Archives, 223 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM 87501 with the required documentation and a $25 nonrefundable application fee (check or money order made payable to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe).  We do not recommend expedited mailing via priority mail, two-day air, etc. because applications are reviewed by a committee process and will not be expedited for review due to expenses incurred by the production company to expedite shipping.  Local production managers may hand deliver the completed application via curbside drop-off.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe does not accept e-mailed applications and/or credit card payments.

See the photo/film application, application form, and checklist in the documents section.

Archbishop's Commission for the Preservation of Historic New Mexico Churches

Administered by the Office of Historic-Artistic Patrimony and Archive.

The commission was established to assist historic churches within the archdiocese and communities with preservation work on their churches.  The commission should be notified for the development of preservation/maintenance projects, preservation requests and request to access churches should be submitted to Office of Historic-Artistic Patrimony and Archive, 223 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM 87505.