Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco

The Archives of the Archdiocese San Francisco (AASF) is an office of the Chancellor and serves as the official repository for the records of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco.  The Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco exists to collect, preserve, and make available records of enduring value which pertain to the growth, development, and governance of the Archdiocese and its institutions, and to the Catholic faith experience in the counties of Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo. Furthermore, it is AASF's mission to assist researchers in their scholarly, genealogical, and other work, in an effort to cultivate a better understanding and appreciation of the history of the Archdiocese and the Catholic and local communities.

about the collections

The collections include original and unique historical materials dating from the era of the early California missions up to contemporary times. They cover significant periods of growth, expansion, and change in both the Church and the local regions. The main types of records are:  Early Records;  Chancery Records; General Correspondence;  Archbishops and Auxiliaries;  Departments of the Archdiocese; and Special Collections. 

Access to the collections is made available for historical research purposes and is governed by conditions based on Canon Law and privacy and confidentiality. 

Guides to our collections are published to the Online Archive of California, and additional ones are continually being added. 

digitized collections

Audiovisual Collection:  A selection of unique and original audiovisual materials from our Archives were digitized for their future preservation and made available for viewing online through the California State Library grant initiative, California Revealed. 

Monitor Newspaper:  The Monitor newspaper was the official publication of the Archdiocese of San Francisco from 1858 to 1984. Select issues have been digitized and made available online through the Catholic News Archive from 1871 to 1965. In addition, broken series are available for the years 1861-1888 on the Internet Archive.

sacramental records

For general information and inquiries about searching for an official copy of a sacramental record for either yourself or a family member, please contact the Tribunal Office. For information about researching historical sacramental records, please refer to the Archives' Sacramental Records and Genealogy Research Guide.

Click here to view the history of the first 150 years of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.


 

Location and Contact Information:
Saint Patrick Seminary
320 Middlefield Road
Menlo Park  CA  94025
650-328-6502
aasf@sfarch.org   
Hours:  Open for research by appointment 
Archivist:  Chris Doan, MLIS, C.A.