Prior to 1900 the largest religious group in New Mexico was the Roman Catholic Church. Other churches represented in New Mexico include the Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Christian.

The Family History Library has an extensive collection of Roman Catholic Church records from 1694 to 1957 for the areas served by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and the Diocese of Las Cruces.

From 1678 to 1869 the Catholic Church investigated the blood relationship of couples before they were allowed to marry. Some genealogical information in the records of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe has been extracted and published in Angelico Chavez, New Mexico Roots LTD: A Demographic Perspective from Genealogical, Historical, and Geographical Data Found in the Diligencias Matrimoniales or Pre-nuptial Investigations (1678-1869), 11 vols. (N.p., 1982; FHL book 978.9 D2ca; fiche 6051367). This source lists the names of the bride and groom, the date of marriage, and the parents' names.

Several histories of the Catholic missions and of early churchmen have been published, such as Francisco A. Dominquez, The Missions of New Mexico, 1776 (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1956; FHL book 978.9 K2d).

You can write to the following addresses for further information about Roman Catholic records:

Archdiocese of Santa Fe
4000 St. Joseph Place N.W.
Albuquerque, NM 87120
Telephone: 505-831-8100
Fax: 505-831-8345

Diocese of Gallup
711 S. Puerco Dr.
Gallup, NM 87301
Telephone: 505-863-4406
Fax: 505-722-9131

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1338
Gallup, NM 87301

Diocese of Las Cruces
1280 Med Park
Las Cruces, NM 88004
Telephone: 505-523-7577
Fax: 505-524-3874

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 16318
Las Cruces, NM 88004

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COURT RECORDS