Bonaventure, Father, O.F.M., 1885-1967

Franciscan priest, historian and missionary, mainly to the Tohono O'Odham Indians at Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson, Arizona.

From the description of Diary and scrapbook of Mission San Xavier del Bac, 1861-1948. (University of Arizona). WorldCat record id: 41315623

His missionary work in Arizona resulted in the construction of over a dozen schools and churches on what would become known as the Papago Indian Reservation in southern Arizona. He was a member of the Committee that contributed to the formation of the reservation (1915), and he was a key advisor in both the legal battle against the Hunter Heirs in their claim to Papago Lands (1926) and in the formation of the tribal constitution (1936).

During his tenure, he gathered unique information on the Franciscan influence in Pimeria Alta, and collected censuses and other ethnological data on Indian populations. In the course of his research, he built a collection of books on the region which are now housed in the Oblasser Library at Mission San Xavier.

Father Oblasser celebrated the jubilee of his priesthood in 1958. He died in 1967 and was buried at Topawa cemetery.

Nicholas Perschl (1887-1969) was ordained a Franciscan in 1913. He spent many years at Mission San Xavier del Bac, and he worked amongst the Papago, Pima and Apache people in Arizona.

From the guide to the Papers of Bonaventure Oblasser, 1901-1977 (bulk 1908-1950), (University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections)