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Father Agnellus Lammert Pictorial Collection

 Collection
Identifier: PICT-2002-001

Scope and Content

Father Lammert documented his restoration projects with photographs of the Laguna and Acoma peoples at work. This collection contains photographs of three of the churches, St. Anne's, Santa Maria de Acoma and St. Mary Margaret Chapel. There are photographs of church construction, church interiors, church models, religious processions and ceremonies, Native Americans and priests as well as unidentified individuals.

The collection contains one folder of documents, including Carol Sullivan's essays on Father Lammert, history of San Fidel, correspondence, and descriptions of some of the photographs.

Video consists of commercial productions such as cartoons, Charlie Chaplin film, rodeo footage and a Bethlehem and Gethsemane short which were probably shown to the children of the parish for entertainment. All of the films are in black and white except for the last scene of a priest standing in front of a church. Film originally in 16mm format cover various topics such as W. R. Willis documenting the search for the site of the Transcontinental Air Transport plane crash in 1929 on Mt. Taylor (NM), films of a Navajo woman weaving, dances, California missions, priests and school children in Gallup (NM), and various shots of Mesa Verde including one of a tour group.

Box 2 contains twelve zinc halftone blocks with images of churches, priests, ceremonies and Native Americans.

An unprocessed 2019 edition includes five 16 mm films labeled "McCarthy's Santa Maria Mission," "St. Margaret Mary Paraje," "Acomita," "Old Laguna," and one unlabeled canister. This material is unavailable until reformatting is complete. Please contact Pictorial Archivist for more information.

Dates

  • 1917-1983
  • Majority of material found within 1928-1942

Creator

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research. Contact the Pictorial Archivist in advance to view zinc halftone blocks, or for inquiries about the 16 mm films.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of print and photographic material allowed for research purposes. Moving images may not be duplicated. User is responsible for all copyright compliance. For more information see the Photographs and Images Research Guide and contact the Pictorial Archivist.

Biography

In 1981, Carol Sullivan worked on a New Mexico Humanities Council sponsored project on early Grants, San Fidel, and San Rafael. While looking for photographs she met with Fathers Gerard Geire and Kenneth Robertson at the San Fidel church to look through Father Agnellus Lammert's collection. There she found photographs, films, documents, and zinc half tone blocks.

Agnellus Lammert was born on March 2, 1900 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended St. John Parochial School and St. Francis Seminary and was ordained on June 16, 1927. He served in Louisville, Kentucky and Lafayette, Indiana before being assigned to the San Fidel Missions in New Mexico. In February 1932, he arrived at the San Fidel parish, which includes Acoma and Laguna Pueblos.

Lammert oversaw construction and restoration of four churches, St. Mary Margaret Chapel in Paraje in 1935, Sacred Heart Chapel at Mesita in 1936, St. Anne at Acomita in 1940 and Santa Maria de Acoma at McCartys in 1933. He documented his projects with photographs of the Laguna and Acoma peoples at work on the buildings.

He died in September 1952 and is buried near the San Jose Mission Church on the Laguna Pueblo.

Sources: The Calmut, Winter issue, February, 1940, p.4 "Work of the Marquette League Among the Acoma and Laguna Indian Missions of New Mexico" The Calmut, November 1949, p. 12-13 "Sesqui-Bi-Centennial San Jose Mission" Devolder, Arthur L. Santa Maria Mission at McCartys, NM: (Santa Maria de Acoma) Albuquerque, N.M.: Arthur L. DeVolder, c. 1996 New Mexico Register, Supplement, June 17, 1955, p. 29 "Gallup Cathedral Dedication"

Extent

142 items (2 boxes, plus unprocessed items) : 123 prints, 2 DVDs, documents, 12 zinc halftone blocks, and 5 unprocessed 16 mm films

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection primarily contains photographs of church construction, church interiors, church models, religious processions and ceremonies in New Mexico. Video includes images of the 1929 plane crash on Mt. Taylor, New Mexico, California missions, priests and school children in Gallup, New Mexico. Also included are zinc halftone blocks.

Physical Location

B2. Shelved by Pictorial Number.

Father Lammert Photographs Online

Photographs from this collection are available online via New Mexico's Digital Collections.

Related Material

John Gaw Meem Papers, Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico. In 1949 Father Lammert corresponded with John Gaw Meem about problems with roof and beams in the Church of Acoma.

John Gaw Meem Job Files, Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico In the 1930s Farther Lammert corresponded with John Gaw Meem about the Laguna Church (job #248), the design for the façade of the Church at Mesita, New Mexico and Meem's corbel design for the chapel at Paraje.

Separated Material

Original 16mm film, DVCPro tape and master DVD stored in B3.

Processing Information

VHS videotape and 16mm films were reformatted to DVD in spring 2009.

The 16 mm films received in 2019 are unavailable until reformatting is complete.
Title
Finding Aid of the Father Agnellus Lammert Pictorial Collection, 1917-1983
Status
Edited Full Draft
Author
Kari Schleher and T.S. Reinig
Date
© 2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451