The Frank J. Richard papers contain files and documents relating to Richard family history gathered as research for Les Richard et d'Autres.  Some other research materials included are information about St. Benedict's Parish in Wild Rice, North Dakota and St. Mary's Cathedral Parish in Fargo, North Dakota.  There are also six folders of French-Canadian documents dating from 1758 to 1875, retained in Richard's original order.  Ten photographs found in the collection have been processed as Photograph collection 2074. The collection is organized into three series: Genealogical and Cass County Local History Research Series, Richard Family History Series, and Ouellette Family History Series.

The Genealogical and Cass County Local History Research Series contains a research binder about Wild Rice, North Dakota, which consists of information Frank Richard collected about Wild Rice, notes, and additional information about Richard family members who settled near Wild Rice.  There are also three research binders about the Holy Cross Parish in Fargo consisting of correspondence concerning Richard family priests who had served in the parish and photocopies of Diocese of Fargo articles and information.  There are several drafts of St. Mary's Cathedral Parish Centennial, 1880-1980 and Parish of St. Benedict, Wild Rice, N.D.   There is also a copy of Julie by Rita Richard which is a fictionalized account of the life of a woman who spent some of her childhood years in North Dakota, and a research binder about Father John Lalande which contains an obituary, biography and other information, much of which is in French.  The St. Benedict Catholic Church file contains a photocopy of its church records to include baptisms, marriages and deaths from 1880 to 1900.  For baptisms there is an index at the front of the volume.

The Richard Family History Series has five subseries: Richard Family Priests, Genealogical Research, French-Canadian Documents, Alex Richard, and Les Richard et d'Autres.

The Richard Family Priests Subseries files consist of bound volumes of research material as maintained by Frank Richard.  Each volume contains correspondence, church records, and biographical information about a Richard Family priest who served different parishes throughout the United States and Canada.

The Genealogical Research Subseries files consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, several of the bound volumes of research material relating to the genealogy of the Richard Family, and genealogy charts.

The French-Canadian Document Subseries files consist of six folders of documents in French maintained in the order they were received.  The majority of these documents are land deeds and contracts, but also included are papers dealing with an adoption, and a family will.  None of these documents are translated.

The Alex Richard Subseries files consist of papers related to the estate of Alex Richard and land documents of the Alex Richard family.  Also included is a copy of the Alex Richard section of Les Richard et d'Autreswith handwritten notes.  Alex Richard was the paternal grandfather of Frank Richard.

The Les Richard et d'Autres Subseries files include several rough drafts of the manuscript and a partial index to Richard ancestry.  Also included is an unbound copy Des Richard de Partout.  The latter is apparently an index of all Richard ancestors arranged by first name and name of father which then gives the family page number in Des Richard de Partout. 

The Ouellette Family History Series consists of two bound research volumes containing correspondence and biographical information on Ouellette genealogy and one folder of information from the Association des families Ouellette.  Ouellette was the maiden name of Frank Richard's mother, Helene Ouellette Richard. 
 

Frank Richard Papers  |  Local and Ethnic History