Puerto Rico Digitized Church Books
Over the years, I have published plenty of Puerto Rico digitized church books available for review online. Readers tend to have repetitive questions as they seek more information on the collection. Therefore posting repetitive questions that flood posts on social media.
These repetitive questions lead to experienced researchers, myself included, avoid responding. Hence, we realize that what people want is access to Puerto Rico digitized church books.
Adding to the complexity, responding tends to lead to others asking the same questions but for different towns. What I call the “what about me” questions. Realizing that many are novice researchers this article is for you. We fully understand that you want to become full-time experienced genealogists and the family historian. We are here to help.
Novice researchers have many questions and it usually begins with wanting to know where to locate Puerto Rico digitized church books. All things considered, it turns out that people do not know where to locate those church books or know if they exist. Hence, this is why I created this website; a genealogical resource of information for the Caribbean.
Explaining Things Goes A Long Way…
Explaining how things work helps novice researchers save time. Consequently, understanding history, including recent history, is a critical part of achieving your goal.
It goes without saying that building a family tree is a never-ending lifetime quest. This lifetime quest will lead to sharing many discoveries with family members over the coming years.
Breaking Down Puerto Rico Digitized Church Records
To breakdown where to find Puerto Rico digitized church books, we will work with a map of Puerto Rico. The map will help with knowing where books are located and if a digitized version exists. Finally, it helps with providing a visual of where else to look.
Now, let’s start by defining what each letter on the map means.
- M is for the Mayagüez Archdiocese in Gold
- A is for the Arecibo Archdiocese in Green
- P is for the Ponce Archdiocese in Red
- S is for the San Juan Archdiocese in Dark Blue
- C is for the Caguas Archdiocese in Orange
- F is for the Fajardo-Humacao Archdiocese in Light Blue
Next is to discuss towns that each archdiocese oversees. We will also cover how to locate the books for each archdiocese and identify if digitized.
A Little History of the LDS Involvement with Digitized Church Books…
Puerto Rico church books are missing due to weather conditions, insects, fires, floods, or invasions. Hence, church books prior to 1643 no longer exist. This where the LDS involvement steps into the picture.
The LDS church, which is into globally preserving records, is doing so to assist their own members. Being able to trace your family ancestry is part of their religion. What includes baptizing members’ ancestors into the religion. For this reason, the LDS church maintains a massive amount of records from across the globe. This is where the relationship between the LDS and many of the global archives, including churches, began.
In the 1980s, the LDS reached out to the Archivo Histórico Arquidiocesano in San Juan; a part of the Roman Catholic Church. Straightaway, the LDS offered the Archivo to film the books they had in their possession. Since the Archivo was looking for a solution, they made an agreement with the LDS to help preserve the books.
Photos taken of the books were then placed on microfiche film. Thus, allowing members and anyone visiting their Family History Centers with access to the content.
In conclusion, the LDS members began baptizing individuals in the books into their religion, which caused friction with the churches and the Vatican. When the Vatican realized what was occurring, access to the books was denied globally for the LDS and thereby blocking many genealogists.567
In conclusion, take a look at the articles in the reference section to read more on the issue.
Mayagüez Archdiocese Church Records
So interestingly enough, we will start with the Mayagüez Archdiocese, whose church records are not available online. The Mayagüez Archdiocese, established in 1976, covers 14 municipalities in the eastern region of the island. Therefore, these 14 municipalities were initially part of the archdioceses in Arecibo and Ponce.
The Arecibo Archdiocese transferred the towns of Aguada, Aguadilla, Moca, Ricón, and San Sebastián. Then Ponce transferred over Mayagüez, Hormigueros, Cabo Rojo, Añasco, Lajas, Las Marías, San Germán, Maricao, and Sabana Grande. Last, there are a total of 25 churches that are part of the 14 municipalities.1
The churches that were once a part of Arecibo Archdiocese never had the books filmed. In fact, the only exception was Aguadilla. The Archivo did have a limited number of Aguadilla church books. For this reason, many have noticed a limited number of their books online.
In fact, a limited number of Aguada‘s books are transcribed and are available through PReb. To obtain access to these, visit Aguada’s page.
The remaining churches that came from the Ponce Archdiocese, their church books were not filmed. However, transcribed books for Cabo Rojo are available through the SPG as well as published books found on Amazon. In order to access Cabo Rojo transcribed files at the SPG, you must be a member of the society.
Currently, the Mayagüez Archdiocese is not permitting anyone to access their books. By the same token, it does not hurt to ask permission to view them in person. Finally, I do provide other resources for many of these towns. Browse the website as there are census, newspapers, and other types of records available.
Arecibo Archdiocese Church Records
The Arecibo Archdiocese consists of 60 churches covering the 16 towns2. The towns are Arecibo, Barceloneta, Camuy, Ciales, Corozal, Florida, Hatillo, Isabela, Lares, Manatí, Morovis, Orocovis, Quebradillas, Utuado, Vega Alta, and Vega Baja.
Like the Mayagüez Archdiocese, Arecibo records are not digitized. In order to review these books, you would have to reach out to the church in Puerto Rico and find out how records can be accessed. Hence, do not be surprised if your request to review the records is denied for the reasons mentioned above.
So the great news, which I leave for last, is that there are two books available for purchase. Note that they are available while supplies last. The SPG has published two books containing transcribed records. One for Hatillo. And one for Utuado. The available books are as follows:
- Hatillo Book 1 of Marriages of Whites for 1830 to 1846
- Utuado Book 3 of Baptisms for 1792 to 1804
Ponce Archdiocese Church Records
The Ponce Archdiocese oversees 15 towns with 43 parishes across the southern portion of Puerto Rico. At the present time, the towns are Adjuntas, Jayuya, Guánica, Guayanilla, Yauco, Peñuelas, Ponce, Juana Díaz, Coamo, Santa Isabel, Salinas, Guayama, Arroyo, Patillas, and Villalba3.
The great news is that all of these towns were filmed and digitized. Unfortunately, many books are missing but potentially may exist in Puerto Rico. I have added links to the names above that will lead you to the page within the website with church record links.
San Juan Archdiocese Church Records
The Archdiocese of San Juan covers 9 towns with 143 parishes4. The towns are Dorado, Cataño, Carolina, Bayamón, San Juan, Toa Baja, Toa Alta, and Trujillo Alto. If fact, while it has the least number of towns, it has the most parishes of all archdioceses on the island.
All of the towns under this archdiocese were filmed and digitized. For the most part, many books are missing. There are zero church records from the 1500s and very little for the 1600s for San Juan. Thus anyone who has looked viewed the 1600s wedding records can attest to the deterioration.
When it comes to types of books, there are plenty. Eventually, you will realize the type of books available. For example, is San Juan church books, many in the military have their own books. In addition, the books are broken down by regiments. You will locate ancestors from other parts of Puerto Rico in the San Juan books.
Caguas Archdiocese Church Records
Caguas Archdiocese covers 14 towns and 34 parishes. The towns within this archdiocese are Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Barraniquitas, Caguas, Cayey, Cidra, Comerío, Gurabo, Juncos, Las Piedras, Maunabo, Naranjito, San Lorenzo and Yabucoa.
There are many books that are missing but potentially exist. Researchers can locate this content by visiting Caguas’ archives. Finally, members from the genealogy community have been transcribing many of these books. You should find links on the pages above or by visiting www.hijosdecoamo.com.
Fajardo – Humacao Archdiocese Church Records
The Fajardo – Humacao Archdiocese covers 10 towns with 22 parishes. The towns under their jurisdiction are Loíza, Canóvanas, Río Grande, Luqillo, Fajardo, Ceiba, Naguabo, Humacao, Culebra, and Vieques.
Just like in other regions, there are many missing books in this collection. Some like in Loíza are permanently gone. Like in Caguas, members of the genealogy community have transcribed many books and continue to do so. I will make those available as I am notified.
Lastly, the only town that has no books for Canóvanas. I recommend that you read up on history as it will assist you in knowing where to look.
Conclusion
While I recognize that this post is lengthy, the idea is constantly come back and read sections as individuals touch a region of the island. This article is to help people longterm and not just for immediate read and never come back. Please leave feedback below and advise if this helped and it it didn’t then please point out information you would like to see.
References
- Diócesis de Mayagüez. (2015, November 29). Patrones de las Parroquias. Retrieved from Diócesis de Mayagüez: http://www.diocesisdemayaguez.org/index.php/oracion-y-liturgia/patrones-de-las-parroquias
- GCatholic. (2010, September 24). Diócese of Arecibo. Retrieved from GCatholic: http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/local/arec0.htm
- Diócesis de Ponce. (2020, September 9). Diócese de Ponce. Retrieved from Diócesis de Ponce: http://www.diocesisdeponce.org/
- GCatholic. (2010, September 24). Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico. Retrieved from GCatholic: http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/zjua1.htm
- Archdiocese of Baltimore. (19 January 2012). Vatican letter directs bishops to keep parish records from Mormons. Retrieved from Archdiocese of Baltimore: https://www.archbalt.org/vatican-letter-directs-bishops-to-keep-parish-records-from-mormons
- The Salt Lake Tribune. (19 May 2008). Keeping LDS from Catholic records irks genealogists. Retrieved from: The Salt Lake Tribune: https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=9287224&itype=NGPSID
- Reuters. (8 May 2008). Catholic-Mormon tension over LDS baptism of the dead. Retrieved from: Reuters: http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2008/05/08/catholic-mormon-tension-over-lds-baptism-of-the-dead
Hi Anna. Thanks for the explanation. Very good information as always.
One correction to your post. The Hatillo Book 1 that the SPG has for sale is for marriages, not baptism.
Hi Thank you so much! I just updated it! And thank you for the feedback!