The Diary of Bishop Frederic Baraga: First Bishop of Marquette, Michigan

The diary of Frederic Baraga, Bishop of Upper Michigan. In 1831 Father Frederic Baraga came to this country from his native Slovenia, to bring Christianity to the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of the Old Northwest. Twenty years later, when Baraga first heard that the might be named Bishop of Upper Michigan, he began to keep a
daybook
or diary. Baraga wrote primarily in German, though he freely interspersed six other languages - Latin, English, French, Slovene, Chippewa, and Italian. Intended as a private document, the diary contains a log of Baraga’s missionary journeys, his observations about daily weather conditions, ship movement on the lakes, and a running account of the various works the accomplished. Between the lines of the usually concise entries, however, are clues to Baraga’s zeal, dedication, and generosity. His diary is testimony to the spiritual values that motivated him in spite of the hardships he endured and the distances he traveled. In light of the heroic renown surrounding him, it is fitting that in his own words and activities, Baraga reminds the reader that real dedication is found in everyday events. An introductory biography of Baraga, lengthy passages from his letters, vignettes about persons in the text and a comprehensive bibliography supplement the diary to yield an in-depth portrait of mid-nineteenth century life in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.