Father Francis M. Craft: Missionary to the Sioux

By Thomas W. Foley

Book Overview

Of all the western frontier figures who played a role in the lives of the Sioux, perhaps none was more intriguing, eccentric, or controversial than Father Francis M. Craft (1852-1920). Both fearless and compassionate, Father Craft ministered to the Sioux for two decades during the turbulent years after Sitting Bull surrendered at Fort Buford in 1881. After recovering from a severe injury at Wounded Knee in 1890, he struggled to found an Indian order of nuns and railed against government policies that, he contended, encouraged the corruption and degradation of Indians. Thomas W. Foley's well-researched and balanced account of Father Craft's fascinating life examines his key role in Sioux and missionary history, his dedication to Indian causes, and his lifelong struggle against stereotypes and prejudice, which challenged many in the church and the federal government and led to accusations of insanity from his powerful critics. Thomas W. Foley is a retired labor-personnel executive. He began transcribing Father Craft's journals in the 1960s. Following retirement in the 1990s, Foley and his wife retraced Father Craft's footsteps and conducted research in monasteries and archives from the Dakotas to Rome.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803269250
• ISBN13: 9780803269255
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Bison
• Length: 198 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An interesting spotlight on Sioux missionary work

This book, written by a ancestor the subject, details the life of Fr. Francis M. Craft, a most unusual Catholic priest. The book provides some insight into the development and politics of Catholic missionary efforts on the Standing Rock and Pine Creek reservations. Fr. Craft had a very interesting life. He went to war when he was 10; serving as a runner/messenger in the Civil War and also served as a mercenary in Europe. He tried to become a Jesuit, but could not adapt to the Jesuit discipline and eventually became a secular priest (a priest without an order). A good portion of Fr. Craft's life was devoted to mission work to the Sioux and in trying to start an order of Native American Sisters. Fr. Craft was a very unusual person---indeed there is a good argument to be made that he was insane at one point (one chapter of the book is titled "Was Father Craft Insane?"). Fr. Craft was also had problems with authority and viewed other people's actions though a fairly large lens of paranoia. All of these traits hindered rather than helped Fr. Craft in his work. But, as the book relates, there is no doubting Fr. Craft's devotion to his mission and the extreme lengths he went to help the Indians on the Standing Rock and Pine Ridge reservations. The author does a very good job at showing the politics of the time--both in the government and between the Protestants and Catholics. It is very obvious that the author has done a great deal of research on his subject---though many primary documents were destroyed after the death of the primary participants. This book is definitely worth reading if you have an interest in the missionary work to the Indians in the 19th century. It will whet your appetite for more information. Enjoy!