George J. Mehok Photograph Collection

Collection

Identifier: Photo 2067

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The George J. Mehok Photograph Collection is divided into three series: Mehok Family, Subject Files and Albums. The Mehok Family Series includes early family photographs of the Mehoks, some taken in 1937 in Dresden N.D. when George Jr. was ordained. The series contains images of George Sr., Teresa, George Jr., William, and Charles Mehok. There are also formal portraits of George Jr. and William. The Subject Files include photographs of George Jr.’s friends and colleagues, a portrait of Bishop William Mulloy, and photographs of Mehok’s trip to Israel, Rome, and Egypt in 1952. Also included are postcards from Hope, N.D., Dresden, N.D., and Wahpeton, N.D. depicting an early baseball game in Hope, the historical Catholic Church in Dresden, and a fire in Wahpeton. There are also several photographs of the January 1946 blizzard in Hope and Sacred Heart Academy in Fargo. The Album Series includes four albums. The 50th Jubilee album contains color photographs of Father George Mehok’s anniversary and retirement in Wahpeton, N.D. in 1987, as well as of a golf tournament. The album also has a photograph of Fargo Diocese Bishop Sullivan. The Mehok album has early images of George’s years at Nazareth Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota; the 25th Anniversary album documents Father Mehok’s silver anniversary in the ministry at Wahpeton, N.D. The family snapshots album includes photographs from 1938 to the mid-1940s. The snapshots are of Mehok’s parents, brothers, friends, and colleagues.

Dates

1930-1987

Creator

Mehok, George J., 1912-1994. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection remain with creators.

Biography

Father George John Mehok Jr. was born on April 16, 1912 in Dresden, North Dakota to Teresa and George Mehok. His parents were born in Czechoslovakia and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s. Father Mehok was the oldest of three sons, all of whom went into the ministry. His brothers, William and Charles, became members of the Jesuit order. Father Mehok attended school in Dresden and Langdon North Dakota and graduated from high school in 1931 from Nazareth Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota. After graduation, he attended St. Paul Seminary from 1931 to 1937 and later pursued an advanced degree in history at Notre Dame and Columbia University in New York. On May 22, 1937, Father Mehok was ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fargo, N.D., by Aloisius Cardinal Muench. The next day he offered his first mass in his hometown of Dresden, N.D. Following ordination, Father Mehok served at the St. Anthony of Padua, Fargo congregation from 1937 to 1938 and St. Mary’s Cathedral from 1938 to 1941. While serving the two Fargo congregations, he also taught courses at the Sacred Heart Academy (now known as Shanley High School). From 1941 to 1948 he served as pastor for St. Agatha’s Church in Hope, N.D., and Sacred Heart, the mission church in Aneta, N.D. Father Mehok ended his career at St. John’s in Wahpeton, N.D. where he served for 39 years (1948-1987). In addition to his pastoral appointments, Reverend Mehok was Assistant Editor for The Catholic Action News from 1938 to 1951. After his retirement in 1987, he moved to Fargo, N.D. George Mehok died on May 28, 1994, in Fargo.