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Young boy flanked by two girls who are wearing dresses and veils, standing in front of alter. Behind them is Rev. Sinner flanked by two unidentified nuns., Gelatin silver prints, 10 x 13 cm., "Rev. Dick Sinner, Nage, son of Chuck; Cumber, dau. of Bob; Kimberley Connery on left" - Handwritten on back of print., Title supplied by staff. Photographer unknown.

View of the boys and girls in First Communion class at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Williston, N.D. The children are dressed up, some wearing suits or dresses and veils. All of the children are standing on the front steps and the doors are behind them., Film negatives, 21 x 26 cm., "Outside View, Inside Nurses, 8 x 10 negs; Old Mercy Hospital on Washington Ave. by Pasonault" -- Handwritten on envelope holding negatives. "First Communion Class Aug 30, 31. St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Williston, N.D. Pasonault Photo." -- Handwritten on negatives., Title created by staff., William E. "Bill" Shemorry was a native of Williston, N.D. who began work in the newspaper industry as a newsboy selling the Williston Herald and the Williams County Farmers Press. In 1953, he started to publish the Williston Plains Reporter, which he operated for 25 years before selling to the Williston Herald. Shemorry then began to concentrate on his own writing and photography. In addition to writing many books on the history of Williams County, he also collected photographs of early North Dakota photographers. Shemorry was an active member of the Williston Fire Department, was Civil Defense Chief of Williams County for three years in the 1950's, and was a combat photographer in World War II. Shemorry's photograph of the discovery of oil in North Dakota on April 4, 1951 at the Clarence Iverson No. 1 is one of the most famous oil photographs ever taken, and was published in many national publications.

Girls taking their first communion in Fort Yates pose outside a wooden building wearing white dresses and veils. Many of the girls hold rosaries, books, and other items. None of the girls are identified.

Irene Zahn wears a white dress and veil, likely for her first communion in this hand colored portrait.

The Catholic Church has gathered its first communion participants for a group portrait on the church steps., This image is a preservation copy made from an unstable original nitrate negative.

The priests gather around the altar during the first holy communion celebration at the Brazil Catholic Church. Father Bauer was the official celebrant of the mass., This image is a preservation copy made from an unstable original nitrate negative.