Guide to the Professor Robert J. Theodoratus papers
Finding Aid produced by Sayre Borden.
California State University, Sacramento Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections and University Archives
February 6, 2023
University Library
2000 State University Drive
Sacramento, CA 95819-6039
Business Number: 916-278-6144
Fax Number: 916-278-4887
lib-scua@csus.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University, Sacramento Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Theodoratus (Professor Robert J.) papers
Identifier/Call Number: TSAK 2020/03
Physical Description:
1.75 Linear Feet
(1 record carton, 1 manuscript box)
Date (inclusive): 1924-2015
Date (bulk): 1950-1980
Abstract: Contains files pertaining to Robert J. Theodoratus' time as a professor of anthropology at Colorado State University. The
majority of the collection focuses on his studies of Father Stephanos Phoutrides. Files include personal notebooks, correspondence,
paper drafts, research material, and cassette tapes. Materials are in English and Modern Greek. 1924-2015
Condition Description: Good
Language of Material:
English
, Greek, Modern (1453-)
.
Scope and Contents
Collection consists of archival material from Prof. Robert J. Theodoratus' tenure as a professor of anthropology at Colorado
State University. The collection's primary focus is on Father Stephanos Phoutrides, with smaller focuses on the Greek community
of Tacoma, Washington and Greek cuisine and foodways. The collection consists of 1.75 linear feet (1 record carton, 1 manuscript
carton) of personal notebooks, correspondence, paper drafts, research material, and cassette tapes. The languages of the collection
are English and Modern Greek. The dates of this collection range from 1924-2015 and reflect the Greek experience in the United
States during the mid-20th century.
Several subject areas are represented within the collection. Greek Cuisine (Series 1) contains information on Greek culinary
activity in the United States. The collection also includes information regarding the Greek community and Greek Orthodox Church
in Tacoma, Washington (Series 2). This series contains information on different churches as well as field notes for research
on Father Stephanos Phoutrides. The series on Father Stephanos Phoutrides (Series 3) contains detailed interview notes, correspondence,
research files, and more pertaining to his life to be used in a publication planned by Prof. Theodoratus. Audio/visual material
(Series 4) contains cassette tapes of oral interviews with family and friends of Father Phoutrides in 1976. There is also
a recording of an Easter Sunday Service conducted by Father Phoutrides in 1944.
Books from Theodoratus' library have been cataloged and are avaialable outside of these papers.
This collection is part of the Tsakopoulos Hellenic Collection within the Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University
Archives.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to research. Some restrictions may apply.
Accruals
No accruals are expected.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, Chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. Requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce
from collections must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives.
Permission for publication is given on the behalf of the Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives,
as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained
by the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item including date], [Folder Title], TSAK 2020/03, Professor Robert J. Theodoratus Collection, Donald
& Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives, California State University, Sacramento.
Biographical / Historical
Professor Robert James Theodoratus (1928-2019) lived a life dedicated to his work and community. Born into a mixed family
of English and Greek ancestry, Robert liked to compare his heritage to the growth of America. In 1961, he earned a Ph.D. in
anthropology from the University of Washington with a dissertation on the Greeks of Tacoma, Washington, entitled "The Influence
of the Homeland on the Social Organization of a Greek Community in America". During his time as a doctoral student Robert
met Kathleen Uribe (1934- 2021), an activist from Sacramento with similar interests in anthropology. They married on August
11th, 1962 and had three children together: Sarah, Mia, and Demetri. He began teaching anthropology at Colorado State University
in 1966 and would remain there until his retirement in 1998. During his tenure at Colorado State University, Robert served
as a general editor of the series
Immigrant Communities & Ethnic Minorities in the United States and Canada, published by AMS Press, which emphasized the power that small ethnic communities have to effect social change. He also authored
multiple publications including "Europe: A Selected Ethnographic Bibliography" (1969) and "A Greek Community in America: Tacoma
Washington" (1971). Robert also spent time conducting research for a publication on Stephanos Phoutrides (1891-1946), a priest
in the Greek Orthodox Church considered controversial in his time but now seen as pioneering. Robert was also interested in
Greek cuisine and foodways and how immigrant culinary practices changed upon living in the US. Robert passed away on August
22nd, 2019.
Robert James Theodoratus Obituary: https://www.goesfuneralcare.com/obituaries/Robert-Theodoratus/#!/Obituary
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Professor Robert J. Theodoratus Collection was donated in 2020.
Related Materials
Tsakopoulos Hellenic Collection
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Greek Americans
Cooking, Greek; Food habits—Greece; Food habits—United States
Orthodox Eastern Church—Washington (State)—Tacoma
Washington (State)—Tacoma
Series 1. Greek Cuisine
1977-1984
Scope and Contents
This series consists of information regarding Greek cuisine in America. Prof. Theodoratus spent considerable time researching
the difference in Greek food between Greece and the United States. Series contains letters and publications regarding the
Greek American culinary experience. Subjects include Greek Cuisine and the Greek Orthodox Church. The series is arranged in
chronological and alphabetical order. 1977-1984
box 1, folder 1
Mary Katotaki Letter
1977
box 1, folder 2
Classical New Greek Cookbook
1982
box 1, folder 3
Ladies Philoptochos Society Letter
1984
box 1, folder 4
Greek Immigrant Cuisine in America: Continuity and Change book
Series 2. Tacoma Washington
1926-1990
Scope and Contents
This series contains information about the Greek community and Greek Orthodox Church in Tacoma, Washington. Materials within
this series includes community histories, field notes, photographs, and interviews. Subjects include Greek Orthodox Church
and Tacoma, Washington. This series is arranged in chronological and alphabetical order. 1926-1990
box 1, folder 5
Greek Quotes from Books
1926-1958
box 1, folder 6
Newspaper/Interviews
1931-1940
box 1, folder 8
Tacoma- Greek Fieldwork
1959-1961
box 1, folder 9
St. Nectarios American Orthodox Church
1968-1969
box 1, folder 10
Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption Photograph
1977
box 1, folder 11
Coffee House F-L, Tacoma
1990
box 1, folder 12
Glimpses of the History of the Tacoma Greek Community
box 1, folder 13
Greek- American Folklore Tacoma
Series 3. Father Stephanos Phoutrides
1924-1976
Scope and Contents
This series consists of material related to Stephanos Phoutrides, a controversial, yet pioneering priest within the Greek
Orthodox Church. Materials within this series include correspondence, interviews, and field notes. Subjects include Greek
Orthodox Church and Father Stephanos Phoutrides. This series is arranged in chronological and alphabetical order. 1924-1976
box 1, folder 15
Washington Hellenic Review Phoutrides Data
1924
box 1, folder 16
Washington Hellenic Review AHEPA Mentor Notes
1927-1976
box 1, folder 17
Greek Archdiocese of North and South America
1935
box 1, folder 18
Greek Community of St. Demetrius [St. Demetrios]
1935
box 1, folder 19
Notecards/ Notebook
1935-1959
box 1, folder 20
Greek Community of Seattle of St. Demetrius [St. Demetrios]
1936-1939
box 1, folder 21
Vaduva, Ofelia- Romania
1940-1977
box 1, folder 22
Athens College Newsletter
1959
box 1, folder 28
Effie Wells + Clara Nicon on Fa [Fr] Phoutrides
1976
box 1, folder 29
George Chakos: on Fa [Fr] Phoutrides: Seattle
1976
box 1, folder 30
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Letter
1976
box 1, folder 32
Interview of Aspasia Pulakis
1976
box 1, folder 33
Interview with Mrs. Diafos
1976
box 1, folder 34
Interview with Mrs. Lucas
1976
box 1, folder 35
Judge Evans Manolides
1976-2015
box 1, folder 36
Judge Evans Manolides Interview
1976
box 1, folder 38
Mrs. Apostolou (Folder 2)
1976
box 1, folder 42
Nick Carras Interview
1976
box 1, folder 43
Nick Carras- Our Father Interview
1976
box 1, folder 46
The Greek Immigrant in Small Towns
Series 4. Cassette Tapes
1944-1976
Scope and Contents
This series consists of cassette tapes which contain oral interviews with family and friends of Father Phoutrides. Also, within
this series is a recording of an Easter Sunday sermon given by Phoutrides. Subjects within this series include Father Stephanos
Phoutrides and the Greek Orthodox Church. The series is arranged in a chronological and alphabetical order. 1944-1976
box 2, cassette 1
Fr St. Phoutrides Easter Service 16 April 1944
1944
box 2, cassette 2
Aspasia Pulakis (Da[ughter] of Fa [Fr] Phoutrides) Seattle 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 3
Aspasia Pulakis (Da[ughter ] of Fr Phoutrides) 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 4
Aspasia Pulakis on Fr Phoutrides July 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 5
Effie Wells + Clara Nocon on Fa Phoutrides 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 6
(Judge) Evan[s] Manolides on Fa Phoutrides Seattle July 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 7
From Class Notebook- comments from Yale Class Notebook (When a student there 1910's)
box 2, cassette 8
Gus Zarkades on Fa Phoutrides + Assumption Church July 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 9
Kik Delaurenti on Fa Phoutrides 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 10
Mr. Chilaos July 19 on Fa Phoutrides
box 2, cassette 11
Mrs. C. Phoutrides - Fa. St. Phoutrides as a person, early life + family members 13 July 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 12
Mrs. Diafos July 27 1976 on Fa Phoutrides Seattle
1976
box 2, cassette 13
Mrs. Lucas on Fa Phoutrides 27 July 1976 Seattle
1976
box 2, cassette 14
Mrs. Moresis on Fa Phoutrides Seattle 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 15
Mrs. Phoutrides Friday July 16
box 2, cassette 16
Mrs. Phoutrides #6 14 July 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 17
Mrs. Phoutrides Sunday Correspondence Portland, July1976
1976
box 2, cassette 18
Mrs. Wells + Mrs. Nicon on Fa Phoutrides Seattle 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 19
Nick Carras- Fr Phoutrides etc 23 July 1976 Seattle
1976
box 2, cassette 20
[Unnamed tape] #4 14 July 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 21
[Unnamed tape] #5 14 July 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 22
Tape #1 July 13, 1976 - Early recollections, person dove (?)
1976
box 2, cassette 23
Mrs. Phoutrides #7 July 16-76
1976
box 2, cassette 24
Mrs. Phoutrides comments on letter July 16-17, 1976
1976
box 2, cassette 26
Mrs. Theodor Raptor (Raptabes) 1920-33 Seattle as a child with Fa Phoutrides
