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Title: Richard F. Boeke collection
Dates: 1957-1994
Collection number: GTU 98-2-03
Creator:
Boeke, Richard
Collection Size:
4.5 linear feet (5 record cartons)
Repository: The Graduate Theological Union. Library.
Berkeley, CA 94709
Abstract: Richard F. Boeke served as minister of the First Unitarian Church of Berkeley, California, 1973-1995. During his ministry,
he was involved in the Howard Thurman Educational Trust, the International Association for Religious Freedom, and the Uniquest
Foundation among other groups and organizations.
Physical location: 5/J/6, 5/K/6
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to The Graduate Theological Union. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Graduate Theological Union
as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must
also be obtained by the reader.
Richard F. Boeke collection, GTU 98-2-03 . Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.
The collection came from Richard Boeke's home, transferred to the GTU Archives by the Archivist.
Biography / Administrative History
Richard F. Boeke was born and raised in Atlanta. After attending Georgia Tech for two years, he transferred and completed
his degree at Iowa State University, graduating in 1951. He received his Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School in 1954,
M.A. from Columbia University in 1971, and a Doctor of Ministry from the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA, in 1982.
He was ordained in the Unitarian-Universalist Church in 1955, the same year he entered the U.S. Air Force as a Chaplain. Following
this service, he served churches in Flushing, New York; Chico, California; Reno, Nevada, and St. Petersburg, Florida. He accepted
the call to First Unitarian Church of Berkeley in 1973, where he remained until 1995. As of 2008, he served as minister of
the Unitarian Church in Horsham, West Sussex, England.
Described as internationally minded, Boeke helped found the North American chapter of the International Association for Religious
Freedom (IARF), an organization based in the United Kingdom which promotes freedom of religion and belief at a global level.
He was a member of the board of trustees for the Howard Thurman Trust. He participated with Viktor Frankl in events sponsored
by the Berkeley Unitarian-Universalist Church on logotherapy. He was a founding member of the Partner Church Council, created
in 1993 to coordinate Unitarian Universalist Churches around the world after the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.
Boeke has served as secretary for the World Congress of Faiths, which works to develop better understanding, co-operation
and respect between people of different faiths.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection represents Richard Boeke's work with the churches and other religious organizations with which he was involved
between the years 1963 and 1994. The extent to which these organizations are represented in the collection varies. It contains
Boeke's dissertation on Pistiology (Pacific School of Religion, 1982) and other papers, some of his published writings (various
years), sermons (undated), poetry, handwritten journals (1988 and 1990 respectively), handwritten notes, a few of his illustrations,
and First Unitarian Church of Berkeley correspondence from the years 1973 through 1975. Other materials include several
small publications, usually relating in some way to religion and some with Boeke's writings, and various pamphlets and brochures.
The collection is divided into five series: 1. Boeke's Writings; 2. Church Correspondence; 3. Subject Files; 4. Groups
and Organizations; and 5. Audio-visual Materials.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Boeke, Richard.
First Unitarian Church (Berkeley, Calif.).
Howard Thurman Educational Trust.
International Association for Religious Freedom.
Uniquest Foundation.
Unitarian Universalist churches--California--Berkeley--Clergy.
Logotherapy.
Religious pluralism--20th century.
Dialogue--Religious aspects.
Basic Terms of Shinto: Revised Edition.Tokyo, Japan: Kokugakuin University, Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics, 1985. Transferred to GTU Library circulating
collection. Call Number: BL2216.1 I5 1985.
Kyoden: Extracts from the Threefold Lotus Sutra. Tokyo, Japan: Rissho Kosei-Kai, 1979. Transferred to GTU Library Rare Books. Call Number: BQ2052.E5 K96 1979.
Maududi, Sayyid Abul A'la,
Toward Understanding Islam. Delhi, India: Markazi Maktaba Islami, 17th edition 1993. Page tipped in to front of book: "Welcome to delegates of International
Association of Religious Freedom, Sarvadharma Sammelan 19th Aug to 22nd Aug, 1993 at Bangalore". Transferred to GTU Library
Rare Books. Call Number: BP161 M4813 1993.