Richard F. Boeke Collection
Xequina Ma. Berber and Lucinda Glenn
Graduate Theological Union Archives
Graduate Theological Union
2400 Ridge Road
Berkeley, California, 94709
Phone: (510) 649-2523/2501
Email: archives@gtu.edu
URL: http://gtu.edu/library/information/special-collections
© 2008
Graduate Theological Union. All rights reserved.
Richard F. Boeke Collection
Collection number: GTU 98-2-03
Graduate Theological Union Archives
Graduate Theological Union
Berkeley, California
- Processed by:
- Xequina Ma. Berber and Lucinda Glenn
- Date Completed:
- April 2006
- Encoded by:
- David Stiver
© 2008 Graduate Theological Union. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
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.
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
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
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.
Preferred Citation
Richard F. Boeke collection, GTU 98-2-03. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.
Acquisition Information
The collection was donated by Richard Boeke in February 1998.
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 August 2013, he lives in Horsham, West Sussex, UK. He served as minister of the Unitarian Church there and is founding
Moderator of the Horsham Interfaith Forum. He is Co-Chair of the Peace Commission of the International Association for Religious
Freedom (IARF), a UK organization that promotes freedom of religion and belief at a global level.
Boeke helped found the North American chapter of the IARF. 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.
Arrangement
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.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Boeke, Richard.
Frankl, Viktor E. (Viktor Emil), 1905-1997
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.
Separated Material
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.
Box 1 : 1-5
1. Boeke Writings
1964-1990
Physical Description: 5 folders
box-folder 1 : 1
Dissertation: Pistiology: An Essay on Faith, Pacific School of Religion, D.Min.,
1982
box-folder 1 : 5
Published Writings
1964-1973
Box 1 : 6-26
2. Church correspondence
1973-1995
Physical Description: 21 folders
box-folder 1 : 6
Correspondence, General
no date
box-folder 1 : 7-25
Correspondence
1973 - 1995
box-folder 1 : 26
Correspondence, loose fragments
no date
Box 1 : 27-32, 2 : 1-28, 3 : 1-27
3. Subject Files
1978-1994
Physical Description: 60 folders
box-folder 1 : 27
Androgynous Workshop Experience
1978
box-folder 1 : 29
Awkward Ministries
1989-1991
box-folder 2 : 1
Chosen Faith Class
1990-1992
box-folder 2 : 2
College Centers
1992-1993
box-folder 2 : 3-7
Collegium Journal Publications and submissions
1970-1994
box-folder 2 : 10
Conferences and Retreat Sites
1976
box-folder 2 : 13-17
First Unitarian Church of Berkeley General
1980-1987
box-folder 2 : 18
First Unitarian Church Budget
1982-1984
box-folder 2 : 19
First Unitarian Church Correspondence
circa 1975 -1989
box-folder 2 : 20
First Unitarian Church Death
1973
box-folder 2 : 21
First Unitarian Church Music
1980-1983
box-folder 2 : 22
First Unitarian Church Music Committee Meeting
1981-1985
box-folder 2 : 23-24
First Unitarian Church Oasis
1970-1983
box-folder 3 : 4
Admiral John Marshall Lee Remarks
1983
box-folder 3 : 8
Mission Statement First Unitarian Church of Berkeley
1994
box-folder 3 : 10
Newsletters various churches
1977-1987
box-folder 3 : 11
Niwano Peace Foundation
1984
box-folder 3 : 12
Nursing Home Protection Act
1984
box-folder 3 : 17
Presbyterian Ministers Fund
1983-1984
box-folder 3 : 18
Resumes for Chaplaincy
1983
box-folder 3 : 19
Religion Politics and the Media (RPM) TV
1979
box-folder 3 : 21
Seminars and Seminarians
1992
box-folder 3 : 25
Starr King Alumni
1973-1974
box-folder 3 : 27
Third World Assembly
1980
Box 3 : 28-45, 4 : 1-31, 5 : 1-16
4. Groups and Organizations
1978-1994
Physical Description: folders
box-folder 3 : 28-31
Howard Thurman Educational Trust
1968-1992
box-folder 3 : 32-33
Uniquest (includes drawings and photos of Starr King)
1974-1990
box-folder 3 : 35
Unitarian Society Shawnee Mission
no date
box-folder 3 : 36-38
Unitarian Universalists Brochures and Pamphlets Advance
1975-1992
box-folder 3 : 39
World Citizen Assembly Committee V Tokyo
1980
box-folder 3 : 40-41
World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP)
1983-1996
box-folder 3 : 42
World Parliament of Religions
1991-1993
box-folder 3 : 43
World Religions
1992-1993
box-folder 3 : 44
World Religions Series
1982-1983
box-folder 3 : 45
World Theology for Parents
1992-1993
box-folder 4 : 1-16
International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF)
1967-1994
box-folder 4 : 21
Proceeding 27th World Congress
1990
box-folder 4 : 24-28
World Congresses
1983, 1984, 1987, 1990
box-folder 4 : 29-31
World Parliament, Japan
1990-1994
Box 5 : 1-17, GTU Slide box 4B
5. Audio-visual Materials
1978-1994
Physical Description: 19 items
box-item 5 : 1
Richard Boeke, "The Way of Elizabeth O'Connor"
11/20/1977
box-item 5 : 2
Memorial Service for Lyon Phelps, Follen Church
10/15/1983.
box-item 5 : 3
Richard Boeke at the home of Lucile Isitt , IARF (International Association for Religious Freedom) and World Community
Spring 1984
box-item 5 : 4
Wedding of B. Brandon and R. Miller, includes P.H.C. Garrison's Reunion and wedding
9/20/1986
box-item 5 : 5
Memorial Service for Howard Hauze, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Berkeley, CA
9/9/1989
box-item 5 : 6
Gangaji Satsang, San Rafael, CA
6/31/1993
box-item 5 : 7
IARF Congress Service, Japan
circa 1990-94
box-item 5 : 8
Richard Boeke in a Tokyo Bar (karaoke)
circa 1990-94
box-item 5 : 9
Workshop IARF Japan
circa 1990-94
box-item 5 : 10
Unidentified Japanese Music
no date
box-item 5 : 11
Mother's Day Service, First Unitarian Church of Berkeley, Richard Boeke Preaching
no date
box-item 5 : 13-16
Uniquest sessions conducted by Joseph Fabry to enhance the Festival of Meaning. Explaining Logotherapy and Viktor Frankl.
(Slides to accompany the tapes are found in GTU Slide Box 4/B)
1977
box-item 5 : 17
Videocassette "Tubaki Grand Shrine"
circa 1990-94
box GTU Slide Box 4/B
Slides 3810-3815, International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) meeting San Francisco CA
10/1977
box GTU Slide Box 4/B.
Slides 3816-3839 to accompany the Uniquest sessions conducted by Joseph Fabry to enhance the Festival of Meaning. Explaining
Logotherapy and Viktor Frankl. See Audio tapes 13-16.
1977