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.
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

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 : 2-3

Journals 1988-1990

box-folder 1 : 4

Papers 1966-1973

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 : 28

Asilomar 1991

box-folder 1 : 29

Awkward Ministries 1989-1991

box-folder 1 : 30

Brown, Dwight Paper 1965

box-folder 1 : 31-32

China Files 1989-1994

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 : 11

Creative Initiative 1984

box-folder 2 : 12

Dalai Lama Visit 1994

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 2 : 25

Foundations 1992

box-folder 2 : 26

Hindu 1992

box-folder 2 : 27-28

Japan 1988-1993

box-folder 3 : 1

Sam Keen no date

box-folder 3 : 2

Lawrence Lectures 1983

box-folder 3 : 3

Lectures 1973-1975

box-folder 3 : 4

Admiral John Marshall Lee Remarks 1983

box-folder 3 : 5

Logotherapy 1984

box-folder 3 : 6

Meditations 1981-1991

box-folder 3 : 7

Meetings 1983-1984

box-folder 3 : 8

Mission Statement First Unitarian Church of Berkeley 1994

box-folder 3 : 9

New Theology Series 1978

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 : 13

Pamphlets 1973-1983

box-folder 3 : 14

Plays 1985

box-folder 3 : 16

Poetry 1973-1974

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 : 20

Retreats 1987-1994

box-folder 3 : 21

Seminars and Seminarians 1992

box-folder 3 : 0

Sermons 1957-1976

box-folder 3 : 25

Starr King Alumni 1973-1974

box-folder 3 : 26

TV Occupations 1983

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 : 34

Unisoul Institute 1974

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 : 17

Commission II 1980

box-folder 4 : 18

Commission III 1980-1987

box-folder 4 : 19

Correspondence 1980-1986

box-folder 4 : 20

Newsletters 1977

box-folder 4 : 21

Proceeding 27th World Congress 1990

box-folder 4 : 22

Tsubaki Shrine 1980-1988

box-folder 4 : 23

U.S. Chapter 1993-1994

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 : 12

Nancy Schimmel 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