This collection contains materials from the life of Roy Birchard, who was a leader in the early years of the Metropolitan Community Church. He served in a number of leadership roles in various locations, including New York and San Francisco. The materials include working files, personal papers, correspondence, newsclippings, periodicals, audiotapes, videotapes, photographs, and computer disks.

Adrian Roy Birchard was born in Middlebury, Vermont, to Adrian Birchard and Winifred Marion Killoran on July 26, 1943. Birchard grew up in nearby Shoreham, graduating from high school in 1961. He received his A.B. from Berea College, Kentucky, 1965, majoring in English; and B.D. from Union Theological Seminary, New York, 1969. He was ordained in June 1969 by the Addison Association, Vermont Conference, United Church of Christ. Birchard returned to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, entering a Ph.D. program in English. While there, he came out as gay and became an activist for gay rights. He returned to New York and worked, 1970-75 for the Department of Mission Interpretation of the United Presbyterian Church as an administrative assistant and copy editor.

23 boxes, 1 folio

19 linear ft.

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.

Collection is open for research. Four boxes are restricted. Boxes 11, 13, and 14 are closed until 2031. Box 12 is closed until 2050.