Guide to the Barbara Roche Papers
Open for research.
To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl.
Materials marked “Digital” in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.
Barbara Anne Roche was born August 28th, 1934 in Long Beach, California to Agnes Louise Elford Roche and Claire Peter Roche. She grew up in Ruth, Nevada, a copper mining town, and graduated from Stanford University in 1956. Roche was the long-serving editor of Presbyterian publications Concern and Horizons, denominational periodicals in New York and Louisville from 1984 to 1997. She completed a Master of Religious Education at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1960, before undertaking a year of study at United Theological College, Bangalore, India via ecumenical scholarship. Roche was ordained a minister of word and sacrament by the Presbytery of Chicago in 1974. From 1973 to 1984 Roche worked at the Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley, California), as director of student services and then as dean of students. Roche received the Doctor of Ministry degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1984. Her dissertation was entitled "Initiating and Sustaining Ecumenical Ministries: A Study of the Ministry of Margaret Flory, 1951-1980." In 1975 Roche was named Woman of the Decade by the Women's Center at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkley.
She traveled the world under multiple roles; consultant, clergy, and journalist while attending the World Council of Churches Assembly in Australia, the NGO Fourth World Conference on Women meeting in China, and multiple ecumenical workshops and church conferences. It wasn't until 1998 that Roche retired.
Barbara Roche died at the age of 86 in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 8th, 2021 from a year long decline after a head injury.
This collection contains audiovisual materials, correspondence, photographs and photograph albums, printed materials and publications, research materials, scrapbooks, writings (including speeches) and other materials that document the personal life and professional endeavors of Barbara Anne Roche. These items pertain to Horizons and Concern magazines, Scott Anderson, a dissertation on Margaret Flory, Roche's time abroad in India, and her ecumenical work.
Scott Anderson article files:
Roche wrote about Scott Anderson, the first openly gay minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and how he was publicly outed by members of his congregation. These files include interviews on microcassette tapes, materials pertaining to the 1991 lawsuit in which Roche was named a defendant following the article's publication in Christianity and Crisis and her attempts to get herself legally covered, background papers, drafts of her article in Christianity & Crisis and the responses it garnered.
Dissertation files:
A bulk of Roche's collection is dedicated to the dissertation written on Margaret Flory for Roche's Doctor of Ministry degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Roche has included a multitude of resources used, from bibliography cards to annotated readings. Many interviews were conducted and the preparation notes, audiocassette tapes, and transcripts can be found in these files. Correspondence between members of staff at the Theological Seminary and with Flory herself has also been compiled and collected.
Professional files:
Files contain writings and publications, correspondence, photographs, general files, a scrapbook, honors and accolades earned during Roche's time as editor at Concern and Horizons. This also includes letters in celebration of her retirement.
India study abroad files:
Files contain photographs, slides, a scrapbook, correspondence, and writings of Roche's trip abroad. Included are her notebooks from the United Theological College, the diary Roche kept, along with a few publications picked up on her trip.
Additional materials include scrapbooks that cover Roche's road trip, ordination into ministry, and travels abroad. A signed Horizons poster is stored in an oversize folder.
To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl.
Materials marked “Digital” in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.
The Presbyterian Historical Society holds additional resources related to this collection:
Researchers should also consult RG 527 (Margaret Flory Papers) to access additional materials regarding Margaret Flory.
Researchers should also consult accession 22-0736 (Scott Anderson Papers) to access additional materials regarding Scott Anderson.
Interview of Barbara A. Roche [sound recording] / by Alice Brasfield. Call number CASSETTE 1874. Catalog record. Pearl ID islandora:153020. Pearl record.
Initiating and sustaining ecumentical ministries : a study of the ministry of Margaret Flory, 1951-1980 / Barbara Anne Roche. Call number FOLIO BX 9225 .F567 R62 1984. Catalog record.
Barbara Roche oral history, 2019. Accession 19 0916. Accession record. Pearl ID islandora:164970. Pearl record.
Donated by Barbara Roche in 2005, 2007, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Collection processed and guide prepared in 2024 by Maura Weil, Archives Technician.
While the processor maintained creator-supplied folder titles, the processor also created additional description to supplement folder titles. Processor-supplied descriptions are enclosed in square brackets in the Collection Inventory.
Barbara Roche Papers, RG 546, Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Box | Folder | Description | Alternative Formats |
---|---|---|---|
Scott Anderson article files | |||
1 | 1 | Responses to Article in "Christianity & Crisis," 1989-1991 | Digital |
1 | 2 | Scott Anderson - Manuscript for article in "Christianity & Crisis" & "Monday Morning" Article, 1990 | |
1 | 3 | Law Suit, 1991 | |
1 | 4 | Interviews with elders & Pastors of Bethany Presby. Church Sacramento CA Transcripts California Ordeal Bethany [includes Four Microcassette tapes, 1990], 1990 | |
1 | 5 | Various drafts of article for "C&C," 1990 | |
1 | 6 | Background papers, 1989-1991 | |
1 | 7 | Court Docs - Transcripts, Exhibits for Law Suit, 1990-1991 | |
1 | 8 | [Blue Binder - Scott Anderson], 1988-1990 | |
1 | 9 | [Blue Binder - Scott Anderson], 1988-1990 | |
Dissertation files | |||
1 | 10 | Dissertation on Margaret Flory, 1984 | |
1 | 11 | DMin (Doctor of Ministry) Dissertation Bibliography Cards, circa 1980, 2007 | |
1 | 12 | Draft 1 D/P 4.1.82, 1982 | |
1 | 13 | Memo to Students from Flory, 1981 | |
1 | 14 | [San Fran. Theo. Seminary Dissertation/Project Proposal, etc.], 1981-1983 | Digital |
1 | 15 | [Interview Transcripts on Flory - Mainly with Moyer], 1982-1983 | |
1 | 16 | Class on Flory, March 4, 1983 | |
1 | 17 | DMin Comments, 1983-1984 | Digital |
1 | 18 | DMin SFTS, 1978-1981 | |
1 | 19 | [Correspondence from and Questions for Flory], circa 1980s | |
1 | 20 | [DMin Materials - Sources, comments on draft, Interview Transcript: Dave Zuerink], circa 1982-1983 | |
1 | 21 | Minister in Residence - Margaret Flory, 1979-1981 | |
1 | 22 | Flory, 1981 | |
1 | 23 | Papers Margaret Had [Annual Reports of UPCUSA with notes], circa 1940s-1980s | |
1 | 24 | Margaret Flory #1 & #2 Photos, 1932, 1980-1982 | |
1 | 25 | [Questions for Flory, Interview Transcripts: James Griffes, M. Flory], circa 1980s | |
1 | 26 | [General Papers - Notes on Readings], circa 1980s | |
2 | 1 | DMin [Notated readings], circa 1980s | |
2 | 2 | [General Assembly Minutes with notes, Notebook on M. Flory], 1947, 1980s | |
2 | 3 | [Correspondence Regarding Margaret Flory], 1982-1983 | |
2 | 4 | [DMin Assorted Papers - Chapter Drafts, Interview questions], 1980-1982 | |
2 | 5 | [DMin Sources], circa 1980 | |
2 | 6 | [DMin - Margaret Flory Papers: Assorted Materials - Interview Transcripts], 1982 | |
2 | 7 | Photos [Chiefly of Wauseon - also includes Ada K. Smith], 1982 | |
2 | 8 | New York - Washington, 1982 | |
2 | 9 | [DMin Assorted Files], 1978-1983 | |
2 | 10 | [DMin Assorted Files - Interview Transcripts], 1982 | |
2 | 11 | [DMin Assorted Files - Notes and Reference Index Cards], 1982 | |
2 | 12 | [DMin Assorted Files - Interview Transcripts], 1982 | |
2 | 13 | [DMin Assorted Files - Publications], 1982 | |
2 | 14 | [Barbara Roche Final Dissertation, and Notes], 1983, 1992 | |
Professional files | |||
2 | 15 | [Honors], 1996-1997 | |
2 | 16 | [Retirement], 1997 | |
2 | 17 | [Writings and Publications], 1960s -1989, 2012-2013 | |
2 | 18 | "Horizons," 1988-2008 | Digital |
3 | 1 | [Correspondence - Chiefly Letters of Commendation], 1960-1997 | |
3 | 2 | Princeton Theological Seminary [contains DVD], 2002-2012 | |
3 | 3 | Moving to Louisville KY from NY City, circa 1988 | |
3 | 4 | "Concern," 1966-1988 | |
3 | 5 | [Presbyterian Women], 1993-2019 | |
3 | 6 | [208th General Assembly Scrapbook & 125th Anniversary of Women Pub. In PCUSA], 1996 | |
3 | 7 | [General files & Photographs], 1956-2001 | |
India study abroad files | |||
3 | 8 | United Theological College, etc. [includes photographs], 1960-1961, 1991 | |
3 | 9 | Book of Letters, 1997 | |
3 | 10 | Book of Letters, 1997 | |
3 | 11 | [Diaries. Books 1-3: Xmas Trip & SCM. Lahore, Pakistan], 1960-1961 | |
3 | 12 | [Letter to and from President George W. Bush], 1990 | |
3 | 13 | Diary [& Memorabilia] - Trip 'Round the World [2 volumes], 1960-1961 | |
3 | 14 | [Letters Home from India], 1960-1961 | |
3 | 15 | Sermon All My Children Scudder, January 29, 1995 | |
3 | 16 | Presbyterian Historical Society, 2019-2020 | |
3 | 17 | [United Theological College Notebooks], 1960-1961 | |
3 | 18 | [United Theological College Notebooks], 1960-1961 | |
4 | 1 | [Scrapbook - Princeton Theological Seminary], 1957-2012 | |
4 | 2 | [Publications and Printed Material Collected by Barbara Roche], 1954-1964 | |
4 | 3 | "Horizons" Commercials 10/1/92 - One audiocassette, 1992 | |
4 | 3 | The Rev. Barbara Roche 4/27/92 - Barbara Roche's Speech on WCC - One audiocassette, 1992 | |
4 | 3 | 1997 PW Gathering Highlights - One VHS tape, 1997 | |
4 | 3 | Stewardship and Communication Committee Report, July 4, 1996 - Barbara Roche - One VHS tape, 1996 | |
4 | 4 | "Horizons" Introduced Presbyterian Center - One VHS Tape, undated | |
4 | 4 | China Trip - Nov 1997 - One VHS Tape | |
4 | 5 | [Slides from Trip to India], 1960-1961 | |
4 | 6 | [Slides from Trip to India], 1960-1961 | |
4 | 7 | Conference on Women Theologians (June 7-8, 1971; Alverno College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 1971-1974 | |
4 | 8 | [Barbara Roche Funeral Program], 2021 | |
5 | none | Eastward Ho October 1956 to June 1957 [Scrapbook], 1956-1957 | |
6 | none | [Scrapbook: Trip to India & the Voyage Back], 1960-1961 | |
7 | none | [Scrapbook of Barbara's Ordination into Ministry by the Presbyterian Church of Chicago 1974], 1973-1974 | |
8 | none | [DMin Interviews - Forty four audiocassette tapes, 1982], 1982 | |
Oversize materials (stored in oversize folder) | |||
none | none | "Horizons" posters [One signed and matted], 1988 |