Women's Theological Center records, 1977-2006

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Summary

Creator:
Women's Theological Center (Boston, Mass.)
Abstract:
The Women's Theological Center, founded in 1981 and active through 2007, was a Boston-based organization that provided feminist theological and ministerial education for women. Collection consists of administrative records documenting the foundation and development of the WTC, as well as board meeting and other committee notes. Also included are grant applications and funding requests, publicity and programming materials (especially related to the Study/Action program), and writings and publications. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.
Extent:
4.75 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.12039

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of administrative records documenting the foundation and development of the WTC, as well as board meeting and other committee notes from Francine Cardman and Gay Harter. Budgets, membership information, and reports are also in the administrative records. Collection also includes grant applications and funding requests, publicity and programming materials, and writings and publications. The publicity and programming materials document the WTC's activities and include articles, brochures, and event programs, as well as information, readings, and other materials from the Study/Action program. Most of the Study/Action material is from Gay Harter's files. Writings and publications include WTC newsletters, drafts of an unpublished book about the Study/Action program, and other writings by WTC members.

WTC members who appear frequently in the administrative records, particularly meeting minutes, as well as Study/Action materials and WTC newsletters include Donna Bivens, Nancy Richardson, Marian (Meck) Groot, Angelica (Gay) Harter, Francine Cardman, and Joan Martin.

Biographical / historical:

The Women's Theological Center (WTC) was founded in 1981 and incorporated as a non-profit in 1982 after several years of consultation and planning, which began in 1977. Based in Boston, M.A., its goal was to provide theological and ministerial education for women, as defined and designed by women. The WTC achieved this goal through its Study/Action program and its Resource Center. The Study/Action program brought together a cohort of about 20 women, providing them with theological and ministerial education grounded in feminist theory and principles. Study/Action participants could receive academic credit through the WTC's affiliations with the Episcopal Divinity School (Cambridge) and Emmanuel College (Boston). The WTC Resource Center served a broader group of women by offering short-term seminars, conference, speakers, and other programming. In addition to grounding its work in feminism, the WTC incorporated principles of social justice and anti-racism into its work. The WTC has not been active since 2007, following the resignation of its co-directors at the time, Donna Bivens and Meck Groot.

Donna Bivens is a Black feminist theologian and activist. She served as Co-director of the WTC from 1985 to 2007.

Nancy Richardson is a feminist theologian and activist. She served as Co-director of the WTC from 1982 to 1993. In 1993 she became the first Associate Dean of Ministry Studies at Harvard Divinity School.

Marian (Meck) Groot began her work with the WTC as part of the 1988 Study/Action class, then working as the office manager in 1990, and becoming Co-director after Nancy Richardson's departure in 1993. Groot served as Co-director until 2007.

Angelica (Gay) Harter is a feminist, activist, and long-time member of the United Church of Christ. She began working with the WTC in 1983 as a participant in the Study/Action program. She served on the WTC board for several years as well.

Francine Cardman was a feminist and an associate professor of historical theology and church history in the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. She co-founded the WTC and served on its board for many years. Cardman passed away in 2022.

Joan Martin is a Black feminist Christan Social ethicist pastor who served on the WTC board for several years.

Sources: Email from Nancy Richardson (donor), 2022 November 30; LinkedIn profile for Donna Bivens: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnabivens/ (accessed 2022 November 30); LinkedIn profile for Joan Martin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-rev-joan-m-martin-ph-d-69474a147/ (accessed 2022 November 30); "In Memoriam: Francine Cardman," Boston College News, January 2022: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/bcnews/campus-community/faculty/in-memoriam--francine-cardman.html (accessed 2022 November 30); "Gustafson award presented to Dick and Gay Harter," Southern New England Conference United Church of Christ, June 18, 2016: https://www.sneucc.org/newsdetail/gustafson-award-presented-to-dick-and-gay-harter-5097574 (accessed 2022 November 30).

Acquisition information:
The Women's Theological Center records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift from Nancy Richardson in 2022.
Custodial history:

The Women's Theological Center records were intentionally curated by former WTC staff members prior to their donation to the Rubenstein Library. The records were compiled from these former staff members' files and the files of other WTC staff, including Marian (Meck) Groot, Nancy Richardson, Angelica (Gay) Harter, Donna Bivens, Francine Cardman, and Joan Martin.

Processing information:

Processed by Leah Tams and Laura Micham, November 2022.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2022-0115.

Arrangement:

Arranged into four groups: Administrative materials, Funding materials, Publicity and programs, and Writings and publications.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access note. Some materials in this collection are electronic records that may need to be reformatted. Access copies of electronic records require special equipment. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Women's Theological Center Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

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