Ann Robb Smith papers, 1970 -- 2004

After clicking 'Submit Request', users will login with their UNI and password (Columbia affiliates) or their special collections account (external users). Appointments are required and will be arranged according to each individual repository's policy.


Ann Robb Smith papers, 1970 -- 2004

This series contains some restricted material. Restrictions related to specific material are listed in the detailed contents list.

1 linear feet; 1 linear foot; 2 boxes

This series contains working papers, correspondence, clippings, and other related materials which tell the story of the ordination of eleven women as Episcopal priests on July 29, 1974, from the planning stage to the immediate responses and later anniversaries of the event, including papers relating to Women's Ordination Now.

This series is arranged roughly chronologically.



Box 1 Folder 1 Pre-1974 Statements and Addresses on ordination of women, 1970 -- 1972

63rd General Convention, Report of the Joint Commission on ordained and licensed ministers, 1970; Address to NY Diocesan Convention by Rev. J. Robert Wright, May 9, 1972 Statement by Faculties of the Episcopal Consortium for Theological Education in the Northeast, Oct 12, 1972.


Box 1 Folder 2 Correspondence with Rev. Paul Washington, Church of the Advocate, Philadelphia, 1972

Letter to "Ann and Barbara," Mar 7, 1972; Letter from Barbara, Mar 10, 1972; Draft of Letter to Pres. Bp Rev. John Allin, with ms note, [197?]


Box 1 Folder 3 List of delegates to 1973 Triennial Meeting, 1973


Box 1 Folder 4 List of Deputies to 35th synod, Province of Washington, Alexandria, VA, 1974-03-26


Box 1 Folder 5 Sermon by Rev. Carter Heyward (Deacon) at Ordination of Doug Clark, 1974-05-17


Box 1 Folder 6 Project report on Women in Theological Education by Rev. Suzanne Hiatt (Deacon), 1974-05


Box 1 Folder 7 Philadelphia 11 Ordinations' Planning Meetings, 1974

A. R. Smith's notebook of original minutes, July 10, 1974; List of names and addresses of attendees, July 10, July 29, Oct 30, 1974


Box 1 Folder 8 Philadelphia 11 Ordinations' Planning Meetings, 1974

Correspondence; typed minutes; memos; annotated papers, July 8 - 25, 1974


Box 1 Folder 9 Philadelphia 11 ordination service programs, 1974-07-29

Pen used for signing ordination certificates; Directions to Church of the Advocate


Box 1 Folder 10 Philadelphia 11 reactions: Correspondence, statements and reports, 1974

Letter from Bp Lyman C. Ogilby, Jul [19] & 26, 1974; Letter from Bp L. C. Ogilby, Jul 29, 1974, 2 copies; Letter [Church Union headed paper], to Bps DeWitt, Corrigan and Welles, July 29, 1974; Letter from Bps. Corrigan, DeWitt and Welles [pre July 29], in Christianity & Crisis 34 (15), Sept, 1974; Response to objections raised at the service of the ordination of women


Box 1 Folder 11 Philadelphia 11 reactions: Correspondence, statements and reports, 1974

Letter from Bp F. B. Wolf, July 31, 1974; Letter from Bp Lyman C. Ogilby, Aug 1, 1974; Letter from Bp R L DeWitt, Aug 1, 1974 with mailing items; Statement from Steering Committee of Episcopal Women's Caucus with clipping, Aug 2, 1974; Letter from Brooke Leddy re Bp Wolf letter, Aug 4, 1974; Statement by Bp L. C. Ogilby to Bishops' meetings, Aug 14 -15, 1974; Personal report on Bishops' meeting, Aug 14/15 by H.H. Guthrie, E.G. Harris, H/ H. Rockwell, Sept 3, 1974; Letter from Bp L. C. Ogilby with Final Report of Committee on Resolutions, Aug 16, 1974; Letter from Bp L. C. Ogilby, Dec 18, 1974; Letter to Bishops …of Massachusetts from W Murray Kenney et al, Aug 13, 1974;Sermon by W MK, Aug 18, 1974; Statement of resignation [from Joint Commission on Ecumenical Relations] by William Wolf, Aug 17, 1974; Letter from Bp J. M. Allin to A. Robb Smith with Final Report of Committee on Resolutions, Aug 23, 1974


Box 1 Folder 12 Philadelphia 11 reactions: Correspondence, statements and reports, 1974 -- 1975

Correspondence: D.W. Belcher/ Bp J. M. Allin, Sept 16, 18, 1974; Memo from D. W. Belcher, Sept 23, 1974; Sermon: Everyday Work of Christian People: the Disobedience of Unjust Laws, by C.V. Willie, Jun 9, 1974; Request for Presentment and trial of [name removed] to Bp L. C. Ogilby, by J. S. Keefer et al [after Jul 29, 1974]; Executive Council notes by Paul Washington, Sept 1974; Report from National Exec Council, v1 (3), Sept 1974; Legal Defense and Action Fund request, 1974; Appeal for General Convention, Oct 4, 1974; Joint statement by eleven women priests, Nov 30, 1974; Card: Katrina Swanson to A. R. Smith, Jan 13, 1975; Statement to clergy by Merrill Bittner, Jan 17, 1975


Box 1 Folder 13 Personal correspondence to A. R. Smith, 1974

from Ann Calland, July 24, 1974 from Kay [Phimister?], July 26, 1974 from Margaret Sheets, July 29, 1974 from Hope?, July 29,1974 from Peggy Gilman, Aug 9, 1974


Box 1 Folder 14 Philadelphia 11 reactions: News clippings, 1971 -- 1974

This file is restricted due to fragility of items. Please use copies in Folder 14A.

July 1971, July 20 –28, 1974, including "Drums along the Schuylkill" in The Episcopalian, July 1971


Box 1 Folder 14A Philadelphia 11 reactions: News clippings, 1971 -- 1974

Preservation copies of Folder 14 for general use.


Box 1 Folder 15 Philadelphia 11 reactions: News clippings, 1974

This file is restricted due to fragility of items. Please use copies in Folder 15A.

News clippings, July 29 – Sept 1974, including: Church Panorama, 7(4) May 1974 [content post July 29]; People Weekly, Aug 12, 1974; Church Panorama, 7 (5) June 1974 [content post Aug 15] "The Philadelphia Event: Conscience vs Order" The Episcopalian, PA Diocesan ed., Sept 1974, 2 copies


Box 1 Folder 15A Philadelphia 11 reactions: News clippings, 1974

Preservation copies of Folder 15 for general use.


Box 1 Folder 16 Philadelphia 11 reactions: News clippings, 1974 -- 1975

This file is restricted due to fragility of items. Please use copies in Folder 16A.

News clippings, Aug 2, 1974– Jan 1975, including: Genesis III, 4 (3/4), Aug/Sept & Oct, 1974; The Episcopalian, Oct, Nov, 1974


Box 1 Folder 16A Philadelphia 11 reactions: News clippings, 1974 -- 1975

Preservation copies of Folder 16 for general use.


Box 1 Folder 17 Booklet, Women in the Priesthood, by Rev. Emily C. Hewitt, circa 1974 -- 1975


Box 1 Folder 18 Statement by Rev. Suzanne R. Hiatt, 1974-10-14


Box 1 Folder 19 Articles re Bishop Robert L. DeWitt, 1972 -- 1973

This file is restricted due to fragility of items. Please use copies in Folder 19A.


Box 1 Folder 19A Articles re Bishop Robert L. DeWitt, 1972 -- 1973

Preservation copies of Folder 16 for general use.


Box 1 Folder 20 Service in Celebration of Women in Ministry, 1974-10-27


Box 1 Folder 21 Editorial, Journal of Ecumenical Studies, v.10, no.4, 1973


Box 1 Folder 22 The Evangelical Outlook, two issues: v.10, Oct 1974; v.11, 1975-02


Box 1 Folder 23 The Witness, 1975

v.58, no.5: Jan 12, 1975; v.58, no.9: Mar 9, 1975



Box 2 Folder 1 Women's Ordination Now papers, 1974 -- 1975

WON formation memorandum, Dec 11, 1974; WON meeting notes, Jan 1975


Box 2 Folder 2 WON meetings: Minutes, correspondence, flyers sent out, list of members, 1975-02


Box 2 Folder 3 WON meetings: Steering committee minutes, ms directions to church, funding committee report, 1975-03


Box 2 Folder 4 WON meetings, 1975-04 -- 1975-06

Chronology of events surrounding ordination, Oct 1970-Mar 1975; Memo from Advisory board, flyer re: September ordinations


Box 2 Folder 5 WON meetings, correspondence, 1975

Minutes,July 12th; Ltr. from Rev. John Frizzell, re: Refusal of Alison Cheek's request for licensing, .Jul 17, 1975; WON Newsletter, Sep 1975; Ad Hoc Community plan for action memo, with annotations


Box 2 Folder 6 WON correspondence, clippings, papers, 1975

Who is Susan Hiatt, ms by A. R. Smith, [1975]; "Who is Suzanne Hiatt," Diocesan News, Mar 1975 [RESTRICTED FRAGILE] Newspaper clippings, April – May 1975: re Wm. Wendt trial, April/May, 1975; 1975 women's ordinations; 4 Bishops' trial; use of funds by women in 2 parishes; Women's Ordination Now fundraising leaflet, etc, 1975; Charge to 2nd group of Episcopal women ordinands from Alison Cheek, Sept 7, 1975; Service sheet, Church of the Ascension, Parkesburg, PA,Suzanne Hiatt sermon, Sept 1975


Box 2 Folder 6A WON correspondence, clippings, papers, 1975

Preservation copies of Folder 6 for general use.


Box 2 Folder 7 Minnesota Committee for Women's Ordination Now, 1975-10

Statement of affirmation; Diocesan convention report


Box 2 Folder 8 WON meetings, correspondence, 1975-10

House of Bishops Meeting Documents, Sep 1975; Ltr from Bishop George Rath to Rev. Sanford Culter, Oct 2, 1975; Ltr to A. R. Smith from Rev. S. Culter; WON newsletter publications, Minutes as newsletter; Ms address list, ms notes, job description; Edna Pittinger Correspondence and Resume; directory


Box 2 Folder 9 WON meetings, correspondence, 1975 -- 1976

Memo from Flora Keshgegian, A. R. Smith, Bob DeWitt, Nov 24, 1975 Letter from Anne Exley to "Flora and Ann," Dec 3, 1975 Report on visit of Rev. Suzanne Hiatt to Church of the Advocate, by A. R.Smith, Dec 21, 1975 WON minutes, Philadelphia, Jan 23-24, 1976 Ms letter from Ann .Mar 23, 1976 Second Anniversary Celebration Proposal for Jul 29, 1976 WON Newsletter [review of] 1975


Box 2 Folder 10 Correspondence re: Advocate legal defense fund , circa 1975 -- 1976


Box 2 Folder 11 Articles re Alison Cheek, 1975 -- 1976

This file is restricted due to fragility of items. Please use copies in Folder 11A.

"A woman priest views her church". Christian Science Monitor, Sept 10, 1975; "Women of the year", Time, Jan 5, 1976


Box 2 Folder 11A Articles re Alison Cheek, 1975 -- 1976

Preservation copies of Folder 11 for general use.


Box 2 Folder 12 Newspaper, article clippings, 1975

This file is restricted due to fragility of items. Please use copies in Folder 12A.


Box 2 Folder 12A Newspaper, article clippings, 1975

Preservation copies of Folder 12 for general use.


Box 2 Folder 13 Sermons, 1975

Rev. Paul Washington, Mar 1, 1975 Rev. Barbara Harris, Mar 12, 1975


Box 2 Folder 14 Ordination announcement for the "Washington 4", 1975 -09-07


Box 2 Folder 15 The Witness, 1975

The Witness, Sep 1975: "The women priests one year later;" The Witness, Nov 1975: "The ordained ministry in the 1970's"


Box 2 Folder 16 Issues of Ruach newsletter, 1975 -- 1999

Mar-Apr 1975, Jul-Aug, 1975, Spring 1999


Box 2 Folder 17 Church service bulletins with Philadelphia 11 celebrants, circa 1975


Box 2 Folder 18 Anniversaries of Philadelphia 11 ordinations, 1982 -- 1999

This file is restricted due to fragility of items. Please use copies in Folder 18A.

The Price of Priesthood," Philadelphia Enquirer, Aug, 1982; "Daughters of Prophecy," Special Issue, The Witness, 1984; Order of service for 10th anniversary, July 29, 1984; Order of service for 20th Anniversary, July 29, 1994 Passover remembered, 25th anniversary poem by Alla Renée Bozarth


Box 2 Folder 18A Anniversaries of Philadelphia 11 ordinations, 1982 -- 1999

Preservation copies of Folder 18 for general use.


Box 2 Folder 19 Rev. Dr. Suzanne Hiatt: Memorial service program, 2002-06-17


Box 2 Folder 20 Bishop Robert L. DeWitt, 2003 -- 2004

Obituary, Philadelphia Enquirer, Nov 24, 2003; memorial service program, May 15, 2004