Theodoratus (Professor Robert J.) papers
Scope and Contents
Collection consists of archival material from Prof. Robert J. Theodoratus’ tenure as a professor of anthropology at Colorado State University. The collection's primary focus is on Father Stephanos Phoutrides, with smaller focuses on the Greek community of Tacoma, Washington and Greek cuisine and foodways. The collection consists of 1.75 linear feet (1 record carton, 1 manuscript carton) of personal notebooks, correspondence, paper drafts, research material, and cassette tapes. The languages of the collection are English and Modern Greek. The dates of this collection range from 1924-2015 and reflect the Greek experience in the United States during the mid-20th century.
Several subject areas are represented within the collection. Greek Cuisine (Series 1) contains information on Greek culinary activity in the United States. The collection also includes information regarding the Greek community and Greek Orthodox Church in Tacoma, Washington (Series 2). This series contains information on different churches as well as field notes for research on Father Stephanos Phoutrides. The series on Father Stephanos Phoutrides (Series 3) contains detailed interview notes, correspondence, research files, and more pertaining to his life to be used in a publication planned by Prof. Theodoratus. Audio/visual material (Series 4) contains cassette tapes of oral interviews with family and friends of Father Phoutrides in 1976. There is also a recording of an Easter Sunday Service conducted by Father Phoutrides in 1944.
Books from Theodoratus' library have been cataloged and are avaialable outside of these papers.
This collection is part of the Tsakopoulos Hellenic Collection within the Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives.
Dates
- Creation: 1924 - 2015
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1950 - 1980
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to research. Some restrictions may apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, Chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. Requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce from collections must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives. Permission for publication is given on the behalf of the Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives, as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Biographical / Historical
Professor Robert James Theodoratus (1928-2019) lived a life dedicated to his work and community. Born into a mixed family of English and Greek ancestry, Robert liked to compare his heritage to the growth of America. In 1961, he earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Washington with a dissertation on the Greeks of Tacoma, Washington, entitled "The Influence of the Homeland on the Social Organization of a Greek Community in America". During his time as a doctoral student Robert met Kathleen Uribe (1934- 2021), an activist from Sacramento with similar interests in anthropology. They married on August 11th, 1962 and had three children together: Sarah, Mia, and Demetri. He began teaching anthropology at Colorado State University in 1966 and would remain there until his retirement in 1998. During his tenure at Colorado State University, Robert served as a general editor of the series Immigrant Communities & Ethnic Minorities in the United States and Canada, published by AMS Press, which emphasized the power that small ethnic communities have to effect social change. He also authored multiple publications including "Europe: A Selected Ethnographic Bibliography" (1969) and "A Greek Community in America: Tacoma Washington" (1971). Robert also spent time conducting research for a publication on Stephanos Phoutrides (1891-1946), a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church considered controversial in his time but now seen as pioneering. Robert was also interested in Greek cuisine and foodways and how immigrant culinary practices changed upon living in the US. Robert passed away on August 22nd, 2019.
Robert James Theodoratus Obituary:
Full Extent
1.75 Linear Feet (1 record carton, 1 manuscript box)
Language of Materials
English
Greek, Modern (1453-)
Abstract
Contains files pertaining to Robert J. Theodoratus’ time as a professor of anthropology at Colorado State University. The majority of the collection focuses on his studies of Father Stephanos Phoutrides. Files include personal notebooks, correspondence, paper drafts, research material, and cassette tapes. Materials are in English and Modern Greek. 1924-2015
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Professor Robert J. Theodoratus Collection was donated in 2020.
Accruals
No accruals are expected.
Condition Description
Good
- Title
- Guide to the Professor Robert J. Theodoratus papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding Aid produced by Sayre Borden.
- Date
- February 6, 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts Repository
University Library, MS 6039
6000 J Street
Sacramento CA 95819 USA
916-278-6144
lib-scua@csus.edu