Collection

Bradley, Raymond H. Jr. Collection on marriage equality in Rhode Island, 1977-2013.

Span Dates: 1977-2013
Bulk Dates: 1991-95
Volume: 1 document case (0.32 cubic feet)

Description

Materials include educational and resource material; essays and statement papers; news clippings; letters to legislators; and documents created by the religious community. Much of the collection constitutes resources, rather than material created by Bradley. Because of the grass-roots nature of gaining equal rights and marriage equality for the LGBT community, collections like these are left intact despite Bradley acting as collector rather than creator.

Hist/Bio Note

Raymond H. Bradley Jr. (1929-2014) was born in Connecticut and grew up in the American Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Army and attended Bangor Theological Seminary. He was ordained in July of 1958. He served West Bethel Congregational Church in Maine; Rangeley, Maine; Phillips, Maine; Andover Connecticut; and The Riverside Congregational Church in Rhode Island. After his retirement in 1997, he served as interim minister for Park Place Church UCC, Pawtucket RI; Barrington Congregational Church, Barrington RI; Woodridge Congregational Church, Cranston RI; The United Congregational Church of Westerly, Pawcatuck CT; and The First Congregational Church of Warwick, Oakland Beach RI. Bradley advocated and working towards human rights campaigns: mental health, racial equality and civil rights for the LGBT community. He wrote the first resolution for the United Church of Christ, inspired by the Presbyterian statement called "More Light". Bradley borrowed that title, which was eventually renamed Open and Affirming. He married Virginia Sally Brown and together they had two sons, Raymond H. Bradley III and Richard H. Bradley.

Finding Aid

The finding aid is available online.
http://www.congregationallibrary.org/BradleyRaymondH5066

Location

This collection is located at the Congregational Library & Archives in Boston, Mass.
https://www.congregationallibrary.org/about/collection

Tags

United Church of Christ/Congregational Church | Bradley, Raymond H. Jr. | Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA & formerly UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns) | Marriage Equality | Rhode Island