Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1974-2000 (Creation)
Extent
5.2 cu.ft. (6 boxes)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Robert Brooks was born on March 25, 1947, in Austin, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Arts from St. Edward's University, Austin, in 1970 and a Master of Divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California, in 1973. On June 22, 1974, he was ordained into the priesthood.
Brooks began his career as a parish priest at All Saints’ Church in Baytown, Texas, serving from 1973 to 1983, during which time he also earned a Master of Arts from the University of Notre Dame (1980). In the following decades, he championed the church’s sacramental rights and texts, participated in multiple liturgical organizations; advocated for human rights in South America and Africa; and represented The Episcopal Church as Director of Government Relations during the tenure of Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning. He became the rector of St. Paul’s Church in Willimantic, Connecticut in 2001. Even after his retirement in 2004, he continued to advocate for issues of social justice, serving as president of the Episcopal Urban Caucus until just prior to his death.
Canon Brooks died on February 29, 2020.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The Papers of the Reverend Canon Robert Brooks contains material mostly related to Brooks’ time as Director of Government Relations from 1988-1998. It also brings together many of his professional roles including: the Standing Liturgical Commission consultant and member; Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council board member; senior advisor to the president of the People for the American Way Foundation; Center for National Policy board member; and President of the Episcopal Urban Caucus, a position that he held until 2017.
System of arrangement
Government Relations Office, 1980-1999
Standing Liturgical Commission, 1976-1991
Liturgical Activities and Resource Files, 1974-1999
Professional Memberships, 1984-2000
Biographical Information, 1974-1999
Audio/Visual, 1977-1988
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Access to Episcopal Church records is governed by the Archives Public Access Policy. Research requests must be submitted in writing.
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
The Archives is able to respond to limited requests for reproductions subject to copyright restrictions, internal policy, and the condition of the source documents.
Languages of the material
- English