Maxine Rivers collection of Clarence Joseph Rivers

Collection

Identifier: BC-2025-141

Scope and Contents

Collected papers of Clarence Joseph Rivers, documenting his activities as a priest, liturgist, composer, and public speaker. His impact on American Catholic life, particularly that of Black Catholics, is reflected in his awards, correspondence, and newspaper clippings. His ministry and professional engagement papers document his involvement with organizations such as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellows Program, the National Office for Black Catholics (NOBC), Purcell High School, and Stimuli, Inc. His personal materials include biographical and family ephemera and photographs, as well as materials from Rivers' travels to Africa in the 1970s and 1980s. The collection also features published and unpublished versions of Rivers' liturgy, music, sermons, speeches, and other writings, notably An American Mass program (1963) and A Mass dedicated to the brotherhood of man (1967).

Dates

Creation: 1930-2024

Creator

Rivers, Clarence Joseph (1931 September 9-2004 November 21) (Person)

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.

Biographical note: Clarence Joseph Rivers

See more See less

Clarence-Rufus Joseph Rivers, Jr. was born on September 9, 1931 in Selma, Alabama, to Lorraine Bingon Echols Rivers and Clarence-Rufus Joseph Rivers, Sr. He was baptized in 1941 at St. Joseph's Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, the same church where he would spend most of his active ministry. In 1956, Rivers received his MA in Philosophy from the Athenaeum of Ohio and was ordained a priest. He completed graduate and postgraduate studies at Xavier University of Cincinnati, Yale University, Catholic University of America, and Institut Catholique, and received his PhD from the Union Graduate School in Cincinnati (1978).

Some of Rivers's approach to liturgy came from his training in theater—he considered the liturgist as filling the same roles as a script writer, director, and producer all in one. He taught English literature for ten years in the 1950s and 1960s at Purcell High School, where he also founded a semi-professional theater company, The Queen's Men, who specialized in performing Shakespeare. He participated in multiple television shows for ABC and CBS, including a civil rights documentary, We Shall Be Heard (1964), and a Black arts drama, Newborn Again (1966). Rivers also wrote a musical play based on the life of Frederick Douglass, Turn me loose! (1976).

Rivers cared deeply about the engagement of Black people in the Catholic Church, and this informed his life's work. In 1963, he composed An American Mass Program, which wove Gospel music and other Black musical traditions into Catholic liturgy. His next large composition, A Mass Dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man, was performed at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1967 and recorded by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 1970. Rivers also supported Black Catholics as a founding member of the National Office for Black Catholics (NOBC), the North American Academy of Liturgy, and his own organization, Stimuli, Inc. Rivers received the North American Academy of Liturgy's prestigious Berakah Award in 2002.

Clarence Joseph Rivers died unexpectedly at the age of 73 on Sunday, November 21, 2004.

Sources:

"Biographical information prepared for Stimuli marketing, approximately 1965-approximately 1980", box 1, folder 49, Maxine Rivers collection of Clarence Joseph Rivers, BC.2025.141, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

"Clarence Rivers," Wikipedia, March 13, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Rivers.

Donor-supplied information.

Full Extent

7 Linear Feet (10 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Collected papers of twentieth-century Black American Catholic Clarence Joseph Rivers, documenting his activities as a priest, liturgist, composer, and public speaker. Materials include audio recordings, correspondence, news articles, personal papers, photographs, publications, sermons, and speeches.

Arrangement

Arranged in four series: I. Correspondence; II. Ministry and professional engagement; III. Personal materials; and IV. Works.

Series II, Ministry and professional engagement, is arranged in six subseries: A. Awards; B. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellows Program; C. News articles and interviews; D. National Office for Black Catholics (NOBC); E. Purcell High School; and F. Stimuli, Inc.

Series IV, Works, is arranged in four subseries: A. Liturgy and music; B. Sermons and speeches; C. Television; and D. Writings.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Maxine Rivers, 2025.

Related Materials

Boston College student musical ensembles collection, BC.1986.015, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Gerald Ellard papers, MS.2003.026. John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Liturgical Conference Records, MS.2004.092. John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Liturgy and Life collection, BC.2013.17. John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Martin B. Hellriegel papers, MS.2003.040, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Robert W. Bullock papers, MS.2006.024. John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Thomas J. Carroll papers, MS.2003.14. John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

William J. Leonard, SJ papers, BC.2000.023. John J. Burns Library, Boston College.