Dorothy Day-Catholic Worker Collection
Peggy Scherer Papers, 1970-2022
Biographical Information
Peggy Scherer (1949-2022) was a notable member of the Catholic Worker movement and lifelong servant for social justice. After first being introduced to the Catholic Worker movement during a Peacemakers conference, Scherer moved to New York in 1974 to join the movement. She remained with the organization for 12 years but took a sabbatical in the mid-1980's following controversy around her outspoken support of the LGBTQ+ movement. Following this, Scherer volunteered in Nicaragua with the Witness for Peace program, and then at Baily House in New York City, a housing program for those dying of AIDS. Scherer spent the remainder of her life working primarily with unhoused communities and those with AIDS. She passed away on June 19, 2022 (.)
Scope & Content
This collection is comprised mostly of correspondence to Peggy Scherer as well as writings from the Catholic Worker movement compiled by Scherer.
Of particular note within this collection is a folder titled, "Correspondence & Accounts Regarding Conflicting Views on Homosexuality, Concept of Authority Within the Publication, 'The Catholic Worker,' 1985-1987." This folder documents Scherer's personal thoughts on (and subsequent communications about) obedience to church doctrine within the Catholic Worker movement, authority and structures of hierarchy within the CW movement, and perspectives on the contentious topic of homosexuality.
For more related to the homosexuality controversy see also the folders:
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CW Writings by Chris Montesano, Ernesto de la Vega, 1983, undated
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Writings by Peggy Scherer, 1986, 1989, 1990, undated
Collection donated by Dan Mauk, 2022.
| Series | Box | Folder | Folder Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| W-94 | 1 | 1 | Collected articles from the Catholic Worker regarding history, philosophy, and workers, 1936-1985 |
| W-94 | 1 | 2 | Collected Periodicals about Dorothy Day, 1983, 1985 |
| W-94 | 1 | - | Correspondence, |
| W-94 | 1 | 3 | General, A-I, 1976, 1981, 1983, 1985-1986, 1988, 1993, 2021 |
| W-94 | 1 | 4 | General, J-R, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1985-1987 |
| W-94 | 1 | 5 | General, S-Z, 1981, 1984-1988, 1990 |
| W-94 | 1 | 6 | General, last name unknown, 1985-1987 |
| W-94 | 1 | 7 | Sandy Adams, 1984, 1985, 1988 |
| W-94 | 1 | 8 | Ade Bethune, 1986 |
| W-94 | 1 | 9 | Mary Cabrini, 1988-1989 |
| W-94 | 1 | 10 | George Collins, 1987, undated |
| W-94 | 1 | 11 | to Dorothy Day, 1978 |
| W-94 | 1 | 12 | Tessa Day, 1986 |
| W-94 | 1 | 13 | Richard Dieter, 1984, 1987 |
| W-94 | 1 | 14 | Rev. James F. McCarthy, 1985-1986 |
| W-94 | 1 | 15 | Rosalie Troester, 1988, 1990 |
| W-94 | 1 | 16 | Joe F. and Alice Zarella, 1984-1985 |
| W-94 | 1 | 17 | Correspondence and accounts regarding conflicting views on homosexuality, concept of authority within the newspaper "The Catholic Worker," 1985-1987 |
| W-94 | 1 | 18 | Catholic Worker writings by Chris Montesano, Ernesto de la Vega, 1983, undated |
| W-94 | 1 | 19 | Funeral program for Peggy Scherer, 2022 |
| W-94 | 1 | 20 | Index of Catholic authors & topics of social justice, 1980-1985 |
| W-94 | 1 | 21 | Index of writings by Peggy Scherer, 1970-1990 |
| W-94 | 1 | 22 | Photographs, 1973, undated |
| W-94 | 1 | 23 | Program for Maryhouse Celebration, 2012 |
| W-94 | 2 | 1 | Red Line Nativity: And Other Poems by Robbie Gamble, undated |
| W-94 | 2 | 2 | Transcript of Interview with Peggy Scherer for Voices from the Catholic Worker, 1990 |
| W-94 | 2 | 3 | Writings by Peggy Scherer, 1975-1985 |
| W-94 | 2 | 4 | Writings by Peggy Scherer, 1986, 1989, 1990, undated |
