View full finding aid (PDF)
  • Collection ID WLA2001.24
  • Creator Names Roach, Margaret (Peggy), 1927-2006.
  • Title Margaret (Peggy) Roach papers, 1927-2006.
  • Physical description 26.5 linear feet.
  • Collection arrangement Series 1: Biographical Material, 1975-2001, Series 2: National Council of Catholic Women, 1962-1966, Series 3: Wednesdays in Mississippi (WIMS), 1964-1965, Series 4: Social & Justice Issues, 1955-2001, Series 5: Publications & Material Significant for Peggy's Work and Writing, 1964-1982, Series 6: Awards and Honors, 1945-2001, n.d. Series 7: Oversized, 1964-2001. Addendum 1. 13 folders, no series. Addendum 2: 12 folders, no series. Addendum 3. Series 1: Biographical, 1927-2006, n.d. Series 2: Correspondence, 1949-2006, n.d. Series 3: Subject Files, 1953-2006, n.d. Series 4: Audio/Visual Materials and Three Dimensional Objects, 1963-2006, n.d.; Arranged alphabetically, except where noted.
  • Biographical or Historical Note Born May 16, 1927, Chicago, Illinois; died 2006. Civil rights and feminist activist; Board member, National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice. Margaret (Peggy) Roach was born on the north side of Chicago, Illinois on May 16,1927 to James E. and Cecile Duffy Roach. Roach graduated from St. Scholastica High School in 1945 and Mundelein College four years later. After graduating she became the Executive Secretary of the Chicago Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women in 1954. In 1958, Peggy briefly returned to Mundelein College as Alumnae Director. In 1961, Peggy worked as the Administrative Assistant to the Catholic Interracial Council of Chicago. After moving to Washington D.C. in 1962, Peggy took the position of Social Action Secretary at the National Council of Catholic Women. There in 1963 she was active in organizing the National Conference on Religion and Race held in Chicago. Roach ultimately served as the NCCW representative to many groups such as the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, National Conference on Religion and Race Continuation Committee, National Women's Committee on Civil Rights, Housing Conference, Citizens Crusade Against Poverty, Womens Equal Pay Committee, and National Catholic Social Action Conference. She also worked with the National Conference of Jewish Women, Church Women United, and the National Council of Negro Women. She was a national liaison NCCW representative to Women in Community Service funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity. She also planned and participated in 37 state NCCW leadership conferences. Also as part of her dedication to human rights and social justice, Peggy was intensely involved with Wednesdays in Mississippi, an interracial women of faith project. In 1964, as a board member of the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice, Peggy contributed planning assistance to the April 28 national Interreligious Convocation at Georgetown University with 4000 people in attendance. In 1966, Peggy moved back to Chicago to work as the Administrative Assistant at the NCCIJ. At the same time, she volunteered at Presentation Parish where she assisted Msgr. John Egan with secretarial tasks. From September 1968 to August 1970, Peggy worked for the Contract Buyers League in Chicago. CBL was a group of black home purchasers on the west and south sides of Chicago who sought to renegotiate unjust contracts under which homes has been purchased. Peggy served as the office manager of the CBL lawndale office. Still working for Msgr. Egan, Peggy moved with him to University of Notre Dame in late 1970 and became the Administrative Assistant for the Catholic Committee on Urban Ministry. She serves as Director from 1974 to 1976 when she left to again work for Msgr. Egan at the Center for Pastoral and Social Ministry. At the same time, Peggy worked as the Director of the Religious Leaders Program. In 1983, Peggy moved with Egan to DePaul University in Chicago, where Egan headed the Community Affairs Office. In August 2001, Peggy retired from DePaul. She died in 2006.
  • Collection summary The papers of Margaret Roach span the years 1955-2001 and document her work in social and racial justice issues. Addendum 1 spans the years 1958-2003 and includes materials on Wednesdays in Mississippi. Addendum 2 spans the years 1938 to her death in 2006. The collection primarily consists of photographs of Roach, her family, and the Sakuma family and date primarily from the 1940s and 1950s. Addendum 3 spans from Margaret Roachs birth in 1927 to her death in 2006 with the majority of the materials spanning between 2001 and 2006.
  • Access and usage restrictions Some restrictions may apply.
  • Finding Aids Note Finding aid available in repository; folder level.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note
    • See Also: Mundelein College records, Alumnae File, Administrative File, Student File, and Photographs at the Women and Leadership Archives.
    • See Also: University of Notre Dame Archives.
    • Seel Also: DePaul University Archives.
  • Names
    • Roach, Margaret (Peggy), 1927-2006 Archives.
    • National Council of Catholic Women (U.S.)
    • Wednesdays in Mississippi (Organization)
    • Loyola University of Chicago. Women and Leadership Archives.
  • Subjects
    • Women civil rights workers United States.
    • Civil rights Religious aspects Catholic Church.
  • Finding aid URL Finding aid to the Margaret (Peggy) Roach papers http://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/wla/pdfs/Roach,_Peggy.pdf