Robert Walker Hovda was born in Clear Lake, Wisconsin, on April 10, 1920, the son of Leslie Raymond and Helma Regina (Lohn) Hovda. Robert attended Hamlin University at St. Paul, Minnesota, from 1938 to 1941, and graduated from St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1945. From 1945 to 1949, Robert was a seminarian at St. John's Seminary and was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest in 1949. In 1959, Father Hovda became instructor of theology at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. While there, Father Hovda completed advanced studies and was awarded the Degree Licentiate in Sacred Theology. During World War II, Father Hovda was a conscientious objector serving in the Civilian Public Service Camp. He has been active with groups sponsoring social justice and is now a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people and the Congress of Racial Equality. Father Hovda is also a versatile religious speaker and the author of many books, including Sunday Morning Crisis: Renewal in Catholic Worship; Jesus Christ Reforms His Church; There's No Place Like People: Planning Small Group Liturgies; and Dry Bones: Living Worship Guides to Good Liturgy. 

The Hovda collection consists of extensive correspondence and subject files. The correspondence covers from 1936 to 1959 and is arranged in three parts following Father Hovda's original order: Chronological, individuals, and speaking engagements.  The Subject Files are arranged alphabetically and cover a variety of topics: some of Father Hovda's sermons, masses, novenas, and articles written by him as well as materials concerning his involvement in politics and labor problems; specifically, the Northern Transit Bus Strike and the laundry strike in Fargo, North Dakota. 
 

Religion