John B. Ketcham papers, A1140

John Burns Ketcham was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 28, 1905, and attended Poly Prep School. In 1928, he graduated from the Seminary at Colgate University. He studied at Columbia University from 1930-1931, earned a Bachelor's of Divinity from New York's Union Theological Seminary in 1931, and was ordained in New York in 1935. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Keoka College in 1966.

Ketcham was employed at the Brooklyn Church and Mission Federation as Director of Youth Work and Associate Director of Religious Education (1930-1934); the Rochester Federation of Churches as Director of Religious Education (1934-1938); and the International Council of Religious Education in Chicago as Director of Field Administration (1938-1950). He went on to a position with the National Council of Churches of Christ and became Executive Director of the Office for Councils of Churches in 1954. He retired from this position in 1970 and joined the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, retiring as Executive Director in 1974. He died on July 15, 1988.

Elmer William Smith, ed. Colgate University General Catalogue, vol. 2, (Hamilton, NY: Colgate University, 1939), 562.

John B. Ketcham biographical file, Special Collections and University Archives, Colgate University Libraries.>