They started when they were in graduate school at Boston University's school of theology. A group of students got together to pool their ideas for church parties, and Lynn edited their first game book and recreation kit.
These were so successful that Lynn and Katherine got a Mimeograph machine and went into the publishing business as the Church Recreation Service. In , they made a down payment on a farm near Delaware, Ohio Lynn had been a student there, at Ohio Wesleyan University , converted the barn into a recreation center and print shop, and set up a publishing firm that was to become known all over the world. But success came later. To pay off the mortgage and buy groceries, the Rohrboughs struck out to tour the country as recreation leaders in churches.
It was the early 's and there was practically no organized recreation in most towns. People didn't have much money, so they put on parties where nothing much was needed but enthusiasm. They taught people some square dances and folk dances and play party games, and everywhere they went they learned more games and songs.
Lynn once mused, "One time we drove from Toronto to San Diego and gave a party at some church or hall nearly every night. The pay wasn't so good but we usually had enought to eat, and we collected the most marvelous songs and games.
We took the music and the words down where we found them and later put them into print. Then the Rohrboughs started publishing booklets of folk songs, and soon the firm's reputation spread world-wide.
