Collection HM1/047 - Edward Yoder Papers

Edward Yoder, Mennonite (Mennonite Church) teacher, writer, and editor, the oldest son of Mahlon T. and Mary Yoder, was born 30 July 1893, at Kalona, IA. He attended Hesston College (B.A.), Kansas University, University of Colorado, University of Iowa (M.A.), and University of Pennsylvania (Ph.D.). He taught Latin and Greek at Hesston College (1920-23, 1928-32) and Goshen College 1926-28, 1933-38). He was Dean at Hesston (1929-32) and Dean of Men at Goshen (1935-37). On the editorial staff at Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale (1938-45), he was general editor of Sunday-school literature, editor of Advanced Sunday School Quarterly, editor of peace section of Doctrinal Supplement of the Gospel Herald, and librarian of the Mennonite Historical Library. He was coeditor of Mennonite Historical Bulletin and an associate editor and frequent contributor to Mennonite Quarterly Review. He was the author of Lessons in Christian Doctrine (Scottdale, 1939), Our Mennonite Heritage (Akron, 1942), Mennonites of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Scottdale, 1942), Must Christians Fight? (with H. S. Bender and Jesse Hoover, Akron, 1943), The Christian and Conscription (with Don Smucker, Akron, 1945). He became a member of the Mennonite Church (MC) in 1909, and was active in church work. He was secretary of the Curriculum Committee, treasurer of the Historical Committee of Mennonite Church, historian of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, superintendent of the Sunday school and secretary of the board of trustees of the Scottdale congregation. On 4 August 1920, he married Estie Miller. They had one son, Virgil Edward. Edward Yoder died 28 March 1945, and is buried in the Scottdale cemetery. He was one of the more able scholars of the Mennonite Church.