Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1878-1975 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
7.40 Linear Feet; 13 archives boxes, 2 half archives boxes, and 1 records carton
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sanford Calvin Yoder was born 5 December 1879 to Christian S. and Anna Swartzendruber Yoder, near Iowa City, Iowa. In 1903 he married Emma Stutzman from the same community. Their three children were Myron, Marguerite, and LaVerne.
Yoder graduated from the Clarion, Iowa, high school (1901) and Hamilton College of Law (LLB, 1926), University of Iowa (BA, 1927), Winona Lake School of Theology (MA, 1933), Northern Baptist Seminary (BD, 1934; DD, 1937), and Gordon College Divinity School (STD, 1939). He taught in the public schools of Iowa and Washington. In Washington he was also a rancher.
Yoder was ordained to the ministry in the Mennonite Church (MC) at Chappell, Nebraska, in 1911. When he returned with his family to Kalona, Iowa, in 1913, he was ordained bishop at the East Union congregation. His most significant work was as secretary of the Mennonite Board of Missions (MC), 1921-1944, and as president of Goshen College, Goshen, IN (1923-1940). His statesmanship and leadership served as a reconciling influence in the Mennonite Church (MC) during the troubled decade of the 1920s and the years following. He died 23 February 1975 at Goshen.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Personal papers of an esteemed churchman of the (old) Mennonite Church. An ordained minister and bishop, Yoder served as secretary of the Mennonite Board of Missions (1921-1944) and president of Goshen College (1923-1940). His papers reflect his two simultaneous positions within Mennonite inistitutions and provide insight into the conservative / liberal struggles of the (old) Mennonite Church of the early and mid- twentieth century. His papers are divided into five series:
(1) Correspondence, 1917-1974
(2) Genealogical Materials, 1890-1967
(3) World War I Correspondence and Subject Files, 1917-1921
(4) Writings and Class Materials, 1901-1975
(5) Miscellaneous Materials, 1878-1975
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
By series
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These materials are open for public research.
Conditions governing reproduction
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright not owned by Mennonite Church USA Archives.
Language of material
- English
- German
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Goshen College -- Faculty (Subject)
- Mennonite Board of Education (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English