Raymond Culver
Encyclopedia
Raymond Benjamin Culver (July 11, 1887 – June 7, 1938) was a Baptist educator in the United States and the fourth president of Shimer College
.
He completed his undergraduate education at Linfield College
in Oregon, and subsequently obtained four degrees from Yale University
. After Yale, he served as professor of Bible and religious education at Linfield College.
From 1936 to 1938, Culver served as the fourth president of Shimer College
, then known as Frances Shimer Junior College and located in Mount Carroll, Illinois
, USA. Culver had been sought unsuccessfully by two other colleges, and was chosen by the Search Committee of the Board of Trustees. He assumed the presidency on August 25, 1936. Culver was remembered as having refined and preserved the all-girl school's aura as a finishing school
. As president, he had a "low key" style and "demonstrated a genuine sensitivity to the various factions of the College".
Culver was successful as a fundraiser and promoter, obtaining a $15,000 gift from the Bennett family for the physical plant and starting a "Shimer College Half Hour" on the Rockford, Illinois
radio station WROK. In his 1937 annual report, Culver articulated five goals: promotion of the college, formation of a National Alumnae Association, increasing enrollment, improving the physical plant, and revising and integrating the curriculum.
In the fall of 1937, Culver fell ill while attending a conference in California. He initially attributed the illness to overwork, but was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Beth Hostetter was appointed as Acting President in December. As his condition deteriorated, Mrs. Culver relinquished the presidency on her husband's behalf on January 20, 1938. Culver died in Beaumont, California
on June 7, 1938.
Shimer College
Shimer College is a very small, private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Founded by Frances Wood Shimer in 1853 in the frontier town of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, it was a women's school for most of its first century. It joined with the University of...
.
He completed his undergraduate education at Linfield College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
in Oregon, and subsequently obtained four degrees from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. After Yale, he served as professor of Bible and religious education at Linfield College.
From 1936 to 1938, Culver served as the fourth president of Shimer College
Shimer College
Shimer College is a very small, private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Founded by Frances Wood Shimer in 1853 in the frontier town of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, it was a women's school for most of its first century. It joined with the University of...
, then known as Frances Shimer Junior College and located in Mount Carroll, Illinois
Mount Carroll, Illinois
Mount Carroll is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, United States-History:Shimer College was established in Mt. Carroll in 1853, but mounting debts forced a move to Waukegan, Illinois in 1979. The campus now is home to several organizations, most notably the Campbell Center for Historic...
, USA. Culver had been sought unsuccessfully by two other colleges, and was chosen by the Search Committee of the Board of Trustees. He assumed the presidency on August 25, 1936. Culver was remembered as having refined and preserved the all-girl school's aura as a finishing school
Finishing school
A finishing school is "a private school for girls that emphasises training in cultural and social activities." The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the educational experience, with classes primarily on etiquette...
. As president, he had a "low key" style and "demonstrated a genuine sensitivity to the various factions of the College".
Culver was successful as a fundraiser and promoter, obtaining a $15,000 gift from the Bennett family for the physical plant and starting a "Shimer College Half Hour" on the Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
radio station WROK. In his 1937 annual report, Culver articulated five goals: promotion of the college, formation of a National Alumnae Association, increasing enrollment, improving the physical plant, and revising and integrating the curriculum.
In the fall of 1937, Culver fell ill while attending a conference in California. He initially attributed the illness to overwork, but was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Beth Hostetter was appointed as Acting President in December. As his condition deteriorated, Mrs. Culver relinquished the presidency on her husband's behalf on January 20, 1938. Culver died in Beaumont, California
Beaumont, California
Beaumont is a city in Riverside County, California, United States in the Greater Los Angeles area.Now a growing, community planned city, the population was 36,877 at the 2010 census, and expected to be up to 125,000 projected by 2040, making Beaumont as California's next, newest fastest-growing...
on June 7, 1938.
See also
- History of Shimer CollegeHistory of Shimer CollegeThe history of Shimer College begins in 1853, and has involved a series of crises and profound changes. Because of this, the college is often symbolized by a phoenix which is reborn from its own ashes...
- List of Shimer College people