Raymond Benjamin Culver (July 11, 1887 – June 7, 1938) was a Baptist educator in the United States and the fourth president of

Shimer College Shimer Great Books School ( ) is a Classic_book#University_programs, Great Books college that is part of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Prior to 2017, Shimer was an independent, accredited college on the south side of Chicago, or ...

. Culver was born in

Algansee Township, Michigan Algansee Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,033 at the 2020 census. Communities * Alagansee is an unincorporated community located within the township at . The community recorded it ...

on July 11, 1887. He received a

bachelor of music A Bachelor of Music (BMus; sometimes conferred as Bachelor of Musical Arts) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. The degree may be awarded for performance, music ed ...

from

Linfield College Linfield University is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college with campuses in McMinnville, Oregon, McMinnville, and Portland, Oregon. Linfield Wildcats athletics participate in the Northwest ...

in Oregon, in 1914, where he was president of the student body. Subsequently, obtained multiple degrees from

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

: a B.A. in 1916, B.Div. from

Yale Divinity School Yale Divinity School (YDS) is one of the twelve graduate and professional schools of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Congregationalist theological education was the motivation at the founding of Yale, and the professional school has ...

in 1920, M.A. in 1921, and a Ph.D. in 1924. 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

, then known as Frances Shimer Junior College and located in

Mount Carroll, Illinois Mount Carroll is a city in and the county seat of Carroll County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,479 at the 2020 census. History Mount Carroll began life as a mill town around 1841. In 1843, a referendum moved the county seat fro ...

, 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 A finishing school focuses on teaching young women social graces and upper-class cultural rites as a preparation for entry into society. The name reflects the fact that it follows ordinary school and is intended to complete a young woman's ...

. 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 is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, Winnebago and Ogle County, Illinois, Ogle counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located in far northern Illinois on the banks of the Rock River (Mississippi River tributary), Rock River, Rockfor ...

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. A. 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 is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located at the summit of the San Gorgonio Pass, between the San Bernardino Mountains and Mount San Gorgonio to the north, and the San Jacinto Mountains to the south. Around 18 ...

on June 7, 1938.

Works

*1929, ''Horace Mann and religion in the Massachusetts public schools''

Works

Notes

See also