Dr. Whidden was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1871. He graduated from the Department of Arts at Acadia. In 1894, he was part of the graduating class in Theology at McMaster University. After graduation, Whidden was a pastor in Morden, Manitoba and Galt, Ontario. From 1900-1903 he was Professor of Biblical Literature and English at Brandon College. In 1904, Whidden left Canada to become pastor at the First Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio. After the retirement of Dr. McDiarmid in 1912, Dr. Whidden was asked to return to Canada to take over the position of President of Brandon College. Dr. Whidden, his wife, and their six children, Charles, Gwen, Evan, Reginald, Bruce and Howard returned to Brandon, where Dr. Whidden became the College’s second President. In 1917, Dr. Whidden ran as the Union Government candidate. He won the election, and in 1918 took his position in the House of Commons. Dr. Whidden remained Brandon College President until his retirement in 1923. In 1923, he assumed the position of Chancellor of McMaster University. He retired from the Chancellorship in 1941.
Scope and Content
Dr. Whidden’s papers include substantial correspondence dealing with Baptist fundraising efforts for the college. There is also a great deal of correspondence to students from the Registrar and Bursar. Board of Director Meeting minutes are also included. The collection covers the World War I situation, and how it affected Brandon College. The 1917 election is documented. There are tenders and correspondence between Dr. Whidden and the architects who designed the Science Building. There is also correspondence dealing with the MacNeill controversy in the early 1920’s.
Dr. Sweet was born in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from Denison University, Granville, Ohio in 1889. In 1892 he graduated from the Rochester Theological Seminary in Rochester, NY. His first pastorate was in Adrian, Michigan, where he was ordained. Dr. Sweet served ten years at the Calvary Church in Minneapolis. In 1920, Dr. Sweet was appointed to a committee by the Northern Convention to inquire into the loyalty of schools to the historic faith of the Baptists. Sweet received his Doctor of Divinity from Denison University in 1921. He worked for the Y.M.C.A. during World War I in the United States and Overseas. After Dr. Whidden retired in 1923, Dr. Sweet was offered the position of President of Brandon College. He accepted the offer and arrived in Brandon with his wife and six children on September 10, 1923. Mrs. Sweet was a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, and she had been a faculty member at Denison University. Dr. Sweet felt that Brandon was a call of God. He was inaugurated on October 11, 1923, and was readily accepted by students and faculty members alike.
His enthusiasm for fund raising was apparent, and he often took long trips in search of yet another subscription. He won the approval of the faculty, the students, the community and the Baptists. It was thought that Brandon College would prosper under the capable leadership of Dr. Sweet. Unfortunately, he died very suddenly at his home in Brandon on December 30, 1924. He was 55 years old. A funeral was held on January 3, 1925, and a memorial on January 7, 1925.
Scope and Content
Because of his short term of office, there are few papers left from Dr. Sweet. The collection includes invoices from Brandon College accounts, correspondence to and from the Bursar and Registrar, and Board of Director Meeting minutes. There is considerable correspondence from Dr. Sweet to various people regarding sermon topics, foreign missionary work, and his own faith. As well, Dr. Sweet was very conscious of the need for funds to run the College. He was very involved in the fundraising efforts of the College and the Baptists on behalf of Brandon College. There is also correspondence dealing with the MacNeill controversy in the early 1920’s.
