Howard P. Whidden

Howard Primrose Whidden (July 12, 1871 – March 30, 1952) was a Canadian churchman, member of Parliament, educator, scholar, avid skier, and editor of Canadian Baptist.

Born in Antigonish Harbour, Nova Scotia, became a Baptist minister in Dayton, Ohio and likely knew John D. Rockefeller. Whidden was president of Brandon College, Brandon, Manitoba.

He sat in the House of Commons of Canada for four years as a member of the Robert Borden/Conservative led Union government of 1917 (which gave women the right to vote). He was appointed in 1923 sixth Chancellor of McMaster University, then in Toronto, Ontario; and served for 18 years to 1941, making him the longest-serving chancellor or president, to that time. Whidden Hall at McMaster University is named after Chancellor Whidden, as is the Whidden scholarship at McMaster University.

He died in Toronto, Ontario and was buried 2 April 1952 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.

Timeline

• ca 1880 educated in the public schools, Antigonish, Nova Scotia
• 1891 BA, graduate Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia
• 1894 theology, McMaster University, Toronto, Ontario
• ca 1895 University of Chicago, Illinois
• 1894-96 Baptist Church, Morden, Manitoba
• 1897-1900 Baptist Church, Galt, Ontario
• 1898-1900 lecturer, McMaster University, Toronto, Ontario
• 1900-1903 professor of Biblical literature and English, Brandon College, Brandon, Manitoba
• 1904-1912 pastor, First Baptist Church, Dayton, Ohio
• 1912-1923 president, Brandon College, Brandon, Manitoba
• 1917 first elected to House of Commons, Brandon riding, supporter Unionist government
• 1923-1941 Chancellor, McMaster University, Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, longest serving chancellor or president
• 1936 honorary doctorate DD, Victoria University (now Victoria College, University of Toronto)

Family

He was the son of Charles Blanchard and Eunice Caroline (Graham) Whidden.

Howard married Katherine "Kit" Louise Ganong (daughter of James H. Ganong and Susan E. (Brittain) Ganong) born February 14, 1870 in Malden, Massachusetts. Her sister, Susie, was the proprietor and Principal of the Netherwood School for girls in Rothesay, New Brunswick. Kit Whidden died on April 4, 1959 at the home of her son in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and was buried on April 8, 1959 beside her husband and daughter Susan in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.

Howard and Catherine had eight children:

• Charles Ganong (22 August 1895 - 27 July 1978
• Susan Gwendolyn (5 January 1897 in Waterloo, Ontario - 1963) buried in Mt. Pleasant cemetery, Toronto, Ontario.
• Dr. Rev. Evan McDonald Whidden (9 July 1898 - 11 March 1980)
• James Gilbert (13 January 1901 in Brandon, Manitoba - 15 April 1901)
• William Francis (19 March 1902 in Brandon, Manitoba - 4 July 1905)
• Prof. Reginald Wilbur born 18 December 1904
• Bruce Cuthbert (29 March 1909 - 17 March 1972)
• Howard Primrose, Ph.D., LL.D. (4 August 1910 - 12 March 1977). He was a senior editor of Business Week magazine.