Biographical Sketch
Robert Benjamin McElheran was born February 1st 1877 in London, Ontario. Before graduating from high school McElheran joined a newspaper, the Farmer’s Advocate. The newspaper was impressed with his work and sent him to work in their Winnipeg branch. In 1898 He joined St Matthew’s Church and later became its diocesan lay reader. In 1900 he moved back to London and became lay assistant at Cronyn Memorial Church. In 1902 he entered Wycliffe College, graduating in 1907. He was asked to return to St Matthew’s in Winnipeg and he remained there until 1930. In 1908 he married Irene Brock. During his time out west he was vital to the negotiations for the passing of the 1916 Wycliffe College Act. In 1927 Wycliffe College bestowed an honorary degree on McElheran. At age 53, in 1930, McElerhan was asked to be the next principal of Wycliffe. Also in 1930 he became the president of the Church of England Deaconess and Missionary Training House. Under McElheran the college finances were stabilized, academic standards became stricter, and new courses were introduced. He created an honour course in theology allowing students to earn an LTh. A priority of McElheran was to renew the lines of communication between Wycliffe and those parishes where Wycliffe graduates worked. He also wished to revive that sense of evangelism which he felt was dying in the days of the depression. In 1939 McElheran became quite ill and on August 12th 1939 he died.
Scope and Content Notes
Contains correspondence with students, missionary societies, financial statements, telegrams, reports, course descriptions, and notices. Also included here is all correspondence from acting principal, W.E. Taylor. Also contains correspondence unrelated to McElheran or his time as principal.
Note Area
Other material belonging to McElheran can be found in the Ramsay Armitage papers, and the Appendix to Minutes of the Wycliffe College Council and Board of Trustees.
