Herbert Downing Oral History Interview
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Herbert Downing (1905-1986) in which he describes his childhood as a child of missionaries in Kenya, attending Rift Valley Academy in Kenya, a visit of Theodore Roosevelt to the Academy, his father's work as pastor and administrator, Africa Inland Mission's policy on the education of missionary children, and Downing's own work as an educator at Rift Valley Academy. The time period covered by the interview is 1905-1983
Herbert Downing was intereviewed by Robert D. Shuster on June 14, 1983 at the Billy Graham Center Archives at Wheaton College.
Dates
- Created: 1983
Creator
- Downing, Herbert C. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
Biographical Information
Herbert Downing was born on August 14, 1905, in Kenya, the son of Africa Inland Mission pastor and field director Lee H. Downing. His parents served at the AIM station in Kijabe. Downing was among the first students to attend Rift Valley Academy, the AIM school for missionary children.
Downing married Mildred Sussanna Houk on June 19, 1931. The Downings went out together as AIM missionaries to Kenya, serving as teachers at Rift Valley Academy. Herbert Downing was principal of RVA from 1933-1938, and 1947-1974. The Downings retired from AIM on April 15, 1976. Herbert Downing passed away on December 15, 1986.
Extent
1 Audio Tape
78 Minutes
Language of Materials
English
Accruals and Additions
The materials in this collection were given to the Billy Graham Center Archives by Herbert Downing in June 1983.
Accession 83-68
January 12, 1989
Lannae Graham
J. Nasgowitz
R. Shuster
- Africa Inland Mission.
- Bible -- Translating.
- Boarding schools -- Kenya.
- Children of missionaries -- Education.
- Children of missionaries.
- Downing, Lee H.
- Families.
- Hurlburt, Charles E.
- Kijabe (Kenya)
- Language in missionary work.
- Missionaries -- Training of.
- Missions -- Kenya.
- Rift Valley Academy (Kijabe, Kenya)
- Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.
- Westervelt, Josephine Hope.
- Westervelt, Theodore.
Creator
- Downing, Herbert C. (Person)
- Shuster, Robert D. (Person)
- Title
- Collection 251 Oral History Interview with Herbert Downing
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Evangelism & Missions Archives Repository