Drury, Clifford Merrill, 1897-1984

Historian and biographer of the Protestant missionaries to Oregon.

From the description of Papers, 1932-1958. (Washington State University). WorldCat record id: 29852284

Historian, Presbyterian minister. Ph. D. University of Edinburgh (1932). Professor Church History at San Francisco Theological Seminary (1938-1964). Published many works on church history, including: "Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the Opening of Old Oregon"; "Diary of Elkanah Walker" (1976); and "Chief Lawyer of the Nez Perce Indians" (1978). Materials in this collection used to prepare 'Church Sponsored Schools in Early California, ' "Pacific Historian" 20:1 (Spring 1976).

From the description of Papers on early church-sponsored California colleges, 1865-1960. (University of the Pacific). WorldCat record id: 35363658

Biography

Clifford Merrill Drury (1897-) earned an M.A. (1928) from the San Francisco Theological Seminary and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh (1932). He was an assistant pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, California (1921-1923) and at the American Community Church, Shanghai, China (1923-1927). He was subsequently a pastor at the First Presbyterian Church, Moscow, Idaho (1928-1938). He then began a teaching career, serving as professor of Church History at the San Francisco Theological Seminary (1938-1964). Author of over 24 books and numerous articles, Drury is well-known for: First White Woman Over the Rockies (1963-1966); Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the Opening of Old Oregon (1973); Nine Years With the Spokane Indians (1976); Diary of Elkanah Walker (1976); and, Chief Lawyer of the Nez Perce Indians (1978).

From the guide to the Drury Papers on 19th c. California Parochial Colleges & Academies, 1865-1968, (University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections)

Clifford Merrill Drury was born November 7, 1897 in Early, Iowa, the son of William and Mae Dell Drury. His first academic degree was an A.B. from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. He served in the Chemical Warfare Service of the United States Army at Yale University in 1918. In 1919 he transferred to the American Red Cross at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. Following his term in the service, Drury enrolled in San Francisco Theological Seminary at San Anselmo, California. He received his degree and was ordained in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in 1922. That same year, on November 17, he married Miriam Mayhew Leyrer.

After serving for a time as assistant pastor to a Berkeley, California church, he went to Shanghai, China, where, from 1923-1927, he accepted the position of pastor in the Community Church. Drury returned to the United States in 1928 and accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church in Moscow, Idaho, 1928-1938.

While at Moscow, Drury became interested in the history of the Oregon Mission of the Presbyterian Church, and began the research that would occupy the remainder of his life. The results of his research were twelve published volumes on the history of the Protestant missions in the Pacific Northwest.

In 1932 Drury was awarded a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, specializing in historical subjects. As a distinguished author and educator he received honorary degrees from Buena Vista College, Iowa; Whitworth College and Whitman College, both in Washington State.

Drury became professor of church history at San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1938 where he served until his retirement in 1963. During this period he was also chaplain in the United Stated Naval Reserve, 1933-1958, including a stretch of active duty, 1941-1946, and the official historian of the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy from 1944-1956.

From the guide to the Clifford M. Drury Papers, 1932-1983, (Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture Joel E. Ferris Research Library and Archives)

Clifford Merrill Drury had a noteworthy career as a pastor, seminary professor, historian, and Navy chaplain. Born in 1897 in Early, Iowa, Drury was a graduate of Buena Vista College and San Francisco Theological Seminary and earned a PhD from the University of Edinburgh.

As a pastor, Drury served in Shanghai, China, and Moscow, Idaho. While in Moscow, Drury’s proximity to the Nez Perce Indians sparked an interest in the history of early missionaries in the Pacific Northwest. This interest launched a writing career that culminated in twenty-two books and numerous magazine articles. In 1938, Drury began a twenty-five-year career of teaching church history at San Francisco Theological Seminary, taking leave to serve as a Navy chaplain during World War II.

Drury’s major publications include Henry Harmon Spalding, Pioneer of Old Oregon (1936), Marcus Whitman, M.D., Pioneer and Martyr (1937), Elkanah and Mary Walker, Pioneers among the Spokanes (1940), Diaries and letters of Henry H. Spalding and Asa Bowen Smith (1958), First White Women over the Rockies (1963-1966), and Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the Opening of Old Oregon (1976).

Drury received honorary degrees from Buena Vista, Azusa, Whitworth, and Whitman colleges. He was also honored by the Presbyterian Historical Society, the United States Navy, and the Washington State Historical Society.

From the guide to the Clifford M. Drury Papers, 1922-1984, (Whitman College and Northwest Archives)

• 1897: Born, near Early, Iowa
• 1918: Graduated, Buena Vista College; U.S. Army at the Medical School of Yale University
• 1919 - 1922 : Attended and graduated. San Francisco Theological Seminary.
• 1921 - 1923 : Assistant pastor, First Church, Berkeley, California
• 1922: Ordained, Presbyterian Minister
• 1923 - 1927 : Pastor, Community Church, Shanghai, China
• 1927 - 1928 : Attended University of Edinburgh
• 1928 - 1938 : Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Moscow, Idaho
• 1932: Ph.D., University of Edinburgh
• 1938 - 1963 : Professor of Church History, San Francisco Theological Seminary
• 1944 - 1956 : Official Historian, U.S. Navy, Chaplain Corps
• 1955: Litt.D., Whitworth College
• 1964: Lecturer, Fuller Theological Seminary
• 1964 - 1969 : D.H.L., Whitman College

Major Publications

• 1936: Henry Harmon Spalding, Pioneer of Old Oregon

• 1937: Marcus Whitman, M.D., Pioneer and Martyr

• 1940: Elkanah and Mary Walker, Pioneers among the Spokanes

• 1948 - 1954 : History of the Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy. 6 v.

• 1949: A Tepee in his front yard

• 1952: Presbyterian Panorama

• 1958: Diaries and letters of Henry Harmon Spalding and Asa Bowen Smith

• 1963 - 1966 : First White Woman over the Rockies. 3 v.

• 1967: William Anderson Scott, No Ordinary Man

• 1968: Rudolph James Wig

• 1973: Marcus Whitman Re-examined. 2 v.

From the guide to the Clifford Merrill Drury Papers, 1932-1958, (Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC))