
Elaine Giddings
From The Cardinal, June 1, 1959, page 12, accessed through Adventist Digital Library.
Giddings, Gladys Elaine (1908–2003)
By Abigail Chin, and Sabrina Riley
Abigail Chin
Sabrina Riley was born in Auburn, New York and raised in Dowagiac, Michigan. She received a B.A. in history from Andrews University and an M.A. in information and libraries studies from the University of Michigan. Riley was a member of Andrews University’s library staff from 1998 to 2003, library director and college archivist at Union College from 2003 to 2016, and is presently a freelance researcher, author, and information professional.
First Published: December 19, 2022
Gladys Elaine Giddings was an Adventist educator, communication professional, and writer.
Early Life and Education
Gladys Elaine Giddings, known as Elaine, was born on September 23, 1908, in Fargo, North Dakota, the only child of Orlo Urial Giddings (1883-1974) and Mayme Elisabeth McTaggart (1886-1977). Orlo was born in Illinois to a family with roots in New England. Mayme was from Canada. During Elaine’s early years, her father farmed in Minnesota. In 1920, Orlo became the manager of the Minnesota Conference’s Book and Bible House, and five years later, after graduating from Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University), he accepted a call to the South African Division where he served the Adventist Church for twenty-five years.1
Elaine Giddings’ secondary education began at Emmanuel Missionary College Academy, later moving to Cedar Lake Academy from which she graduated in 1925. Accompanying her parents to Africa, she attended Spion Kop College in South Africa, the University of Geneva in Switzerland, and Adventist University of France-Collonges (also known as the Campus Adventiste du Saleve), finally finishing her undergraduate education at Emmanuel Missionary College in 1931. She graduated with a major in English as well as two minors—one in French and the other in communication.2
After teaching for some years, Giddings pursued doctoral studies with the goal of obtaining a PhD in speech. This long journey began in 1935 when she attended George Peabody College in Tennessee and later the University of Cape Town. She received her Master’s in speech and English from the University of Southern California in 1945. In 1949 she completed her PhD in speech at the University of Michigan with a dissertation analyzing the speeches of South African politician Jan Smuts entitled “Rhetorical Analysis of the Speeches of Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts Relating to World Peace, in England, America, and on the Continent.”3
Career
After graduation from EMC in 1931, Elaine began her teaching career as a church school teacher in Minnesota and Georgia. In 1937, she taught English at Greater New York Academy. She later moved across the world to Africa where she taught elementary school in Belgian Congo and served as head of the English department at Helderberg College from 1938 to 1944. As a teacher, Giddings expected excellence from her students. She always challenged them to perfect their work and pushed them to meet her high expectations. These expectations not only applied to her students, but also her peers, as she would call anyone out on third-rate behavior or performance.
While teaching English at Helderburg College in Somerset West, Giddings met Leslie Cecil Le Butt, a professor of music and talented organist who also taught at Helderberg. They married in Claremont, Cape South Africa, at a small Seventh-day Adventist church on January 21, 1940.4 They remained in Africa, making their home in Somerset West.5 Evidently, the marriage was short-lived as Le Butt disappeared from the records of Elaine’s life soon after.
Giddings returned to the United States alone in 1944 to complete her Master’s degree at the University of Southern California. Following the conferral of her degree, Giddings taught at Southern Missionary College (now Southern Adventist University) from 1945 until 1951, where she became head of the English and speech department.
In 1951, Giddings was invited to join the staff of Faith for Today as both a production assistant and a script writer. She wrote professional quality dramatic skits which were key in the television airings. These fifteen-minute dramas often captured viewers’ attentions.6
Giddings returned to Emmanuel Missionary College as head of the speech department in 1956. Even as the campus transitioned to Andrews University, she reorganized the department into a communication program. During her tenure, her interest in teaching oral-English to students who were non-English speakers at Andrews University. This resulted in her leading the establishment of the Center for Intensive English Programs. She also co-authored a book, English for Modern People, Book 11, a textbook for teaching English to Japanese speakers.7 In addition to teaching, she was active on campus, leading a faculty Sabbath School class. She also continued writing scripts, this time for the General Conference. Giddings retired in 1972, but she continued teach part time. In her final years, she resided in Whitcomb Towers in St. Joseph, Michigan. She died on September 26, 2003, in St. Joseph.8
Legacy
Giddings’ devotion to her students and her personal achievements in her career and ministry. Were recognized by several honors at Andrews University, including Teacher of the Year in 1973, Honored Alumna in 1981, an honorary doctorate (LHD) in 1996, and one of the 100 Outstanding Women Alumni of Andrews University in 2002.9
Giddings had a very inquisitive mind, always seeking new information and sharing her views with much enthusiasm. Not only was she curious about things, but she was also witty, constantly keeping people on their toes with her questions and opinions. One of her main focuses was travelling, which she was able to achieve throughout her life, gaining a sensitive view towards understanding others’ cultures and lifestyles. As she grew older and gained more experience, maturity made her an excellent teacher and communicator.10
Sources
Faith for Today. “Tithing on Television.” Southwestern Union Record, March 26, 1952.
Giddings, Elaine. “Megalopolis.” Ministry Magazine, January 1957, 17-20.
Giddings, Elaine. “That Box in Your Life. Ministry Magazine, June 1954, 23-25.
Giddings, G. Elaine. “A critical study of the speaking career of General Jan C. Smuts with special reference to his world peace addresses.” Ph.D. diss., University of Michigan, 1949.
Giddings, Elaine, Edith O. Stone, Luanne J. Bauer, and Bruce L. Bauer. English for Modern People, Book 11. SDA English Series. Seventh-day Adventist English Schools of Japan, 1979.
“Gladys ‘Elaine’ Giddings obituary.” Focus [Andrews University], Fall 2003.
“Gladys ‘Elaine’ Giddings obituary.” The Herald-Palladium, October 1, 2003.
“Mayme Giddings obituary.” The Herald-Palladium, January 6, 1977, 18.
“Miss Giddings Wed in South Africa.” The Evening Star (Washington, DC), January 20, 1940, A-11, [Online] Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers. Accessed December 14, 2022. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1940-01-20/ed-1/seq-11/#date1=1777&index=0&rows=20&words=Elaine+Giddings+Gladys&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=%22Glady+Elaine+Giddings%22&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1.
“Orlo Uriel Gidings obituary.” Lake Union Herald, April 9, 1974.
Schulz, Dan. “The Trumpet Shall Sound…: Music at Faith for Today.” International Association of Adventist Musicians, 2007, accessed December 14, 2022, www.iamaonline.com/history/music%20at%20Faith%20for%20Today.htm?fbclid=IwAR1TzFehj7HrAAdaWQt17k69KZqNXl4CYqKdL0hzJ6bFmuXoX-4dX8hLZdY.
Notes
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“Gladys ‘Elaine’ Giddings obituary,” Focus [Andrews University], Fall 2003, 31; “Orlo Uriel Gidings obituary.” Lake Union Herald, April 9, 1974, 14; and “Mayme Giddings obituary,” The Herald Palladium, January 6, 1977, 18.↩
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“Gladys ‘Elaine’ Giddings obituary,” Focus [Andrews University], Fall 2003, 31.↩
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G. Elaine Giddings, “A Critical Study of the Speaking Career of General Jan C. Smuts with Special Reference to His World Peace Addresses” (Ph.D. diss., University of Michigan, 1949).↩
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South Africa, Civil Marriage Records, 1840-1973, “Leslie Cecil Le Butt,” FamilySearch, accessed December 14, 2022, https://www.familysearch.org/.↩
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“Miss Giddings Wed in South Africa,” The Evening Star (Washington, DC), January 20, 1940, A-11, [Online] Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers, accessed December 14, 2022, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1940-01-20/ed-1/seq-11/#date1=1777&index=0&rows=20&words=Elaine+Giddings+Gladys&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=%22Glady+Elaine+Giddings%22&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1.↩
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Faith for Today, “Tithing on Television,” Southwestern Union Record, March 26, 1952, 2.↩
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Elaine Giddings, Edith O. Stone, Luanne J. Bauer, and Bruce L. Bauer, English for Modern People, Book 11, SDA English Series (Seventh-day Adventist English Schools of Japan, 1979).↩
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“Gladys ‘Elaine’ Giddings obituary,” Focus [Andrews University], Fall 2003, 31; “Gladys ‘Elaine’ Giddings obituary,” Herald Palladium, October 1, 2003, 7.↩
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“Gladys ‘Elaine’ Giddings obituary,” Focus [Andrews University], Fall 2003, 31.↩
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“Ibid.↩