Oswald Chambers Papers

November 1, 2007

Oswald Chambers' World War I Service Medal donated to Wheaton College

November 15, 2007 marks the 90th anniversary of the death of Oswald Chambers. In recognition of this anniversary and the recent donation of Chambers' World War I service medal the Wheaton College Archives and Special Collection has placed the medal on display. The medal, along with the Chambers Papers, was the generous gift of the Oswald Chamber Publications Association.

Chambers is most widely known for his devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest, which has served as inspirational reading for millions since its publication in 1927. It has been in print in the United States since 1935, and ranks in the top ten of religious bestsellers.

The Reverend Oswald Chambers had a ministry throughout the United Kingdom, America and Japan. He died in 1917 while working among soldiers with the YMCA in Egypt. It was his wife, Biddy (Gertrude), who actually created Chambers’ most famous work through her meticulous shorthand notes of his various talks and sermons. Although Chambers wrote only one book, Baffled to Fight Better, more than thirty titles bear his name due to his wife’s efforts.

The Chambers Papers consist of 22 boxes of Oswald's writings, artwork drawn by Chambers, personal memorabilia, Biddy’s correspondence and diaries, and the notes and diaries of Eva Spink, a student of Chambers’ while he was principal of London’s Bible Training College.

The Wheaton College Special Collections is located on the third floor of the Billy Graham Center, 500 College Ave. in Wheaton, Illinois. For further information about the Special Collections, call 630/752-5705 or visit http://library.wheaton.edu/.