Arthur Carson

Who was Arthur Carson?

Arthur L. Carson was an American missionary and educator who served as president of Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippines from 1939 to 1953. Carson was born on May 29, 1895 in Tionesta, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Pennsylvania State College and Cornell University, Carson served as a missionary for the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. He was assigned in China from 1921 to 1939 where he was engaged in agricultural work from 1923 to 1926 in the locality of Weihsien, Shantung Province, and later on as director of the Rural Institute of Cheeloo University in Tsinan, Shantung Province from 1931 to 1939.

After his tour in China, Carson was transferred by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church to the Philippines, where he served as president of Silliman University from 1939 to 1953. When World War II broke out, he joined the Philippine resistance forces and continued his missionary work in the mountain barrio of Malabo, Municipality of Valencia, Province of Negros Oriental.

After his stint in Silliman, he served as Director for the Church World Service in the Philippines from 1962-1963 and as President of Trinity College of Quezon City in the Philippines from 1963 to 1967. His published writings include Silliman University, 1901-1959 and Higher Education in the Philippines. Carson died on April 11, 1985 in the City of New York.