McPherson, Aimee Semple, 1890-1944

Biography

Evangelist, radio speaker, founder of International Church of the Foursquare Gospel; born Aimee Elizabeth Kennedy to Canadian parents on October 9, 1890; married Robert Semple in 1908; went together to China as missionaries but she returned to the United States in 1911 with her baby daughter after Robert's death; in 1912, she married Harold McPherson, who she divorced in 1921; began to travel as an independent evangelist in 1916; eventually settled in Los Angeles, where in 1923 she founded the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel; became one of the best known and controversial religious leaders in the country and remained so until her death on September 27, 1944.

Variant Names

• Aimee Semple McPherson Hutton
• Aimee Elizabeth Hutton
• Aimee McPherson, 1890-1944
• Kennedy, Aimee Elizabeth
• MacPherson, Aimee S. 1890-1944
• McPherson, Aimee 1890-1944
• McPherson, Aimee Semple
• McPherson, Aimee Semple, 1890-
• Semple, Aimee Elizabeth
• Sister Aimee
• エイミー

Related Resources

• Papers of Aimee Semple McPherson, 1921-1946 (Wheaton College)
• Alexander Woollcott correspondence (Houghton Library)
• Bailey, Charles Z. Collection of Panoramic Photographs (Huntington Library)
• Charter, Lynn (Lynfred T). Oral history interview, 2005 (Billy Graham Archive & Research Center)
• Collection of Panoramic Photographs, 1851-1995 (Huntington Library)
• Contento, Paul A. Oral history interview, 1992 (Billy Graham Archive & Research Center)
• Darling, Jean H., 1912-. Oral history interview, 1972 (Arizona Historical Society)
• Frederick Brisson papers, 1934-1984 (New York Public Library, Billy Rose Theatre Division)
• Henry Wellington Stough collection, 1911-1939 (Billy Graham Archive & Research Center)
• Hoover, Herbert. Reminiscences, 1950 (Columbia University)
• Longino, Frances R. Oral history interview, 1980 (Billy Graham Archive & Research Center)

Associated With

• Angelus Temple (Calif.)
• Brisson, Frederick, 1912-1984
• Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925 (correspondence)
• Charter, Lynn (Lynfred T)
• Contento, Paul A.
• Darling, Jean H., 1912-
• Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964
• International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
• Longino, Frances R.
• Mayo, Morrow

Places

• United States
• California--Los Angeles

Subjects

• Baptism
• Belief and doubt
• Christian education
• Christian giving
• Christmas sermons
• Church growth
• Conversion
• Discipling (Christianity)
• Easter
• Evangelistic invitations