The Finding Aid of the Terry and Susan Giboney Papers 0057
Valeria Pacheco and Katie Richardson
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
May 2015
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu 90263-4786
kelsey.knox@pepperdine.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: Terry and Susan Giboney Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0057
Physical Description:
1.68 Linear Feet
(4 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1950-1977
Abstract: Terry and Susan Giboney were Church of Christ missionaries in Omika, Japan from 1963-1966. They both worked primarily with
Ibaraki Christian College teaching various classes. The collection includes photographs, correspondence, publications, and
financial records from their stay in Japan.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Terry and Susan Giboney Papers, Collection no. 0057, Churches of Christ Heritage Center, Special
Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to Pepperdine University by Susan Giboney on February 19, 2014.
Biographical note
On January 15, 1939, Terry Giboney was born to Max and Ruth Giboney from Missouri. On December 19, 1940, Susan Kay was born
to E. Hugh Huff from Ontario Canada and Archeva Huff from Texas. Both Terry and Susan grew up attending the Arcadia Church
of Christ in California. Before marrying, Terry attended Citrus Junior College and graduated from George Pepperdine College
in 1961. Susan attended George Pepperdine College and graduated in 1962. Upon graduation, Susan taught in several schools
in Los Angeles. Inspired by their experience at George Pepperdine College, listening to lectures on mission as work at their
church, the Giboneys left to Omika, Japan to work at Ibaraki Christian College as missionaries in 1963.
As teachers, Terry taught Bible classes and preached at churches while Susan taught in the home economics department for the
junior high, high school, and college departments. Susan also taught local English teachers the English language using the
Bible as literature. In addition to teaching at Ibaraki Christian College, the Giboneys found themselves teaching elementary
school children, high school teenagers in churches, and individuals at their homes.
The Giboneys were very much involved in the lives of their students outside of the classroom. In 1963, Terry coached the high
school Japanese speech team which placed well in several contests. They also participated in summer camps such as the Hitachi
Christian Camp (1964) with high school and college students and the Motosu Christian Camp (1965) for American children from
missionary families in Japan. They worked with Nazare-En, an elderly Christian home that housed over 100 elderly people. Terry
later became a member of the board of directors for the Nazare-En. He also worked with the Far East Fellowship where he preached
to military G.I.'s. In addition, both Susan and Terry became part of an organization called the "Light and Life Program" which
published and distributed Christian literature to the Japanese. On January 11, 1966, Terry and Susan had their first child:
Carrie Ruth Giboney. After giving three years of service to the people of Omika, Japan the Giboneys returned to the United
States in 1966.
Upon arriving in California, the Giboneys placed membership with the La Habra Church of Christ in California. Terry became
a teacher for fifth and sixth graders in the La Habra School District and worked with the Missions Committee of the La Habra
Church of Christ. Terry received his Master's Degree in Education and an Administration credential from California State University,
Fullerton. During this time period, they had their second child, Peggy Sue.
Both Terry and Susan made plans to return to teach in Tokyo, Japan. After fundraising and Terry's resignation as a teacher
from the La Habra school district they were ready to leave. However, due to a political situation at the school in Japan they
were asked not to return. Fortunately, Terry was reinstated with the La Habra School District. Soon, Susan found out that
she was pregnant with their son, Paul Travis.
After the birth of their son, Terry became Vice Principal of Sierra Vista School in La Habra and later Principal of Los Lomas
and Sierra Vista Schools in the district. When Carrie was in the second grade, the family moved to the city of Brea to accommodate
their growing family and became members of the Sunny Hills Church of Christ in Fullerton, California. During this time, Susan
received her certificate to teach classes in Parent Education and began traveling to schools to teach parenting classes. Later,
both Terry and Susan developed a curriculum to teach family life classes at their church. Susan also taught women's classes,
led the women's service committee, and worked with the Parent Teacher's Association. Terry became a Deacon and then an Elder
of the Sunny Hills Church. By this time, Terry had received his doctorate from the University of Southern California.
While their children were in high school, Susan completed her Master's Degree in Child and Family Studies, at California State
University, Long Beach. Afterwards, she began teaching for Pacific Christian College in Fullerton (now Hope Christian University).
Since both Terry and Susan held Master's degrees they were able to develop a ministry for teaching premarital classes and
individual counseling.
Once their children were in college, Terry and Susan traveled nationally and internationally teaching seminars. Eventually
Terry was asked to work for Pepperdine University as the Assistant Provost. Both Terry and Susan moved to Pepperdine's campus
where Susan also found work with the Education Department. They continued their work with the Missions committee and teaching
family life classes and premarital classes at the University Church of Christ where Terry also became an Elder.
On December 6, 1996, after battling colon cancer for two years, Terry passed away. Dealing with grief and loss led Susan to
begin writing and teaching about this and caregiving. Susan continued to direct and teach for the Education Department at
Pepperdine University and received the Teaching Excellence Award in 2003. After teaching as a visiting professor in Lausanne,
Switzerland she was diagnosed with breast cancer and completed sixth months of chemotherapy and radiation after surgery. Today,
Susan is retired from Pepperdine University but continues to serve on four boards that include the Center for the Family,
Associated Women for Pepperdine, Alumni Leadership Council, and the George Pepperdine Alumni Committee. She also hosts a weekly
house group of Pepperdine students and teaches at a women's prison.
Scope and Content
The collection includes photographs, correspondence, publications, and financial records from Terry and Susan Giboney's time
in Japan and range in date from 1952 to 1967. The photographs depict campus life at Ibaraki Christian College, while the correspondence,
which is mainly between the Giboneys and the Huff Family (Susan's parents), provide a glimpse into the daily life and tasks
performed by Terry and Susan while in Japan. The publications include newsletters and reports from Ibaraki Christian College
regarding the various jobs Terry and Susan held in Japan. The publications also show how students and faculty participate
in campus activities at Ibaraki Christian College. In addition, the collection houses a small amount of receipts from purchases
the Giboneys made while in Japan.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series: 1. Photographs; 2. Correspondence; 3. Publications; 4. Financial Records;
and 5. Travel Documents.
Related Archival Materials
James L. Lovell Papers, Collection no. 0011, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine
University.
J.M. McCaleb Papers, Collection no. 0013, Churches of Christ Heritage Center, Special Collections and University Archives,
University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Sarah S. Andrews Collection, Collection no. 0115, Churches of Christ Heritage Center, Special Collections and University Archives,
University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Separated Materials
Several books were separated from the collection and added to Special Collections. A Bible and a Hymnal belonging to Terry,
as well as a Social Studies lesson book belonging to Susan. All three items are mostly in Japanese.
Processing Information note
The collection was arranged and described by Valeria Pacheco, under the supervision of Katie Richardson in May, 2015.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Hitachi-shi (Japan)
oOmika (Japan)
Christian education
Christianity -- Japan -- History
Missionaries, American
Universities and colleges -- History
Missionaries -- Japan -- History
Financial records
Churches of Christ -- History -- 20th century
Correspondence
Publications
Giboney, Terry
Giboney, Susan Kay
Ibaraki Kirisutokyō Daigaku
box 1-2
Series 1:
Photographs
1963-1966
Terry and Susan Giboney Digital Collection- Photographs
box 1, folder 1
Giboneys and Home in Japan
1963-1966
Physical Description: (30 photographs)
box 1, folder 2
Ibaraki Christian College Baptisms
1963-1966
Physical Description: (19 photographs)
box 1, folder 3
Ibaraki Christian College Campus Festivals
1963-1966
Physical Description: (45 photographs)
box 1, folder 4
Ibaraki Christian College Campus Life
1963-1966
Physical Description: (31 photographs)
box 1, folder 5
Ibaraki Christian College Students, Festivals, and Activities
1963-1966
Physical Description: (101 photographs)
box 1, folder 6
Ibaraki Christian College Teachers and Staff
1963-1966
Physical Description: (50 photographs)
box 1, folder 7
Ibaraki Christian College Dormitory Fire
1965
Physical Description: (16 photographs)
box 1, folder 8
Japan,other
1963-1966
Physical Description: (1 photograph)
box 1, folder 9
Local Scenery around Ibaraki Christian College
1963-1966
Physical Description: (41 photographs and 3 postcards)
box 1, folder 10, box 2, folder 10
Missionaries in Japan
1963-1966
Physical Description: (114 photographs)
box 2, folder 1
Pepperdine Choraliers at Ibaraki Christian College
1963-1966
Physical Description: (17 photographs)
box 2, folder 2
Preachers' Meetings, Weddings, Preacher's Churches, Bible Classes, Keimei, Nazare-en, Children's Home Camps
1963-1966
Physical Description: (61 photographs)
box 2, folder 3
Visitors to Ibaraki Christian College
1963-1966
Physical Description: (15 photographs)
box 2
Series 2:
Correspondence
1962-1966
Terry and Susan Giboney Digital Collection- Correspondence
box 2, folder 5
Church of Christ Elders to Huff Family
1965 April 16
box 2, folder 6
Giboney, Terry and Susan to Huff Family
Undated
box 2, folder 7
Giboney, Terry and Susan to Huff Family
1962-1963
box 2, folder 8
Giboney, Terry and Susan to Huff Family
1964 January-April
box 2, folder 9
Giboney, Terry and Susan to Huff Family
1964 May-December
box 3, folder 1
Giboney, Terry and Susan to Huff Family
1965
box 3, folder 2
Giboney, Terry and Susan to Huff Family
1966
box 3, folder 3
Ibaraki Students to Huff Family
1965
box 3, folder 4
Smith, Billy to Huff Family
1965 May 18
box 3, folder 5
Smith, Margaret to Huff Family
1964-1965
box 3-4
Series 3:
Publications
1952-1967
Terry and Susan Giboney Digital Collection- Publications
box 3, folder 6
Article Clippings
1963-1965
box 3, folder 7
Ibaraki Christian College
1956
box 3, folder 8
Ibaraki Christian College
1957
box 3, folder 9
Ibaraki Christian College
1958
box 3, folder 10
Ibaraki Christian College
1959
box 3, folder 11
Ibaraki Christian College
1960
box 3, folder 12
Ibaraki Christian College
1961
box 3, folder 13
Ibaraki Christian College
1962
box 3, folder 14
Ibaraki Christian College
1963
box 4, folder 1
Ibaraki Christian College
1964
box 4, folder 2
Ibaraki Christian College
1965
box 4, folder 3
Ibaraki Christian College
1966
box 4, folder 4
Ibaraki Christian College
1967
box 4, folder 5
Ibaraki Christian College Incomplete Issue
Undated
box 4, folder 6
Ibaraki Far East Fellowship Report
before 1966
box 4, folder 8
Japanese Christian
1952 October- 1958 August
box 4, folder 9
Newsletters from Terry and Susan Giboney
1963-1966
box 4, folder 10
The Story of Ibaraki Christian College
circa 1960s
box 4
Series 4:
Financial Records
1963
box 4
Series 5:
Travel Documents
1963 December 18
box 4, folder 12
Customs Declaration Form
1963 December 18
