Ida A. T. Arms

Ida A. T. Arms (, Taggard; August 27, 1856 – October 30, 1931) was an American missionary-educator and temperance leader. She served as principal of Concepción College in Concepción, Chile and as president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in Chile. Arms translated a number of books from English to Spanish. Her biography was published posthumously.

Early life and education Ida Almira Taggard was born at Northfield, Vermont, August 27, 1856. Her parents were John Taggard and Olive (Harvey) Taggard. Five of Ida's younger siblings, Wallace, Henry, Ella, Tinnie and Franky died as young children. Her father died during the Civil War. Her mother died when Ida was eleven. Orphaned, she went to live with Rev. Ira Beard and his wife.

Active in the work of the WCTU during her career as a teacher in the U.S., Arms, on her removal to Chile, became president first of the English and then of the Spanish WCTU in that country. She was a delegate to the World’s WCTU Convention in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1903. After another visit to the U.S. in 1915, to regain her health, she resumed missionary and temperance work in Chile the following year, with a change of location to Coquimbo. She was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Northfield. A biography, A life in His presence; the life and letters of Mrs. Ida A.T. Arms was compiled and published in 1933 by Bessie C. Howland.

Selected works A life in His presence; the life and letters of Mrs. Ida A.T. Arms (1933) (Text)