Dates
Biographical Statement
Victor Raymond Edman was born in 1900 to Swedish immigrant parents and one of six children. He left home in 1918 to join the army and served for one year, spending much of that time in Allied-occupied Germany. After returning home, he attended college and became a missionary to the Quichua Indians in Ecuador from 1923 to 1928. During this time he married Edith Olson, whom he had met in the United States. He came to Wheaton College in 1936 as an associate professor of history and became the college’s fourth president in 1940, a position he held until he became chancellor in 1965.
During his term as president, the College expanded its financial endowments, its enrollment, and its campus. Fourteen major buildings were erected during his twenty-five year presidency. Buildings included Centennial Gymnasium, Memorial Student Center, Old Dining Hall, Smith Hall, Breyer Science Building, McAlister Conservatory, Health Center, Nicholas Library and Edman Chapel, named by the Trustees in his honor. During this time the College also acquired land for the Black Hills Science Station in South Dakota and HoneyRock Camp in Wisconsin.
Over the years Dr. Edman had a number of serious health problems: typhoid fever (from which he nearly died while in Ecuador), cataracts, gallstones, and ever-increasing heart attacks. One of these attacks, which finally proved fatal, occurred on September 22, 1967, while he delivered a chapel message entitled, “In the Presence of the King.”
Dr. Edman had been a very active public speaker with engagements in Africa, Europe, the Far and Near East, South America, and, of course, all over the United States. He authored nineteen books and numerous articles, most of them devotional in nature. Many were translated into several foreign languages. His correspondence often gave personal counsel and advice and reached thousands. He was a personal friend of Billy Graham and often worked with him on his crusades.
Found in 61 Collections and/or Records:
Collection
Identifier: CN 040
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Chicago manufacturer and inventor, Andrew Wyzenbeek, who was very active as a layman in evangelistic work. Among other topics he discusses his early life in Holland, New York City, and Iowa at the turn of the century; his travels in Central and South America; his acquaintance with Billy Sunday, Paul Rader, and Peter Deyneka; the beginnings of the Chicago Gospel Tabernacle; and the beginning of Paul Rader's radio ministry. The collection also contains a folder with...
Dates:
Created: 1978
Unprocessed Material — Container: Box 1
Identifier: 2020-0006
Dates:
Majority of material found within 1955 - 1959
Collection
Identifier: CN 225
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, diaries, newsletters, scripts, catalogs, films, and other material related to the work of the Baptista Film Mission. This collection contains much information on the beginnings of the Protestant evangelical Christian film industry. Included are films featured are evangelical and fundamentalist figures like V. Raymond Edman, Billy Graham, Henry A. Ironside, Bob Jones Jr., Paul Rader, Oswald J. Smith, and Walter Wilson and nondenominational organizations. Subjects documented...
Dates:
Created: 1908-1977; Majority of material found in 1939-1963
Collection
Identifier: CN 279
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Elizabeth Morrell Evans (1899-1976) in which she discusses her childhood; education at Wheaton College; work with J. Elwin Wright; her Christian education activities; the development of the New England Fellowship, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the World Evangelical Fellowship; and her work as a missionary in Taiwan. The time period covered by the interviews is 1899-1976.Elizabeth Evans was interviewed by Robert Shuster on October 8,...
Dates:
Created: 1984-1985
Collection
Identifier: CN 283
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Nancy Wood Folkerts. Topics discussed include her childhood as a pastor's daughter; study at Wheaton College; her marriage; training in London; work as a missionary in British Cameroon (now Republic of Cameroon), especially Bible study and literacy programs for women and 3H clubs for girls; the political and social situation in Cameroon; Cameroon independence; medical problems in Cameroon; the work of her husband, Fred, at the Baptist Teacher Training College and...
Dates:
Created: 1984
Collection
Identifier: CN 284
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Gladys Lyle Wright (1902-1994), in which she discusses her work as a teacher in Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo). Topics discussed include: Wright's family background, education at Wheaton College and Moody Bible Institute, her work as a missionary in the Belgian Congo for the Africa Inland Mission, memories of the Congolese people and culture, and her experiences at Wheaton when she was on the staff of the College after retriring from the mission...
Dates:
Created: 1984
Collection
Identifier: CN 290
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Merle Ashel Steely, who worked as a missionary with Sudan Interior Mission between 1951 and 1977 in Liberia and Nigeria. Topic discussed include: Steely's conversion while in military service, education and employment at Wheaton College (including the 1950 revival there), his missionary work in Liberia at radio station ELWA and with Sudan Interior Mission in Nigeria, teaching in mission and government schools, evangelism and church planting, Billy Graham's 1960...
Dates:
Created: 1984
Collection
Identifier: CN 302
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with David Livingstone Farah, in which he discusses his upbringing, education at Wheaton College, work as an administrator with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Peru and Bolivia, and relationships with other religious bodies, national groups and governments. Other topics include the 1950 revival at Wheaton College; Wycliffe jungle training in Mexico; the Catholic Church in Bolivia and the prevalence of syncretism; differences between Peru and Bolivia; description of...
Dates:
Created: 1985
Collection
Identifier: CN 313
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, minutes, reports, manuscripts, photographs, audio tapes, clippings, etc., related to Van Kampen's responsibilities on the Board of Directors of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as well as various board committees, the boards of BGEA subsidiaries or affiliated institutions (Billy Graham Benevolent Fund, Billy Graham Evangelistic Film Ministry, Inc., Billy Graham Evangelistic Trust, Billy Graham Foundation, Grason Company, World Evangelism and Christian Education Fund,...
Dates:
Created: 1944-1982
Collection
Identifier: CN 317
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Ian Harper Cooke and Ruth Eileen (Witmer) Cook, in which Ian describes his childhood and education in South Africa, college education at Wheaton College, training for missionary work, medical missions work in South Africa with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM), the Zulus, apartheid, and the national church; and Ruth describes her childhood, conversion, and intention to become a missionary nurse, education at West Suburban Hospital and Wheaton College,...
Dates:
Created: 1985
Collection
Identifier: CN 325
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview in which Berry discusses his conversion, education at Wheaton College, and his work as a pilot and administrator for Mission Aviation Fellowship in Honduras and Southeast Asia. Other topics discussed include. Berry’s service in the Army during World War II, his views on pacifism, the origins of Mission Aviation Fellowship, challenges of MAF, and the effect of life on the mission field on Berry’s family.Donald Berry was interviewed by Robert Shuster on...
Dates:
Created: 1986
Collection
Identifier: CN 326
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews and personal notebook relating to the ministry of James E. Wright with Youth for Christ in India, Mexico, and the United States.Series 1: Audio TapesOral history interviews with James E. Wright in which he describes his youth, conversion and spiritual growth, education at Wheaton College and Multnomah School of the Bible, involvement with Youth For Christ in Portland, Oregon, India and Mexico, counseling and follow-up...
Dates:
Created: 1950-1986
Collection
Identifier: CN 328
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews, speech manuscripts and prayer letters relating to the careers and ministries of Eric and Lydia Maillefer as missionaries and Christian workers with the Evangelical Free Church in Zaire, Evangelicals of Africa and Madagascar (AEAM), and the Africa Evangelical Office (AEO). Lydia worked as a teacher and school administrator; Eric worked first as a teacher, then on loan as a conference coordinator to the Africa Evangelical Office, and later as administrative secretary...
Dates:
Created: 1971-1991
Collection
Identifier: CN 344
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Paul Brown Long in which he discusses his childhood, attendance at Wheaton Academy and Wheaton College (including individuals Hudson, Taylor Armerding, Edward A. Coray, V. Raymond Edman, Billy Graham, Ruth Bell Graham, Clarence Jaarsma, Clarence Simpson, C. Gregg Singer), missionary work in education, evangelism, and church planting in the former Belgian Congo and in Brazil. Other topics include animism, church discipline, Christianity and culture, rearing a...
Dates:
Created: 1986
Collection
Identifier: CN 361
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with René Padilla, in which he discusses his childhood, family, evangelism in Colombia and Ecuador, persecution by Catholics in Colombia, his education at Wheaton College, work among university students with International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) in Latin America, evangelical theological education and liberation theology, the 1974 Lausanne Congress and covenant, the ministry of his church in Buenos Aires among drug addicts and slum dwellers, and the...
Dates:
Created: 1987
Collection
Identifier: CN 381
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Peter Simon Deyneka, Jr. (1931-2000) in which he describes his father, Peter Deyneka Sr; his own education at Wheaton College; and his early Christian work in Alaska, South America and Korea. Other topics discussed include: Deyneka's childhood in Chicago as the child of Russian immigrants, spiritual life on Wheaton College campus, decision to go into full-time ministry with the Slavic Gospel Association, working among the Aleut people in Alaska, refugee camps in...
Dates:
Created: 1987
Collection
Identifier: CN 392
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Dorothy Jane Mainhood in which she describes her childhood, conversion, spiritual growth, education at Wheaton College, call to be a missionary, and work in Thailand for Overseas Missionary Fellowship. Other topics discussed include Mainhood’s medical training, language study in Thailand, Thai people and culture, regional differences in Thailand, the Buddhist and Muslim communities in Thailand, religious syncretism, church-state relations, characteristics of...
Dates:
Created: 1988
Collection
Identifier: CN 485
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Mary Margaret Garfield Johnson in which she discusses her family background; education at Wheaton College with emphasis on the activities of the literary societies; and her impressions of fellow classmate Billy Graham.The time period covered by the interviews is 1920 to 1943.
Mary Margaret Garfield Johnson was interviewed by Robert Shuster on May 7, 1993 at the Billy Graham Center Archives at Wheaton College.
Dates:
Created: 1993
Collection
Identifier: CN 486
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Helen Ruth Supplee Jongewaard (1922-2005) in which she describes her time as a student at Wheaton College. Among the topics discussed are aquaintance with Billy Graham; the Boethallian Literary Society; memories of professors such as Carl Henry, William Nordin; Russell Mixter, Merrill Tenney, V Raymond Edman, and others; revival of 1943 on Wheaton campus; and the effect of World War II on Wheaton. The time period covered by the inteview is 1920 to 1943....
Dates:
Created: 1993
Collection
Identifier: CN 487
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Kathryn Marie Hess Feldi (1912-2015) in which she describes her parents, who were Africa Inland Mission workers in Tanzania; mother's conversion at a Billy Sunday campaign; her own attendance at Wheaton College; memories of Billy Graham as a college student; the Wheaton revival of 1943; favorite professors; and the effect of World War II on the Wheaton campus. The time period covered by the interviews is 1922 to 1993.Kathryn Marie Hess Feldi was...
Dates:
Created: 1993
Collection
Identifier: CN 489
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with John Allan MacDonald (1921-2014) in which he discusses his education and activities at Wheaton College from his graduation in 1943; literary societies; friends and faculty; the impact of World War II on the campus; Billy Graham and his role in the United Gospel Tabernacle in Wheaton; MacDonald's evangelistic and church ministry among San Francisco hippies in the late 1960s and work with Jews for Jesus (JFJ) and its founder Moishe Rosen. The second interview...
Dates:
Created: 1993-1994
Collection
Identifier: CN 490
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Joseph Charles MacKnight (1921-2003) in which he discusses his education and activities at Wheaton College from which he graduated in 1943, reasons for attending, literary societies, friends and significant staff and faculty (V. Raymond Edman, Russell Mixter, Elsie Storrs Dow, Edith Torrey, Mortimer Lane, James Mack), impact of World War II on the campus, Billy Graham and his role in the Gospel Tabernacle in Wheaton, and his medical career since graduating. The...
Dates:
Created: 1993
Collection
Identifier: CN 491
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Chester Terpstra (1917-2007) in which he discusses his years as a student at Wheaton College (1939-1943); his friendship with Billy Graham; and his later ministry in Micronesia and Hawaii. Other topics discussed include the religious culture of Hawaii during World War II and after; the prevalence of pre-millenialism at Wheaton College and among evangelical missionaries; and the 1943 revival at Wheaton College. The time period covered by the interviews is 1939 to...
Dates:
Created: 1993
Collection
Identifier: CN 567
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews, photographs, correspondence, reports, minutes, budgets, pamphlets, and manuscripts relating to Gustav H.W. Norton's (1915-2017) work as an administrator and professor of theology and missiology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Wheaton College, as well as his involvement with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Evangelical Literature Overseas, and Mid-American Keswick. The collection documents Norton’s childhood, education, and career as professor of missions...
Dates:
Created: 1950-2000
Collection
Identifier: CN 599
Scope and Contents
Audio tapes, comic book, film, filmstrips, oversize materials, phonograph records, postage stamps, and video tapes documenting the martyrdom of five American missionaries in Ecuador by the Waorani (Huaorani) Indians in 1956. Documents describe the deaths of the missionary, the response by Protestant evangelical Christians in the United States, and later missionary work with the Indians by Rachel Saint and Elisabeth Elliot.
Dates:
Created: 1956-1993, undated
Collection
Identifier: CN 607
Scope and Contents
Oral History Interviews with Dr. Herbert Andrew Atkinson (1931-2009) and his wife, Frieda Elizabeth (Paul) Atkinson (1930- ), missionaries with Africa Inland Mission (AIM) in the Belgian Congo. Dr. Atkinson discusses his family background, conversion, Wheaton College, influence of his roommate Bill Kornfield and Dr. V. Raymond Edman, God's provision for his entering medical school, ministry in Oicha, obstacles in communication with the Congolese, lessons learned on the mission field. Frieda...
Dates:
Created: 1988
Collection
Identifier: CN 625
Scope and Contents
Class papers and notes, correspondence, hymns, manuscript, post cards, sermon notes, and thesis documenting the ministry of Lois Vashti Gregory, American Methodist evangelist and teacher of Christian values to young people. Her ministry not only included preaching to adults but also teaching young people, especially children, in Christian ethics and living a morally pure life. Gregory was particularly active in the northeast region of the United States.
Dates:
Created: 1887-1961; Majority of material found in 1902-1961
Collection
Identifier: CN 628
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, reports, notes, minutes, and manuscripts related to theologian and author Carl Henry, documenting his work with the Institute for Advanced Christian Studies, but which also touch on a few other aspects of his life, including his association with Wheaton College and with the magazine Christianity Today.
Dates:
Created: 1925-1984
Collection
Identifier: CN 658
Scope and Contents
Prayer letters and an oral history interviews which document Samuel Douglas Faircloth’s childhood, conversion, education at Wheaton College and elsewhere, and his work as a United States Army chaplain in Italy immediately after World War II, as a church planter in Portugal, and a seminary professor at the Tyndale Theological Seminary in the Netherlands.
Dates:
Created: 1949-2011
Collection
Identifier: CN 484
Scope and Contents
Four oral history interviews, paper records, and photographs documenting David Howard's life and work with Latin American Mission, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and World Evangelical Fellowship. Topics covered in the interviews include Howard's childhood, Christian faith, education at Wheaton College, work as a missionary and administrator with Latin America Mission; missions director for Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, director of the 1980 Consultation on World Evangelization; and...
Dates:
Created: 1968-1993
Collection
Identifier: CN 259
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Donald Arthur Cook (1923-2014) in which he describes his service with the Overseas Missionary Fellowship in Japan between 1956-1972. Topics discussed include upbringing, education at Wheaton College, experiences in the United States Air Force, American response to WWII, decision to join China Inland Mission (later OMF), evangelistic methods in Japan, administrative work, language difficulties, administrative duties in OMF headquarters in Hokkaido and in Tokyo,...
Dates:
Created: 1983
Collection
Identifier: CN 093
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Earl Austin Winsor (1897-1983) in which he discusses his education at Wheaton College as a student (1919-1920) and teacher (1920-25, history, and 1939-1949, math and physics) and his missionary experiences in Africa under Africa Inland Mission, serving in what is now Zaire. Wheaton personalities, mission experiences, especially those relating to his education work, and analysis of his exposure to African government, churches, tribal customs, and health practices....
Dates:
Created: 1979-1980
Unprocessed Material — Box: 1
Identifier: 2007-022
Collection
Identifier: CN 052
Brief Description
Oral history interview with Esther I. Salzman (1906-1996), a Wheaton College alumna and missionary to China in the 1940s and to the Philippines from 1950 to 1972. Topics discussed include her education at Wheaton College, medical work in China and the Philippines, and Communism in China. The time period covered by the interview is 1906 to 1978. Esther Salzman was interviewed by Wheaton College student Fred Baker on October 28, 1978 at her home in Kankakee, IL....
Dates:
Created: 1978
Unprocessed Material — Box: 1
Identifier: 2011-051
Collection
Identifier: CN 169
Scope and Contents
Oral History Interview with Harold Paul Adolph, in which he discusses his boyhood in China as the son of missionaries with China Inland Mission, conditions in China, his education at Wheaton College, medical education at the University of Pennsylvania, decision to become a missionary, and his ministry in Ethiopia as a medical missionary in African with Sudan Interior Mission; American missions in Ethiopia; family life on the mission field, and work with the Christian Medical Society. The...
Dates:
Created: 1981
Collection
Identifier: CN 124
Brief Description
Two oral history interviews with Helen Gignilliat Torrey Renich in which she describes her grandfather, Reuben Archer Torrey, Sr., and her experiences growing up in China as a child of missionaries. Other topics discussed include her experiences at Wheaton College and culture shock. The collection also includes photographs of her family life in China and Chinese nationals, ca. 1920-30s.Helen Renich was interviewed by Robert Shuster on May 15, 1980 in Michigan and on May 17, 1982...
Dates:
Created: 1920-1982
Collection
Identifier: CN 020
Brief Description
Correspondence, photographs, reports, publications, posters, minutes of meetings, and other documentation of Herbert J. Taylor's long involvement in the leadership of such organizations as Child Evangelism, Youth for Christ, Christian Service Brigade, Pioneer Girls, Young Life, National Association of Evangelicals, Fuller Seminary, Christian Workers Foundation, and Inter-Varsity as well as his role in the planning and development of Billy Graham's Chicago crusades and of Key '73. Other...
Dates:
Created: Ca. 1916-1979
Digital Record
Identifier: 19670922-chapel
Dates:
Digitized: 1967 September 22
Collection
Identifier: CN 108
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, a book manuscript, a film script, tapes of sermons and speeches, and other items which describe Muntz's early career as director of the Winona Lake Bible Conference, the early development of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the criticism it received, the careers of Billy Sunday and other evangelists. There are also several sermons on Christian prophecy and evangelism to the Jewish people. Topics covered include information on Palmer's career...
Dates:
Created: 1947-1986
Collection
Identifier: CN 260
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Jeannette Louise Martig Thiessen (1927-2014) in which she discusses her family life in Illinois, favorite professors and her education at Wheaton College, nurses' training, and years in India (1952-1974) working with her husband under the sponsorship of the Mennonite Mission to the Lepers and American Leprosy Mission. Other topics discussed include: the Indian caste system, Indian politics, economics, literacy, hospital work with lepers, the Indian church,...
Dates:
Created: 1983
Unprocessed Material — Box: 9
Identifier: 2019-015
Collection
Identifier: CN 263
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Margaret Johanna (Larson) Carlson in which she describes growing up in Ecuador as the child of missionaries, her education at Westmont and Wheaton Colleges, her nursing experience, and her missionary service with her husband at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Seminary in Hong Kong. Other topics discussed include: the founding of a HCJB radio station by her father, Reuben Larson, and her involvement in Wheaton College's HNGR Program. Individuals described...
Dates:
Created: 1983
Unprocessed Material — Box: 1
Identifier: 2024-0027
Unprocessed Material — Container: 1
Identifier: 2021-0052
Dates:
Majority of material found within 1960 - 1961
Unprocessed Material — Container: 1
Identifier: 2021-0064
Dates:
Majority of material found within 1905 - 1950
Unprocessed Material — Container: 1
Identifier: 2020-0013
Unprocessed Material — Container: Box 1
Identifier: 2020-0008
Dates:
Majority of material found in 1963 - 1963
Collection
Identifier: RG-02-004
Scope and Contents
Records of the President V. Raymond Edman , include biographical files, subject files, correspondence, financial records, sermons, audio recordings and memorabilia.
Dates:
Created: 1918-2020; Other: Majority of material found in 1931-1966
Unprocessed Material — Folder: 1
Identifier: 2024-0004