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Edman, V. Raymond (Victor Raymond), 1900-1967.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1900 - 1967

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 3 Collections and/or Records:

Collection 260 Oral History Interviews with Jeannette Thiessen

 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

Collection 263 Oral History Interview with Margaret Carlson

 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

Collection 290 Oral History Interview with Merle A. Steely

 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

Filtered By

  • Type: Collection X
  • Subject: Culture shock. X
  • Subject: College students. X

Additional filters:

Subject
Bible colleges 2
Boarding schools. 2
Catholic Church. 2
Children of missionaries -- Education. 2
Christianity and culture. 2
∨ more
Church and social problems. 2
College students -- United States 2
College students -- United States -- Religious life. 2
Conversion. 2
Education 2
Intercultural communication. 2
Language in missionary work. 2
Missionaries -- Training of. 2
Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 2
Missions -- Educational work. 2
Missions -- Finance. 2
Missions, Medical. 2
Missions. 2
Nursing -- Study and teaching 2
Nursing -- Study and teaching -- United States. 2
Nursing. 2
Radio in missionary work. 2
Revivals -- Wheaton. 2
Revivals. 2
Theological seminaries. 2
Tribes. 2
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 2
Women 2
Women -- Religious life. 2
Alcoholism -- United States 1
Alcoholism. -- United States -- Diplomatic and consular service 1
Alcoholism. -- United States -- Diplomatic and consular service -- Nigeria. 1
Animism -- Nigeria. 1
Animism. 1
BGEA: South Africa Tour -- 1960 1
Bible colleges -- India. 1
Bible colleges -- Nigeria. 1
Boarding schools -- Ecuador. 1
Boarding schools -- Nigeria. 1
Caste -- India. 1
Caste. 1
Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 1
Catholic Church. -- China. 1
Catholic Church. -- Hong Kong 1
Children -- Conversion to Christianity. 1
Children -- Religious life. 1
Children. 1
China -- History -- Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976. 1
China -- History. 1
China. 1
Chinese -- Missions. 1
Chinese. 1
Church and social problems -- Ecuador. 1
Church and social problems -- Hong Kong. 1
Church and social problems -- Nigeria. 1
Church and state -- Ecuador. 1
Church and state -- India. 1
Church and state -- Nigeria. 1
Church development, New. 1
Church discipline. 1
Church growth -- India. 1
Church growth. 1
Church schools 1
Church schools -- Nigeria. 1
Church work with military personnel. 1
College students -- Religious life. 1
Colombia 1
Colombia -- Description and travel. 1
Communism -- China. 1
Communism. 1
Demoniac possession 1
Demoniac possession -- Nigeria. 1
Economic and social conditions 1
Economic and social conditions -- Hong Kong 1
Ecuador 1
Ecuador -- Description and travel. 1
Education -- India. 1
Education -- Nigeria. 1
Evangelicalism -- United States. 1
Evangelicalism. 1
Evangelistic work -- Hong Kong. 1
Evangelistic work -- India. 1
Evangelistic work -- Nigeria. 1
Evangelistic work -- South America. 1
Fula (African people) 1
Funeral rites and ceremonies -- Hong Kong 1
Funeral rites and ceremonies. 1
Great Britain 1
Great Britain -- Colonies -- Africa. 1
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