Skip to main content

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 8 Collections and/or Records:

Collection 169 Oral History Interviews with Harold P. Adolph

 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 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 262 Oral History Interview with Raymond Buker Jr.

 Collection
Identifier: CN 262
Scope and Contents Oral history interviews with Raymond Bates Buker in which he describes growing up in Burma as the child of missionaries, his education at Wheaton College, his decision to become a missionary under the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society, language study; evangelization, church planting, translation, medical missions and education activities in Pakistan, working with Muslims and the Sindhi, Bhils, and Marwari tribal people, 1954-1969. Other topics discussed include: the culture,...
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 283 Oral History Interviews with Nancy Folkerts

 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 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

Collection 328 Papers of Eric and Lydia Maillefer

 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

Helen Renich Papers.

 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

Filtered By

  • Type: Collection X
  • Subject: Culture shock. X
  • Subject: Indigenous church administration X

Additional filters:

Subject
Children of missionaries. 7
Church and state. 7
Evangelistic work. 7
Missionaries. 7
Conversion. 6
∨ more
Medical care 6
Missionaries -- Training of. 6
Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election. 6
Women missionaries. 6
Boarding schools. 5
Education 5
Missions -- Educational work. 5
Missions, Medical. 5
Tribes. 5
Women 5
Women -- Religious life. 5
Catholic Church. 4
Christianity and culture. 4
Language in missionary work. 4
Missions. 4
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 4
Children of missionaries -- Education. 3
China -- History. 3
Church and social problems. 3
College students in missionary work. 3
College students. 3
Evangelicalism. 3
Intercultural communication. 3
Islam -- Relations -- Christianity. 3
Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 3
Missionaries -- Training of -- United States. 3
Missionaries' spouses. 3
Missions -- China. 3
Missions -- Finance. 3
Missions to Muslims. 3
Muslims. 3
Persecution. 3
Revivals. 3
Rural missions. 3
Sex role. 3
World War, 1939-1945. 3
Animism. 2
Bible colleges 2
Bible colleges. 2
Bible. 2
Caste. 2
Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 2
Children -- Religious life. 2
Children. 2
China -- History -- 1937-1945. 2
China -- History -- Civil War, 1945-1949. 2
Chinese -- Missions. 2
Chinese. 2
Christian education. 2
Christian leadership. 2
Christian life. 2
Church development, New. 2
Church schools 2
Church work with women. 2
College students -- United States 2
College students -- United States -- Religious life. 2
Communism -- China. 2
Communism. 2
Economic and social conditions 2
Education, Higher 2
Education, Higher -- United States. 2
Evangelistic work -- China. 2
International relief. 2
Leprosy. 2
Medical care -- China. 2
Missionaries, Resignation of. 2
Missions -- Interdenominational cooperation. 2
Nursing -- Study and teaching 2
Nursing -- Study and teaching -- United States. 2
Nursing. 2
Persecution -- China. 2
Presbyterians. 2
Radio in missionary work. 2
Revivals -- Wheaton. 2
Sino-Japanese Conflict, 1937-1945. 2
Street preaching. 2
Superstition. 2
Theological seminaries. 2
Worship (Christian) 2
Alcoholism -- United States 1
Alcoholism. -- United States -- Diplomatic and consular service 1
Alcoholism. -- United States -- Diplomatic and consular service -- Nigeria. 1
Amharic language. 1
Animism -- Ethiopia. 1
Animism -- Nigeria. 1
Apartheid. 1
Athletes 1
Athletes -- United States 1
Athletes -- United States -- Religious life. 1
BGEA: South Africa Tour -- 1960 1
Baptists -- Missions -- Cameroon. 1
Baptists -- Missions. 1
Baptists. 1
∧ less