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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 6 Collections and/or Records:

Collection 052 Oral History Interview with Esther Salzman

 Collection
Identifier: CN 052
Scope and Contents

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

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 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: Missions -- Educational work. X

Additional filters:

Subject
Children of missionaries. 5
Church and state. 5
Indigenous church administration 5
Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election. 5
Missionaries. 5
∨ more
Women missionaries. 5
Boarding schools. 4
Catholic Church. 4
Christianity and culture. 4
Conversion. 4
Medical care 4
Missions, Medical. 4
Women 4
Women -- Religious life. 4
China -- History. 3
Education 3
Language in missionary work. 3
Medical care -- China. 3
Missionaries -- Training of. 3
Missions -- China. 3
Missions -- Finance. 3
Missions. 3
Rural missions. 3
Sex role. 3
Tribes. 3
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 3
Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 2
Children of missionaries -- Education. 2
China -- History -- 1937-1945. 2
Christian leadership. 2
Christian life. 2
Church and social problems. 2
Church development, New. 2
Church schools 2
College students in missionary work. 2
College students. 2
Communism -- China. 2
Communism. 2
Economic and social conditions 2
Evangelicalism. 2
Evangelistic work -- China. 2
Intercultural communication. 2
International relief. 2
Islam -- Relations -- Christianity. 2
Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 2
Missionaries' spouses. 2
Missionaries, Resignation of. 2
Missions -- Interdenominational cooperation. 2
Missions to Muslims. 2
Muslims. 2
Nursing. 2
Persecution -- China. 2
Persecution. 2
Radio in missionary work. 2
Revivals. 2
Street preaching. 2
Superstition. 2
Theological seminaries. 2
World War, 1939-1945. 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
Animism -- Nigeria. 1
Animism. 1
Apartheid. 1
Athletes 1
Athletes -- United States 1
Athletes -- United States -- Religious life. 1
BGEA: South Africa Tour -- 1960 1
Belgium. 1
Belgium. -- Administration. 1
Belgium. -- Colonies 1
Belgium. -- Colonies -- Africa. 1
Belief and doubt. 1
Bhil (Indic people) 1
Bible -- Translating. 1
Bible colleges 1
Bible colleges -- Nigeria. 1
Bible colleges. 1
Bible. 1
Boarding schools -- China. 1
Boarding schools -- Ecuador. 1
Boarding schools -- Korea. 1
Boarding schools -- Nigeria. 1
Caste. 1
Caste. -- Pakistan. 1
Catholic Church -- Africa. 1
Catholic Church -- Kenya. 1
Catholic Church. -- China. 1
Catholic Church. -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Catholic Church. -- Hong Kong 1
Catholic Church. -- Philippines. 1
Children -- Conversion to Christianity. 1
Children -- Religious life. 1
Children of missionaries -- China. 1
Children. 1
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