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 14 Collections and/or Records:
Collection 093 Oral History Interview with Earl A. Winsor
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
Collection 105 Oral History Interview with Paul D. Votaw
Collection
Identifier: CN 105
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Paul Dean Votaw (1917-2007) in which he describes his childhood; education at Wheaton College, Dallas Seminary, and Princeton Seminary; and missionary activities in Syria and Lebanon. The time period covered by the interview is roughly 1917-1954.Reverend Paul Votaw was interviewed by Robert Shuster on March 4, 1980, at the Graham Center offices in Wheaton. The first ten minutes of the interview are barely decipherable due to technical difficulties. The...
Dates:
Created: 1980
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 259 Oral History Interviews with Donald A. Cook
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 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 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 284 Oral History Interview with Gladys Wright
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 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 302 Oral History Interview with David L. Farah
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 317 Oral History Interview with Ian H. and Ruth E. Cook
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 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
Collection 392 Oral History Interviews with Dorothy J. Mainhood
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 567 Papers of H. Wilbert Norton
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
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election. 12
- Church and state. 11
- Conversion. 11
- Evangelistic work. 11
- Language in missionary work. 11
- Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 10
- Catholic Church. 9
- Education 9
- Indigenous church administration 9
- Tribes. 8
- Children of missionaries. 7
- Christianity and culture. 7
- Culture shock. 7
- Medical care 7
- Missions -- Educational work. 7
- Missions, Medical. 7
- Women missionaries. 7
- Animism. 6
- Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 6
- Missions -- Finance. 6
- Missions to Muslims. 6
- Women 6
- Women -- Religious life. 6
- Boarding schools. 5
- Christian education. 5
- College students in missionary work. 5
- Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 5
- Missions. 5
- Bible. 4
- Children of missionaries -- Education. 4
- College students. 4
- Intercultural communication. 4
- Missionaries -- Training of -- United States. 4
- Missions -- Congo (Democratic Republic). 4
- Muslims. 4
- Rural missions. 4
- World War, 1939-1945. 4
- Belgium. 3
- Belgium. -- Colonies 3
- Belgium. -- Colonies -- Africa. 3
- Christian leadership. 3
- Christian life. 3
- Church development, New. 3
- Church work with women. 3
- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- History -- Civil War, 1960-1965. 3
- Ecumenical movement. 3
- Education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 3
- Evangelicalism. 3
- Evangelistic work -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 3
- Evangelistic work -- United States. 3
- Fund raising. 3
- Islam -- Relations -- Christianity. 3
- Leprosy. 3
- Marriage. 3
- Missionaries' spouses. 3
- Missionaries, Resignation of. 3
- Missions -- Congresses. 3
- Revivals -- Wheaton. 3
- Revivals. 3
- Sex role. 3
- Sunday schools. 3
- Syncretism (Religion). 3
- Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Faculty. 3
- Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Religious life and customs. 3
- Apartheid. 2
- Belgium. -- Administration. 2
- Bible -- Study and teaching. 2
- Bible -- Translating. 2
- Bible colleges 2
- Caste. 2
- Catholic Church -- Missions. 2
- Catholic Church. -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
- Children. 2
- Christian education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
- Christian education -- United States. 2
- Church and social problems. 2
- Church and state -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
- Church discipline. 2
- Church growth. 2
- Church schools 2
- Church work with students. 2
- Church work with youth. 2
- College students -- Religious life. 2
- College students -- United States 2
- College students -- United States -- Religious life. 2
- Communism. 2
- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Politics and government. 2
- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Religion. 2
- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Social conditions. 2
- Congo (Democratic Republic)--Social life and customs 2
- Education, Higher 2
- Education, Higher -- United States. 2
- Evangelical Free Church of America -- Missions. 2
- Indigenous church administration -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
- Indigenous church administration -- Kenya. 2
- Kenya 2
- Kenya -- Politics and government. 2
- Medical care -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2 ∧ less
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