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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 10 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 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 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 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 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 607 Oral History Interviews with Herbert and Frieda Atkinson

 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

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: Missions, Medical. X

Additional filters:

Subject
Conversion. 9
Evangelistic work. 9
Missionaries. 9
Children of missionaries. 8
Medical care 8
∨ more
Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election. 8
Church and state. 7
Culture shock. 7
Indigenous church administration 7
Language in missionary work. 7
Missionaries -- Training of. 7
Women missionaries. 7
Education 6
Missions -- Educational work. 6
Tribes. 6
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 6
Animism. 5
Boarding schools. 5
Catholic Church. 5
Women 5
Women -- Religious life. 5
Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 4
Christianity and culture. 4
Missions -- Finance. 4
Missions to Muslims. 4
Missions. 4
Children of missionaries -- Education. 3
China -- History -- 1937-1945. 3
China -- History. 3
Christian education. 3
College students in missionary work. 3
College students. 3
Congo (Democratic Republic) -- History -- Civil War, 1960-1965. 3
Evangelistic work -- China. 3
Evangelistic work -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 3
Intercultural communication. 3
Islam -- Relations -- Christianity. 3
Medical care -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 3
Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 3
Missionaries -- Training of -- United States. 3
Missions -- China. 3
Missions -- Congo (Democratic Republic). 3
Muslims. 3
Revivals. 3
Sex role. 3
World War, 1939-1945. 3
Belgium. 2
Belgium. -- Colonies 2
Belgium. -- Colonies -- Africa. 2
Belief and doubt. 2
Bible colleges 2
Caste. 2
Catholic Church -- Missions. 2
China -- History -- Civil War, 1945-1949. 2
Christian education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Church and social problems. 2
Church development, New. 2
Church discipline. 2
Church work with women. 2
College students -- Religious life. 2
Communism -- China. 2
Communism. 2
Education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Education -- United States. 2
Education, Higher 2
Education, Higher -- United States. 2
Evangelicalism. 2
Family. 2
Leprosy. 2
Marriage. 2
Medical care -- China. 2
Missionaries' spouses. 2
Nursing. 2
Persecution. 2
Revivals -- Wheaton. 2
Rural missions. 2
Seminary extension. 2
Sino-Japanese Conflict, 1937-1945. 2
Street preaching. 2
Tribes -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Employees. 2
Worship (Christian) 2
Worship. 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 -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Animism -- Ethiopia. 1
Animism -- Nigeria. 1
Animism -- South Africa. 1
Apartheid. 1
Athletes 1
Athletes -- United States 1
Athletes -- United States -- Religious life. 1
BGEA: South Africa Tour -- 1960 1
Belgium. -- Administration. 1
Bhil (Indic people) 1
Bible -- Translating. 1
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