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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 225 Records of the Baptista Film Mission

 Collection
Identifier: CN 225
Scope and Contents Correspondence, diaries, newsletters, scripts, catalogs, films, and other material related to the work of the Baptista Film Mission. This collection contains much information on the beginnings of the Protestant evangelical Christian film industry. Included are films featured are evangelical and fundamentalist figures like V. Raymond Edman, Billy Graham, Henry A. Ironside, Bob Jones Jr., Paul Rader, Oswald J. Smith, and Walter Wilson and nondenominational organizations. Subjects documented...
Dates: Created: 1908-1977; Majority of material found in 1939-1963

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 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 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

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

Office of the President Records (V. Raymond Edman)

 Collection
Identifier: RG-02-004
Scope and Contents

Records of the President V. Raymond Edman , include biographical files, subject files, correspondence,  financial records, sermons, audio recordings and memorabilia.

Dates: Created: 1918-2020; Other: Majority of material found in 1931-1966

Wheaton College Revivals Collection

 Collection
Identifier: CN 514
Scope and Contents

Oral history interviews, questionnaires, reports, videos, and other materials relating to spontaneous revivals on Wheaton College campus in the twentieth century. There are restrictions on some material in this collection. The collection primarily documents the March 1995 revival at the College, largely through oral history interviews conducted during or shortly after the event; also included are thirteen follow-up interviews conducted two years after the revival.

Dates: Created: 1936-1997; Other: Majority of material found in 1994-1995

Filtered By

  • Subject: Bible. X

Additional filters:

Subject
Church and state. 7
Conversion. 7
Evangelistic work. 7
Bible. 6
Indigenous church administration 6
∨ more
Language in missionary work. 6
Missionaries -- Training of. 6
Missionaries. 6
Christianity and culture. 5
Culture shock. 5
Medical care 5
Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election. 5
Revivals -- Wheaton. 5
Revivals. 5
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 5
Women 5
Women -- Religious life. 5
Women missionaries. 5
Boarding schools. 4
Catholic Church. 4
Children of missionaries. 4
College students in missionary work. 4
Education 4
Evangelistic work -- United States. 4
Missions, Medical. 4
Tribes. 4
Animism. 3
Bible colleges 3
Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 3
Christian leadership. 3
Christian life. 3
Church work with women. 3
College students. 3
Missions -- Educational work. 3
Missions to Muslims. 3
Missions. 3
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Faculty. 3
World War, 1939-1945. 3
Animism -- Nigeria. 2
Athletes 2
Athletes -- United States 2
Athletes -- United States -- Religious life. 2
Belief and doubt. 2
Bible -- Publication and distribution. 2
Bible -- Study and teaching. 2
Bible -- Translating. 2
Bible colleges. 2
Caste. 2
Children -- United States 2
Children -- United States -- Conversion to Christianity. 2
Children -- United States -- Religious life. 2
Children of missionaries -- Education. 2
Children. 2
Christian education. 2
Christianity and culture -- United States. 2
Church work with students. 2
College students -- United States 2
College students -- United States -- Religious life. 2
Education, Higher 2
Education, Higher -- United States. 2
Evangelicalism -- United States. 2
Evangelicalism. 2
Evangelistic work -- Nigeria. 2
Faith. 2
Fundamentalism. 2
Intercultural communication. 2
Islam -- Relations -- Christianity. 2
Leprosy. 2
Marriage. 2
Mass media in religion. 2
Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 2
Missionaries -- Training of -- United States. 2
Missions -- Finance. 2
Missions -- Nigeria. 2
Muslims. 2
Nigeria 2
Nigeria -- Religion. 2
Prayer groups -- United States. 2
Prayer groups. 2
Presbyterians. 2
Radio in missionary work. 2
Religious institutions. 2
Rural missions. 2
Salvation. 2
Sex role. 2
Sin. 2
Street preaching. 2
Sunday schools. 2
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Buildings. 2
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Employees. 2
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Religious life and customs. 2
Worship (Christian) 2
Worship. 2
Youth 2
AIDS (Disease) 1
Alcoholism -- United States 1
Alcoholism. -- United States -- Diplomatic and consular service 1
Alcoholism. -- United States -- Diplomatic and consular service -- Nigeria. 1
Animism -- Bolivia. 1
Animism -- Central African Republic. 1
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