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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 8 Collections and/or Records:

Collection 248 Papers of William J. Barnett

 Collection
Identifier: CN 248
Scope and Contents Oral history interviews and booklet of short stories and photographs created by William John Barnett, relating to his upbringing in Kenya as the son of missionaries with Africa Inland Mission (AIM) and his own later medical missionary service in Tanzania, Kenya, and the Comoro Islands from 1950-1990.Series: Audio TapesOral history interviews with William John Barnett in which he describes his childhood in Kenya with his missionary parents;...
Dates: Created: 1983-1997

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 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

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

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  • Subject: Boarding schools X

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Subject
Children of missionaries. 7
Evangelistic work. 7
Missionaries. 7
Tribes. 7
Women missionaries. 7
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Culture shock. 6
Indigenous church administration 6
Language in missionary work. 6
Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election. 6
Catholic Church. 5
Christianity and culture. 5
Church and state. 5
Conversion. 5
Education 5
Medical care 5
Missionaries -- Training of. 5
Missions -- Educational work. 5
Missions, Medical. 5
Women 5
Women -- Religious life. 5
Animism. 4
Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 4
College students. 4
Missions -- Finance. 4
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 4
Children of missionaries -- Education. 3
Church work with women. 3
College students -- Religious life. 3
College students in missionary work. 3
Family. 3
Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 3
Missions to Muslims. 3
Missions. 3
Revivals. 3
Rural missions. 3
Sex role. 3
Belief and doubt. 2
Bible colleges. 2
Bible. 2
China -- History. 2
Christian education. 2
Church and social problems. 2
Church development, New. 2
College students -- United States -- Religious life. 2
Economic and social conditions 2
Evangelicalism. 2
Great Britain 2
Great Britain -- Colonies -- Africa. 2
Great Britain -- Colonies. 2
Intercultural communication. 2
International relief. 2
Islam -- Relations -- Christianity. 2
Medical care -- China. 2
Missions -- China. 2
Missions -- Interdenominational cooperation. 2
Muslims. 2
Persecution -- China. 2
Persecution. 2
Presbyterians. 2
Racism. 2
Radio in missionary work. 2
Revivals -- Wheaton. 2
Street preaching. 2
Theological seminaries. 2
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Employees. 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 -- Kenya. 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
Baptists -- Missions -- Cameroon. 1
Baptists -- Missions. 1
Baptists. 1
Belgium. 1
Belgium. -- Administration. 1
Belgium. -- Colonies 1
Belgium. -- Colonies -- Africa. 1
Bhil (Indic people) 1
Bible -- Study and teaching. 1
Bible -- Translating. 1
Bible colleges 1
Bible colleges -- Nigeria. 1
Boarding schools -- Africa. 1
Boarding schools -- China. 1
Boarding schools -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Boarding schools -- Ecuador. 1
Boarding schools -- Kenya. 1
Boarding schools -- Korea. 1
Boarding schools -- Nigeria. 1
Boarding schools -- South Africa. 1
Cameroon. 1
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