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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 5 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 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 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 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

Filtered By

  • Subject: Children of missionaries -- Education. X

Additional filters:

Subject
Church and state. 4
College students. 4
Conversion. 4
Education 4
Indigenous church administration 4
∨ more
Language in missionary work. 4
Missionaries -- Training of. 4
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 4
Animism. 3
Boarding schools. 3
Catholic Church. 3
Christianity and culture. 3
Church development, New. 3
College students -- Religious life. 3
College students in missionary work. 3
Culture shock. 3
Medical care 3
Missions -- Educational work. 3
Missions -- Finance. 3
Missions, Medical. 3
Revivals -- Wheaton. 3
Revivals. 3
Rural missions. 3
Tribes. 3
Women 3
Women -- Religious life. 3
Belgium. 2
Belgium. -- Administration. 2
Belgium. -- Colonies 2
Belgium. -- Colonies -- Africa. 2
Bible colleges 2
Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 2
Catholic Church. -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Church and state -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Church schools 2
College students -- United States -- Religious life. 2
Congo (Democratic Republic) -- History -- Civil War, 1960-1965. 2
Congo (Democratic Republic)--Social life and customs 2
Education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Evangelistic work -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Fund raising. 2
Great Britain 2
Great Britain -- Colonies -- Africa. 2
Great Britain -- Colonies. 2
Kenya 2
Leprosy. 2
Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 2
Missionaries' spouses. 2
Missionaries, Resignation of. 2
Missions -- Congo (Democratic Republic). 2
Missions -- Kenya. 2
Missions to Muslims. 2
Missions. 2
Seminary extension. 2
Sex role. 2
Superstition. 2
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Employees. 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
Apartheid. 1
BGEA: South Africa Tour -- 1960 1
Bible colleges -- India. 1
Bible colleges -- Nigeria. 1
Boarding schools -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Boarding schools -- Kenya. 1
Boarding schools -- Nigeria. 1
Caste -- India. 1
Caste. 1
Catholic Church -- Africa. 1
Catholic Church -- Kenya. 1
Christian education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Christian education. 1
Christian leadership. 1
Christian life. 1
Church and social problems -- Nigeria. 1
Church and social problems. 1
Church and state -- India. 1
Church and state -- Nigeria. 1
Church discipline. 1
Church growth -- India. 1
Church growth. 1
Church schools -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Church schools -- Nigeria. 1
Church work with children -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Church work with children. 1
Church work with military personnel. 1
College students -- United States 1
Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Agricultural conditions. 1
Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Politics and government. 1
Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Religion. 1
Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Social conditions. 1
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