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 16 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 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 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 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 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 325 Oral History Interview with Donald W. Berry
Collection
Identifier: CN 325
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview in which Berry discusses his conversion, education at Wheaton College, and his work as a pilot and administrator for Mission Aviation Fellowship in Honduras and Southeast Asia. Other topics discussed include. Berry’s service in the Army during World War II, his views on pacifism, the origins of Mission Aviation Fellowship, challenges of MAF, and the effect of life on the mission field on Berry’s family.Donald Berry was interviewed by Robert Shuster on...
Dates:
Created: 1986
Collection 326 Papers of James Edwin Wright
Collection
Identifier: CN 326
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews and personal notebook relating to the ministry of James E. Wright with Youth for Christ in India, Mexico, and the United States.Series 1: Audio TapesOral history interviews with James E. Wright in which he describes his youth, conversion and spiritual growth, education at Wheaton College and Multnomah School of the Bible, involvement with Youth For Christ in Portland, Oregon, India and Mexico, counseling and follow-up...
Dates:
Created: 1950-1986
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 344 Oral History Interview with Paul B. Long
Collection
Identifier: CN 344
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with Paul Brown Long in which he discusses his childhood, attendance at Wheaton Academy and Wheaton College (including individuals Hudson, Taylor Armerding, Edward A. Coray, V. Raymond Edman, Billy Graham, Ruth Bell Graham, Clarence Jaarsma, Clarence Simpson, C. Gregg Singer), missionary work in education, evangelism, and church planting in the former Belgian Congo and in Brazil. Other topics include animism, church discipline, Christianity and culture, rearing a...
Dates:
Created: 1986
Collection 361 Oral History Interviews with C. René Padilla
Collection
Identifier: CN 361
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with René Padilla, in which he discusses his childhood, family, evangelism in Colombia and Ecuador, persecution by Catholics in Colombia, his education at Wheaton College, work among university students with International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) in Latin America, evangelical theological education and liberation theology, the 1974 Lausanne Congress and covenant, the ministry of his church in Buenos Aires among drug addicts and slum dwellers, and the...
Dates:
Created: 1987
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 628 Papers of Carl F. H. Henry
Collection
Identifier: CN 628
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, reports, notes, minutes, and manuscripts related to theologian and author Carl Henry, documenting his work with the Institute for Advanced Christian Studies, but which also touch on a few other aspects of his life, including his association with Wheaton College and with the magazine Christianity Today.
Dates:
Created: 1925-1984
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
Found in:
Evangelism & Missions Archives
/
Helen Renich Papers.
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: Christianity and culture X
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Evangelistic work. 13
- Missionaries. 12
- Conversion. 11
- Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election. 11
- Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 9
- Catholic Church. 8
- Church and state. 8
- Language in missionary work. 8
- Missions -- Finance. 8
- Women missionaries. 8
- Children of missionaries. 7
- Education 7
- Evangelicalism. 7
- Indigenous church administration 7
- Missionaries -- Training of. 7
- Animism. 6
- Missions -- Educational work. 6
- Revivals. 6
- Tribes. 6
- Women 6
- Women -- Religious life. 6
- World War, 1939-1945. 6
- Boarding schools. 5
- Christian education. 5
- Christian life. 5
- College students in missionary work. 5
- Culture shock. 5
- Family. 5
- Medical care 5
- Missions. 5
- Revivals -- Wheaton. 5
- Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Faculty. 5
- Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Religious life and customs. 5
- Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 4
- Christian leadership. 4
- Church and social problems. 4
- Church development, New. 4
- College students. 4
- Evangelicalism -- United States. 4
- Evangelistic work -- United States. 4
- Intercultural communication. 4
- Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 4
- Missions, Medical. 4
- Sex role. 4
- Bible. 3
- Children of missionaries -- Education. 3
- Christianity and culture -- United States. 3
- Church discipline. 3
- Church schools 3
- Church work with women. 3
- College students -- United States -- Religious life. 3
- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Religion. 3
- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Social conditions. 3
- Education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 3
- Evangelistic work -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 3
- Fund raising. 3
- Interdenominational cooperation. 3
- Kenya 3
- Mass media in missionary work. 3
- Missionaries, Resignation of. 3
- Missions -- Congo (Democratic Republic). 3
- Missions -- Interdenominational cooperation. 3
- Missions -- Kenya. 3
- Pentecostalism. 3
- Persecution. 3
- Racism. 3
- Radio in missionary work. 3
- Rural missions. 3
- Sunday schools. 3
- Syncretism (Religion). 3
- Theological seminaries. 3
- Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Social life and customs. 3
- Worship. 3
- Animism -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
- Apartheid. 2
- Belgium. 2
- Belgium. -- Colonies 2
- Belgium. -- Colonies -- Africa. 2
- Belief and doubt. 2
- Bible colleges 2
- Catholic Church -- Missions. 2
- Children. 2
- China -- History. 2
- Christian education -- United States. 2
- Christian literature -- Publication and distribution. 2
- Christian literature. 2
- Christianity and politics. 2
- Church growth. 2
- Church work with prisoners. 2
- Church work with students. 2
- Church work with youth. 2
- College students -- Religious life. 2
- College students -- United States 2
- Colombia 2
- Communism. 2
- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- History -- Civil War, 1960-1965. 2
- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Politics and government. 2
- Demoniac possession 2
- Ecuador 2 ∧ less
∨ more