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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 279 Oral History Interview with Elizabeth Evans

 Collection
Identifier: CN 279
Scope and Contents Oral history interviews with Elizabeth Morrell Evans (1899-1976) in which she discusses her childhood; education at Wheaton College; work with J. Elwin Wright; her Christian education activities; the development of the New England Fellowship, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the World Evangelical Fellowship; and her work as a missionary in Taiwan. The time period covered by the interviews is 1899-1976.Elizabeth Evans was interviewed by Robert Shuster on October 8,...
Dates: Created: 1984-1985

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 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 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

Filtered By

  • Subject: Church work with women. X

Additional filters:

Subject
Catholic Church. 4
Conversion. 4
Indigenous church administration 4
Missionaries. 4
Belief and doubt. 3
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Boarding schools. 3
Christianity and culture. 3
Church and state. 3
Culture shock. 3
Education 3
Evangelistic work. 3
Language in missionary work. 3
Medical care 3
Missionaries -- Training of. 3
Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election. 3
Sex role. 3
Tribes. 3
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 3
Bible -- Study and teaching. 2
Bible colleges. 2
Bible. 2
Buddhists. 2
Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 2
Children of missionaries. 2
Christian education of children. 2
Christian education. 2
Christian leadership. 2
Evangelicalism. 2
Evangelistic work -- United States. 2
Family. 2
Fundamentalism. 2
Missions -- Educational work. 2
Missions to Buddhists. 2
Missions, Medical. 2
Presbyterian Church -- Missions. 2
Presbyterian Church. 2
Presbyterians. 2
World War, 1939-1945. 2
Animism -- South Africa. 1
Animism. 1
Apartheid. 1
Bangkok, Thailand. 1
Baptism. 1
Baptists -- Missions -- Cameroon. 1
Baptists -- Missions. 1
Baptists. 1
Boarding schools -- Africa. 1
Boarding schools -- China. 1
Boarding schools -- Korea. 1
Boarding schools -- South Africa. 1
Buddhists -- Taiwan. 1
Buddhists -- Thailand. 1
Cameroon. 1
Cameroon. -- Politics and government. 1
Catholic Church -- Evangelicalism. 1
Catholic Church -- Missions. 1
Catholic Church -- United States. 1
Catholic Church. -- Cameroon. 1
Catholic Church. -- Missions -- South Africa. 1
Catholic Church. -- South Africa. 1
Catholic Church. -- Thailand. 1
Chaplains, Military 1
Chaplains, Military -- United States. 1
Children -- United States 1
Children -- United States -- Conversion to Christianity. 1
Children -- United States -- Religious life. 1
Children of missionaries -- China. 1
Children. 1
China -- History -- 1912-1937. 1
China -- History -- 1937-1945. 1
China -- History -- Boxer Rebellion, 1899-1901. 1
China -- History -- Civil War, 1945-1949. 1
China -- History. 1
Christian education -- Cameroon. 1
Christian education -- Philosophy. 1
Christian education -- Taiwan. 1
Christian education -- United States. 1
Christian education of children -- United States. 1
Christian life. 1
Christianity and culture -- Thailand. 1
Church and social problems -- United States. 1
Church and social problems. 1
Church and state -- Cameroon. 1
Church and state -- India. 1
Church and state -- Thailand. 1
Church work with military personnel -- United States. 1
Church work with military personnel. 1
Church work with the working class 1
Church work with the working class -- United States. 1
Church work with women -- Cameroon. 1
Church work with women -- China. 1
Church work with women -- Thailand. 1
Church work with women -- United States. 1
Church work with youth -- Cameroon. 1
Church work with youth. 1
Cities and towns -- Cameroon. 1
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