Skip to main content

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 3 Collections and/or Records:

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 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

Filtered By

  • Subject: Evangelistic work X
  • Subject: Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election. X
  • Subject: Caste. X

Additional filters:

Subject
Caste -- India. 2
Children of missionaries. 2
Christian leadership. 2
Christian life. 2
Christian literature -- Publication and distribution. 2
∨ more
Christian literature. 2
Church and state. 2
Culture shock. 2
Evangelistic work -- India. 2
India -- Social life and customs. 2
Indigenous church administration -- India. 2
Intercultural communication. 2
Missionaries -- Training of. 2
Missionaries -- Training of -- United States. 2
Missions -- India. 2
Missions, Medical. 2
Missions. 2
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Faculty. 2
Women missionaries. 2
Athletes 1
Athletes -- United States 1
Athletes -- United States -- Religious life. 1
Bhil (Indic people) 1
Bible -- Translating. 1
Bible colleges 1
Bible colleges -- India. 1
Bible. 1
Boarding schools. 1
Caste. -- Pakistan. 1
Children of missionaries -- Education. 1
Christian education -- India. 1
Christian education -- United States. 1
Christian education, Outdoor. 1
Christian education. 1
Christian literature -- Publication and distribution -- India. 1
Christian literature -- Publication and distribution -- Pakistan. 1
Christianity and culture. 1
Church and social problems -- United States. 1
Church and social problems. 1
Church and state -- India. 1
Church and state -- Pakistan. 1
Church development, New -- United States. 1
Church development, New. 1
Church growth -- India. 1
Church growth. 1
Church schools 1
Church schools -- United States. 1
Church work with prisoners -- Montana. 1
Church work with prisoners. 1
Church work with students -- United States. 1
Church work with students. 1
Church work with the working class 1
Church work with the working class -- Pakistan. 1
Church work with youth -- India. 1
Church work with youth -- United States. 1
Church work with youth. 1
College students -- United States 1
College students -- United States -- Religious life. 1
College students in missionary work. 1
College students. 1
Correspondence schools and courses 1
Correspondence schools and courses -- India. 1
Counseling. 1
Economic and social conditions 1
Economic and social conditions -- Pakistan. 1
Education 1
Education -- India. 1
Evangelistic invitations. 1
Evangelistic work -- Pakistan. 1
Evangelistic work -- Philosophy. 1
Evangelistic work -- Portland. 1
Evangelistic work -- Study and teaching. 1
Evangelistic work -- United States. 1
Family. 1
Fund raising. 1
Hinduism 1
Hinduism -- Doctrines. 1
Hinduism -- India. 1
India -- Description and travel. 1
India -- History -- 1947- 1
India -- History. 1
Indigenous church administration -- Pakistan. 1
Intercultural communication -- India. 1
Intercultural communication -- Pakistan. 1
Islam -- Relations -- Christianity. 1
Leprosy -- India. 1
Leprosy. 1
Marriage. 1
Marwaris. 1
Mass media in missionary work -- India. 1
Mass media in missionary work. 1
Medical care 1
Medical care -- India. 1
∧ less