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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 9 Collections and/or Records:

Collection 169 Oral History Interviews with Harold P. Adolph

 Collection
Identifier: CN 169
Scope and Contents Oral History Interview with Harold Paul Adolph, in which he discusses his boyhood in China as the son of missionaries with China Inland Mission, conditions in China, his education at Wheaton College, medical education at the University of Pennsylvania, decision to become a missionary, and his ministry in Ethiopia as a medical missionary in African with Sudan Interior Mission; American missions in Ethiopia; family life on the mission field, and work with the Christian Medical Society. The...
Dates: Created: 1981

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 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 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 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 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

Filtered By

  • Subject: Evangelistic work X
  • Subject: Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election. X
  • Subject: Indigenous church administration X

Additional filters:

Subject
Church and state. 8
Conversion. 8
Children of missionaries. 7
Women missionaries. 7
Culture shock. 6
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Missionaries -- Training of. 6
Missions -- Educational work. 6
Catholic Church. 5
Church and social problems. 5
Language in missionary work. 5
Medical care 5
Missions -- Finance. 5
Missions, Medical. 5
Tribes. 5
Women 5
Women -- Religious life. 5
Boarding schools. 4
Children of missionaries -- Education. 4
Christian education. 4
Christian leadership. 4
Christianity and culture. 4
Church development, New. 4
College students in missionary work. 4
College students. 4
Education 4
Evangelicalism. 4
Fund raising. 4
Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 4
Missions to Muslims. 4
Missions. 4
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 4
Animism. 3
Caste. 3
Children. 3
Christian education -- United States. 3
Christian life. 3
Church schools 3
Intercultural communication. 3
Islam -- Relations -- Christianity. 3
Missionaries -- Training of -- United States. 3
Missionaries' spouses. 3
Missions -- India. 3
Muslims. 3
Rural missions. 3
Sex role. 3
World War, 1939-1945. 3
Belgium. 2
Belgium. -- Administration. 2
Belgium. -- Colonies 2
Belgium. -- Colonies -- Africa. 2
Bible colleges 2
Caste -- India. 2
Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 2
Catholic Church. -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Children -- Religious life. 2
China -- History. 2
Chinese -- Missions. 2
Chinese. 2
Christian literature -- Publication and distribution. 2
Christian literature. 2
Church and social problems -- United States. 2
Church and state -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Church and state -- India. 2
Church work with military personnel. 2
Church work with the working class 2
College students -- Religious life. 2
College students -- United States 2
College students -- United States -- Religious life. 2
Communism -- China. 2
Communism. 2
Congo (Democratic Republic) -- History -- Civil War, 1960-1965. 2
Congo (Democratic Republic)--Social life and customs 2
Economic and social conditions 2
Education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Evangelicalism -- United States. 2
Evangelistic work -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2
Evangelistic work -- India. 2
Evangelistic work -- United States. 2
India -- Social life and customs. 2
Indigenous church administration -- India. 2
Leprosy. 2
Mass media in missionary work. 2
Mass media in religion. 2
Missionaries, Resignation of. 2
Missions -- China. 2
Missions -- Congo (Democratic Republic). 2
Missions -- Interdenominational cooperation. 2
Motion pictures in church work -- United States. 2
Motion pictures in church work. 2
Nursing -- Study and teaching 2
Nursing -- Study and teaching -- United States. 2
Nursing. 2
Pentecostalism. 2
Persecution. 2
Radio in missionary work. 2
Radio in religion -- United States. 2
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