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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 4 Collections and/or Records:

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 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 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

Filtered By

  • Subject: Missions -- Finance. X
  • Subject: Boarding schools. X

Additional filters:

Subject
Animism. 3
Catholic Church -- Protestant churches. 3
Christianity and culture. 3
Church and state. 3
College students in missionary work. 3
∨ more
College students. 3
Conversion. 3
Culture shock. 3
Education 3
Indigenous church administration 3
Language in missionary work. 3
Medical care 3
Missionaries -- Training of. 3
Missionaries -- Leaves and furloughs. 3
Missions -- Educational work. 3
Missions, Medical. 3
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 3
Women 3
Women -- Religious life. 3
Children of missionaries -- Education. 2
Church and social problems. 2
Church development, New. 2
College students -- Religious life. 2
Evangelicalism. 2
Missions -- Interdenominational cooperation. 2
Missions to Muslims. 2
Missions. 2
Racism. 2
Radio in missionary work. 2
Sex role. 2
Theological seminaries. 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 -- Nigeria. 1
Animism -- South Africa. 1
Apartheid. 1
BGEA: South Africa Tour -- 1960 1
Belgium. 1
Belgium. -- Administration. 1
Belgium. -- Colonies 1
Belgium. -- Colonies -- Africa. 1
Belief and doubt. 1
Bible colleges 1
Bible colleges -- Nigeria. 1
Boarding schools -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Boarding schools -- Ecuador. 1
Boarding schools -- Nigeria. 1
Boarding schools -- South Africa. 1
Catholic Church -- Missions. 1
Catholic Church. -- China. 1
Catholic Church. -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Catholic Church. -- Hong Kong 1
Catholic Church. -- Missions -- South Africa. 1
Catholic Church. -- South Africa. 1
Children -- Conversion to Christianity. 1
Children -- Religious life. 1
Children. 1
China -- History -- Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976. 1
China -- History. 1
China. 1
Chinese -- Missions. 1
Chinese. 1
Christian education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Christian education. 1
Church and social problems -- Ecuador. 1
Church and social problems -- Hong Kong. 1
Church and social problems -- Nigeria. 1
Church and state -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Church and state -- Ecuador. 1
Church and state -- Nigeria. 1
Church discipline. 1
Church schools 1
Church schools -- Nigeria. 1
Church work with children -- Congo (Democratic Republic) 1
Church work with children. 1
Church work with military personnel. 1
Church work with women. 1
College students -- United States 1
College students -- United States -- Religious life. 1
Colombia 1
Colombia -- Description and travel. 1
Communism -- China. 1
Communism. 1
Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Agricultural conditions. 1
Congo (Democratic Republic) -- History -- Civil War, 1960-1965. 1
Congo (Democratic Republic)--Social life and customs 1
Demoniac possession 1
Demoniac possession -- Nigeria. 1
Discrimination -- South Africa. 1
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