Descriptive SummaryMSS SC 2956Papers of William Alvin Bowles,
1906-1910Bowles, William Alvin, 1886-1926L. Tom Perry Special Collections1.0 linear feetThe oldest son in a
family of eight children, William Alvin Bowles was born April 22, 1886 on a
small ranch in Nephi, Utah. William worked on the family's ranch and farm until
his departure in the fall of 1906 for New Zealand where he served a mission for
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following his return from New
Zealand in the spring of 1910, William married Catherine Bailey on November 17,
1910 in the Salt Lake City, Utah endowment house. Like William, Catherine was
born and raised in Nephi. Following their marriage, William and Catherine
returned to Nephi where William farmed and worked for the Bonneville Lumber
Company. William and Catherine had three children, Catherine Bowles, Virginia
Bowles Keeler, and Geraldine Bowles Barker. Throughout his life, William took
an active role in the ecclesiastical activities of his local LDS ward (the
Nephi Center Ward) and stake (the Juab Stake). William served as a ward clerk,
a stake missionary, and as a counselor in the Mutual Improvement Association.
William died of a ruptured appendix on October 3, 1926. The Papers of William Alvin Bowles are
divided into four archival series: Diaries, 1906 - 1910; Library Materials,
1892 – 1905; Photographs, 1906 - 1910, Ephemera, ca. 1906 - 1910. The four
series contain William Alvin Bowles personal mission diaries; his mission
library, including, hymn books, a dictionary, and scriptures; mission
photographs; and related mission ephemera. ProvenanceGift of Catherine Bowles, daughter of William Alvin Bowles and
Catherine Bailey Bowles.
AccessOpen for Public Use.
Conditions of UseIt is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary
copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Papers of William Alvin Bowles
must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the Special
Collections Board of Curators.
Preferred CitationInitial Citation: MSS SC 2956; Papers of
William Alvin Bowles; 20th and 21st Century Western and Mormon Americana; L.
Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.
Following Citations:MSS SC 2956,
LTPSC.
Biographical HistoryThe oldest son in a family of eight children, William Alvin Bowles was
born April 22, 1886 on a small ranch in Nephi, Utah. William worked on the
family’s ranch and farm until his departure in the fall of 1906 for New Zealand
where he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Following his return from New Zealand in the spring of 1910, William
married Catherine Bailey on November 17, 1910 in the Salt Lake City, Utah, LDS
Temple. Like William, Catherine was born and raised in Nephi. Following their
marriage, William and Catherine lived in Salt Lake City for three years, where
William was foreman on a large farm owned by a Mr. Gunn. During this period,
Catherine kept the farm accounts and prepared dinner for Mr. Gunn. After the
birth of their daughter, Virginia Bowles, the family returned to Nephi where
William farmed and worked for the Bonneville Lumber Company.
William and Catherine had three children, Virginia Bowles Keeler,
Catherine Bowles, and Geraldine Bowles Barker. Throughout his life, William
took an active role in the ecclesiastical activities of his local LDS ward (the
Nephi Center Ward) and stake (the Juab Stake). William served as a ward clerk,
a stake missionary, and as a counselor in the Mutual Improvement Association.
Remembered by his wife and children as a loving husband and father, William
died of a ruptured appendix on October 3, 1926.
Scope and Content NoteSeries 1, “Diaries,” contains five
chronological “parts” or volumes, October 1906 – March 1910, that chronicle
William Alvin Bowles’ 3 ½ year mission to New Zealand for the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Series 2, “Library Materials,” includes two
Maori hymnals (1905; no date); a Maori New Testament (1897); and a
Maori/English, English/Maori dictionary. These items are, in many cases,
annotated.
Series 3, “Photographs,” includes three
sub-series. Sub-Series 1 Contains annotated
photographs of missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
in New Zealand, ca, 1906 - 1910. Annotations are general and include greetings
and addresses. Sub-Series 2 Includes
photographs of Maori members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, 1908-1909. Because of their unique nature, annotations have been
included. Sub-Series 3 Contains photographs of
New Zealand street scenes, wagons, and a military parade, ca. 1906-1910.
Series 4, “Ephemera,” includes one William
Alvin Bowles holograph written in Maori; a New Zealand postcard; and dried
leaves from New Zealand.
Curatorial NoteAll ephemeral items, including the Maori holograph, the New Zealand
postcard, and the dried leaves, were removed from the Maori New Testament; the
Maori/English, English/Maori dictionary; and the Maori hymn books, where they
were used as bookmarks. Individual items were then placed in preservation
quality “mylar” sleeves.
Subject TracingsInstitutionsChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints--MissionsPeopleBowles, William Alvin, 1886-1926PlacesNew Zealand--History--20th CenturyNephi (Utah)--HistoryGenre/FormDiariesSubjectChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--Missions--New
Zealand--History--20th CenturyEvangelistic Work--Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints--HistoryMormon familiesMormons--Missionary experiences--New ZealandMormon Church--Missions--New ZealandContainer ListSeries 1: DiariesSeries 1: Diaries,
1906-1910BoxFolderContents
11Diary, “Part 1”— October 17,
1906 – July 13,
190712Diary, “Part 2”— July 14,
1907 – May 9,
190813Diary, “Part 3”— May 16,
1908 – February 28,
190914Diary, “Part 4”— March 1,
1909 – November 4,
190915Diary, “Part 5”— November 5,
1909 – March 11,
1910Series 2: Library MaterialsSeries 2: Library Materials,
1892–1905BoxFolderContents
16He Himene: Te Karakia Ki Te
Atua [Hymns in the Maori Language]. London, Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge,
1905Annotated
21Ko Te Kawenata Hou [Maori
New Testament]. London, Printed for the British and Foreign Bible Society,
1897Annotated
22Pese Ma Viiga [Hymns in the
Maori Language]. No publisher, no dateTitle page missing
23Williams, W.L. A Dictionary of the
New Zealand Language, 4th Edition. Upton & Co., Auckland, New
Zealand and Williams and Norgate, London, England,
1892Annotated
Series 3: PhotographsSeries 3: Photographs, ca.
1906–1910Sub-Series 1: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—New
Zealand—MissionariesSub-Series 1: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints—New Zealand—Missionaries, ca.
1906-1910BoxFolderContents
31Anderson, A.E., No DateAnnotated; 13.7 x 8.6 cm.
Anderson, A.E., No DateAnnotated; 7.3 cm x 7.4 cm.
Ball, James, E., No DateAnnotated; 6.3 x 6.5 cm.
Christensen, George A., No DateAnnotated; 13.4 x 6.5 cm.
Davis, Albert H., No DateAnnotated; 12.3 X 8.7 cm.
Dee, Ernest L.,
1907Annotated; 14.3 x 9.1 cm.
Ellis, Willard D.,
1907Annotated; 10.3 x 7 cm.
Ellis, Willard, D., No DateAnnotated; 9.5 x 14 cm.
Ericksen, Joseph A., and Pectol, E. P., No
DateAnnotated; 13.7 x 9 cm.
Freeze, Carl T.,
1907Annotated; 14.8 x 10.3 cm.
Guest, E.M.,
1907Annotated; 14.5 x 8 cm.
Hitney, Daniel, No DateAnnotated; 13.7 x 8.5 cm.
Jenkins,
1910Annotated; 9 x 6.5 cm.
Kienke, John A., No DateAnnotated; 3.5 x 2.9 cm.
Nielsen, Oliver,
1907Annotated; 15 x 20 cm.
Nielsen, Oliver, No DateAnnotated; 13 x 6.6 cm.
Nielsen, Oliver, No DateAnnotated; 7 x 6 cm.
Taylor, Clifton, E., No DateAnnotated; 12.7 x 8.1 cm.
Sub-Series 2: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—New
Zealand—MembershipSub-Series 2: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints—New Zealand—Membership,
1908–1909BoxFolderContents
32Carter, Reuben,
1906Annotated: “In Loving Remembrance of Reuben Carter, Born Dec.
1, 1826. Died March 28, 1906. Age 79 yrs. 2 mos. 28 days. Gone But Not
Forgotten. Tis hard to break the tender cord When love has bound the heart. Tis
hard, so hard to speak the words, ‘We must forever part.’ Dearest loved one we
must lay thee IN the peaceful grave’s embrace, But thy memory will be cherished
Till we see thy heavenly face.”
4.8 x 3.8 cm.
Thompson, Adelaide E.,
1908Annotated: “Compliments of Adelaide E. Thompson. Droua Bridge
Palmeston N. April 28th 08. To Elder A. Bowles. Spring Creek Wairan.”
7 x 4.5 cm.
Thompson, Adelaide E.,
1909Annotated: “Elder Wm. A. Bowles. With good wishes for your
future happiness. From Adlelaide. Taken Dec. 1st [19]09.
13.9 x 9.5 cm.
[Two Maori Women],
1908Annotated: “Work of the Maori wahines at the April Conference, 1908.”
15.7 x 10.1 cm.
Sub-Series 3: New ZealandSub-Series 3: New Zealand, ca.
1906-1910BoxFolderContents
33[Jubilee Military Parade], No Date19.5 x 15.5 cm.
[Jubilee Military Parade], No DateAnnotated; 20.5 x 15.3 cm.
[Jubilee Parade – Foliage covered wagon towed by
tractor], No DateAnnotated; 20.5 x 15.1 cm.
[Jubilee Parade – Tractor; foliage covered cart; bus],
No DateAnnotated; 20.5 x 15.2 cm.
Series 4: EphemeraSeries 4: Ephemera, ca.
1906–1910BoxFolderContents
34Maori Holograph— ca.
1906 - 191035Postcard— Queens Gardens, Nelson, New Zealand, ca.
190636Leaves— New Zealand, ca.
1906 - 1910