Herbert H. Gowen papers, 1909-1951

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gowen, Herbert H. (Herbert Henry), 1864-1960
Title
Herbert H. Gowen papers
Dates
1909-1951 (inclusive)
Quantity
approximately 10.6 cubic ft
Collection Number
1561, 3016
Summary
Scrapbooks, photographs, sermons and writings of a Christian missionary who founded several missions for Asian groups including Japanese and Chinese
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Herbert H. Gowen was born in 1864, in Yarmouth, England. He graduated with a B.A. in 1886 from St. Augustine's College, Canterbury, England and in the same year was ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church. Later in 1886 he went as a missionary to the Chinese community in Honolulu, Hawaii, and founded the Chinese mission there. Sun Yat-sen was one of the students at the mission school. Gowen was curate of the Anglican cathedral in Honolulu and chaplain to King Kalakaua and Queen Lilioukalani. Gowen remained in Hawaii until 1890, when he returned to England and served as curate of St. Nicholas Church in Yarmouth until 1892. He then went to Canada where he was curate of Holy Trinity Cathedral and rector of St. Barnabas Church,New Westminster, B.C. Gowen came to the United States in 1897 and was rector of the Protestant Episcopal Trinity Church in Seattle until 1914. He founded St. Peter's Japanese Mission in Seattle in 1908.

In 1909 Gowen became lecturer on Oriental subjects at the University of Washington. When in 1914 the UW formally established the Department of Oriental Studies, he was made the head of the department. In 1929 Gowen gave up administration of the Department of Oriental Studies, but he continued to teach for the department until 1938 and didn't retire from the UW until July 1, 1944.

Gowen published his first work (frequently revised and reprinted) of Asian scholarship in 1913, titled An Outline History of China, which was followed over the next twenty years by An Outline History of Japan, A History of Indian Literature, and A History of Religion. Apart from these major works, Gowen published over 150 shorter scholarly articles and reviews during his tenure at the University. Gowen was the founder and one-time president of the Seattle chapter of the English-Speaking Union, and at other times also served as president of the Washington Philological Society and the PacificNorthwest Academy of Arts. Gowen was a member of many organizations, including: the Royal Geographic Society;the Royal Asiatic Society; the Royal Society of Arts in England; the American Oriental Society; the Society for Oriental Research; the Japan Society; Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi; The Authors' Club of London, England; and the Rainier, University , Faculty, Monday, and China Clubs of Seattle.

Gowen died in Seattle in 1960.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Consult the scope and content information for each of the accessions listed below.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Consult the restrictions governing reproduction and use for each of the accessions listed below.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 1561-001: Herbert Gowen papers, 1909-1951Return to Top

9 cu. ft.

Scope and Content: Notebooks, monographs, notes, ephemera, writings (published manuscript), clippings, photographs, correspondence (1937-1945), Christmas cards, and misc.

The Monday Club.

Contents of the Notebooks: The History, Literature and Institutions of China and Japan (Course 1, Oct. 1909-Feb. 1910); History of Japan; History of Religion; [Ancient History]; Monograph - "Problems of the Pacific and the International Mind."

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Silvia Wells-Henderson, Mercer Island, 1971-03-12

Description
Herbert Gowen papers

Accession No. 3016-001: Herbert H. Gowen papers, undatedReturn to Top

1 vertical file

Scope and Content: General correspondence, sermon notes, clippings, n.d.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Silvia Wells-Henderson, 1973-03-21

Description
Herbert H. Gowen papers

Accession No. 3016-002: Herbert Gowen papers, 1927Return to Top

1 folder.

Scope and Content: "Politics of Modern Asia," lecture series, 1927 (typescript, ribbon copy) about 50 pages.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Included with Vivian Carkeek's papers that were transferred from Law School, 1980-07-01

Description
Herbert Gowen papers

Accession No. 3016-003: Herbert Gowen papers, 1917-1937Return to Top

.21 cu. ft.

Scope and Content: Writings, 1917-1937; reading notebooks 1926-1928; and Christian liturgical books, n.d.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Silvia Wells-Henderson via Dianne Bridgman, 1990-07-01

Description
Herbert Gowen papers

Accession No. 3016-004: Herbert Gowen scrapbook, 1923Return to Top

1.38 cubic feet

Scope and Content: Scrapbook of a 1923 tour of Asia, in particular Japan and China. Includes photographs, clippings, postcards, event ephemera, business cards, and art prints.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Aiken, 6/23/2014

Description
Herbert Gowen scrapbook

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Corporate Names

  • University of Washington. Department of Oriental Studies

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Gowen, Herbert H. (Herbert Henry), 1864-1960 (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • University of Washington. University Archives

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)