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Allen Library BOX 352900 Seattle, Washington 98195-2900 Business Number: 206-543-1929 speccoll@uw.edu http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcollections/

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-09-03. Finding aid written inEnglish. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries Herbert H. Gowen papers Gowen, Herbert H. (Herbert Henry), 1864-1960 1561, 3016 10.6 cubic feet 18 boxes 1 vertical file 1909-1951 Scrapbooks, photographs, sermons, and writings of an Anglican priest and missionary who worked with immigrants from Asia, primarily China and Japan, and first head of the University of Washington's Oriental Studies department Collection materials are in English.

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 Trinity Episcopal Church in Seattle until 1914. He founded St. Peter's Japanese Mission in Seattle in 1908 (later St. Peter's Episcopal Parish). In 1909 Gowen officiated the then controversial "mixed-race" marriage between Gunjiro Aoki and Gladys Emery. At the time, such marriages were illegal in California and Oregon, but not in Washington.

In 1909 Gowen became a lecturer on Oriental subjects at the University of Washington in the newly formed Oriental History, Literature, and Institutions (also called Oriental Languages and Literature). When in 1914 the UW formally established the Department of Oriental History, Literature, and Languages, he was promoted to professor and head of the department. Gowen taught most of the core classes through 1931. 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 Pacific Northwest 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.

Sources:

University Bulletins; University Catalogs

Lange, Greg "Trinity Parish, Seattle's first Episcopal parish, is established on August 13, 1865." posted 1998. https://historylink.org/File/185

Blecha, Peter "Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies" posted 2009. https://historylink.org/File/9005

Blecha, Peter "UW hosts lecture by Rev. Herbert H. Gowen on May 11, 1909, to inaugurate new Department of Oriental Subjects." posted 2009. https://historylink.org/File/8999

Notebooks, monographs, notes, ephemera, writings, clippings, photographs, correspondence, Christmas cards, sermon notes, lecture notes, reading notebooks, Christian liturgical books, and scrapbook from a 1923 tour of Asia.

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Gowen, Herbert H. (Herbert Henry), 1864-1960 University of Washington. University Archives University of Washington. Department of Oriental Studies Seattle University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington) Japanese Americans Chinese Americans Religion Scrapbooks Accession No. 1561-001: Herbert Gowen papers, 1909-1951 9 cubic feet 14 boxes

Scope and Content: Notebooks, monographs, notes, ephemera, writings (published manuscript), clippings, photographs, correspondence (1937-1945), Christmas cards, and misc. Also includes materials from 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, March 1971

Processing Info: Apparently merger of parts 1-6 acc. numbers 1561 (part I), 1612 (part II), 1616 (part III), 1623 (part IV), 1627 (part V), and 1638 (part VI). Includes a typescript, ribbon copy of lecture series "Politics of Modern Asia", separated from the Vivian Carkeek papers, donated by the UW Law School in July 1980 [accession 3016-002].

Series 1, Biographical Features Biographical Features 1561-001 Box 1

Including bibliography, clippings, documents and photograph

Series 2, General Correspondence A--miscellaneous 1933-1953 1561-001 Box 1 B--miscellaneous 1925-1950 1561-001 Box 1 Cutts, Elmer 1942-1946 1561-001 Box 1 C--miscellaneous 1895-1951 1561-001 Box 1 D--miscellaneous 1946-1949 1561-001 Box 1 Episcopalians. Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Diocese of Olympia 1943-1950 1561-001 Box 1 Episcopalians. Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. National Council 1933-1945 1561-001 Box 1 Episcopalians. Trinity Episcopal Church 1945 1561-001 Box 1 E--miscellaneous 1944-1945 1561-001 Box 1 F--miscellaneous 1934-1947 1561-001 Box 1 Gowen, Annie K. undated 1561-001 Box 1 Gowen, Mrs. Vincent H. 1956 1561-001 Box 1 Gowen, Vincent 1914-1950 1561-001 Box 1 Gowen, Vincent 1914-1950 1561-001 Box 2 G--miscellaneous 1945-1952 1561-001 Box 2 H--miscellaneous 1944-1949 1561-001 Box 2 Iolani School (Honolulu) 1947 1561-001 Box 2 J--miscellaneous 1934-1949 1561-001 Box 2 Lee, Alan W.D. 1915-1916 1561-001 Box 2 K and L--miscellaneous 1943-1948 1561-001 Box 2 Martin, Charles E. 1934-1946 1561-001 Box 2 M--miscellaneous 1933-1949 1561-001 Box 2 N--miscellaneous 1940,1945 1561-001 Box 2 Palmer, Herbert D. 1946-1950 1561-001 Box 2 O and P--miscellaneous 1934-1951 1561-001 Box 2 Rusch, Paul 1943-1950 1561-001 Box 2 R--miscellaneous 1943-1950 1561-001 Box 2 St. Augustine's College (Canterbury) 1934-1949 1561-001 Box 2 Smart, Frank 1944-1947 1561-001 Box 2 S--miscellaneous 1910-1952 1561-001 Box 2 Thomson, David 1933-1945 1561-001 Box 2 T--miscellaneous 1943-1950 1561-001 Box 2 U.S. State Department 1944 1561-001 Box 2 Walkinshaw, Robert B. 1945-1947 1561-001 Box 2 W.U. President 1934-1945 1561-001 Box 2 W.U. [miscellaneous] 1934-1947 1561-001 Box 2 W, X, Y, Z--miscellaneous 1944-1959 1561-001 Box 2 Miscellaneous Family Members 1561-001 Box 2 Unidentifiable undated 1561-001 Box 2 Series 3, Financial Records Financial Records 1897-1930 1561-001 Box 3 Series 4, Speeches and Writings

Only select titles listed

Diaries 1884-1934 1561-001 Box 3 Diaries 1884-1934 1561-001 Box 4 Date Books 1920-1951 1561-001 Box 4 Autobiography 1561-001 Box 5

Typed and a handwritten, partial copy

"Business Ethics and Antiquity" 1561-001 Box 5 "The Catholic Conception of Worship in Relation to Reconstruction" 1561-001 Box 5 "The Diocese of Olympia, A Survey" 1561-001 Box 5 "History of Religion" 1561-001 Box 5 "Lecture on the Near and Far East" 1561-001 Box 5 "A Liaison Officer in Japan" 1561-001 Box 5 "Notes from the Philippines" 1945 1561-001 Box 5 "Palingenesia" 1561-001 Box 5 Poems 1561-001 Box 5

Miscellaneous authors including Gowen

Poems 1561-001 Box 6

Miscellaneous authors including Gowen

"Politics in Modern Asia" 1927 1561-001 Box 6

Notes from a lecture series

"Raymond" 1561-001 Box 6 Reviews by Gowen 1927 1561-001 Box 6 "Some Early Missionaries in our Northwest" 1561-001 Box 6 "Sonnet Stories from the Chinese" 1561-001 Box 6 "Travels of Fa-hien" 1561-001 Box 6 "Vesper Hymn" 1561-001 Box 6

Words by Gowen

Writings on Hebrew Language 1561-001 Box 6

Misc.

Miscellaneous Notes and Drafts 1561-001 Box 6

Handwritten

Miscellaneous Notes and Drafts 1561-001 Box 7

Handwritten

Miscellaneous Notes and Drafts 1561-001 Box 8

Handwritten

Miscellaneous Notes and Drafts 1561-001 Box 9

Handwritten

Miscellaneous Pages from Various Writings 1561-001 Box 10

Typed

Proofs 1561-001 Box 10 Poetry 1561-001 Box 10

Published

Writings 1561-001 Box 10

Mimeographed and misc. published

Reprints and copies of Journals with Articles by Gowen 1561-001 Box 11 Series 5, Curriculum Files Oriental Studies Courses I and II 1909-1910 1561-001 Box 12

Lecture notebooks

Notebooks 1561-001 Box 12

Contains information dealing with Oriental Studies, believed to have been used to gather information for courses taught. (27 notebooks of varying sizes)

Notebooks 1561-001 Box 13

Contains information dealing with Oriental Studies, believed to have been used to gather information for courses taught. (27 notebooks of varying sizes)

Series 6, Reading List, Clippings, and Memorabilia Reading List 1561-001 Box 13

37 notebooks containing lists of books he read with bibliographic information and personal annotations. Dates uncertain, seem to be 1880's-1940's

Clippings 1561-001 Box 14 Memorabilia 1561-001 Box 14 Series 7, Subject Series Address Books and Course Attendance Books 1561-001 Box 14 Anglican Theological Review 1944, 1956 1561-001 Box 14 Asia 1929, 1941 1561-001 Box 14 Christmas Cards 1561-001 Box 14

Sent by the Gowens

Cutts, Elmer H. 1561-001 Box 14 Episcopalians. Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Diocese of Olympia (including constitution, journals) 1937-1953 1561-001 Box 14 The London Churchman 1951, 1952 1561-001 Box 14 Manuals for the Million 1561-001 Box 14 Meany Memorial Exercises 1935 1561-001 Box 14 "Memories of an Idaho Missionary" by George Buzzelle 1561-001 Box 14 "Merejkowski, a Prophet of the New Russia" by Frederick M. Padelford 1918 1561-001 Box 14 "New Light on Herbert Beaver" 1561-001 Box 14 Oriental Affairs 1937, 1941 1561-001 Box 14 Parish Church of St. Nicholas (Great Yarmouth) 1561-001 Box 14 Reviews of Gowen's Books--clippings 1561-001 Box 14 Reviews of A History of Religion 1934 1561-001 Box 14 St. Augustine's Church (Canterbury) 1561-001 Box 14 The Seattle Churchman 1914 1561-001 Box 14 Series 8, Scrapbook and Miscellaneous Scrapbook 1561-001 Box 16

Including clippings, postcards and personal photos

Miscellany 1561-001 Box 14 Miscellany 1561-001 Box 15 Series 9, Subgroup: Monday Club Monday Club 1909-1956 1561-001 Box 15

Including histories, papers

Accession No. 3016-001: Herbert H. Gowen papers, undated 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

Herbert H. Gowen papers 3016-001 VF1711 Accession No. 3016-003: Herbert Gowen papers, 1917-1937 0.21 cubic feet 1 box

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

Herbert Gowen papers 3016-003 Box 1 Accession No. 3016-004: Herbert Gowen scrapbook, 1923 1.38 cubic feet 1 box

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

Herbert Gowen scrapbook 3016-004 Box 1