George Bowen papers, 1846 -- 1862

Collection context

Creator:
Bowen, George, 1816-1888
Abstract:
George Bowen, a graduate of Union Theological Seminary, served as a missionary in Bombay, India from 1848 until his death in 1888. Bowen was editor of the Bombay Guardian from 1854-1888. The collection includes one bound notebook containing his lectures, sermons, notes, and comments.
Extent:
0.25 linear feet (0.25 linear feet; 1 box)
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

This collection contains a bound notebook containing hand-written lectures, sermons, notes and comments written by George Bowen during his time at Union Theological Seminary and in Bombay. The notebook has 332 pages and is bound chronologically, from October 1, 1846 through March 16, 1862. A set of numbered lectures is available on pages 150-169.

Biographical / historical:

George Bowen (April 30, 1816 - February 5, 1888) was a missionary born in Middlebury, Vermont. At sixteen, Bowen decided on a literary career combined with music. Bowen studied German, French, Italian, and Spanish and further mastered these languages by extensively travelling Europe from 1836-1840. The death of his fiancée began a drastic transformation in his life and resulted in Bowen offering himself to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) as a missionary.

From 1844-1847 Bowen studied at Union Theological Seminary in New York. He arrived in Bombay on January 19, 1848, where he lived until his death in 1888. After withdrawing from the ABCFM, Bowen earned his living by tutoring and was Associate Editor (1851-1854) then Editor (1854-1888) of the Bombay Guardian. Bowen was also editor of the Marathi publications of the Bombay Book and Tract Society and Secretary to the Religious Tracts Society.

In 1871 Bowen began associating himself with the work begun by travelling Methodist Evangelist William Taylor. As a result of this relationship, Bowen joined the Methodist Episcopal Church as a missionary staff member in 1873. He became a charter member of the South India Conference, and for three years was a presiding elder of the Bombay District. Twice, in the absence of the bishop, Bowen acted as the president of the Conference.

George Bowen's editorials in the Bombay Guardian were published as three volumes: Daily Meditations, The Amens of Christ, and Love Revealed in Scotland (Edinburgh) and the United States (Presbyterian Board of Publications, Philadelphia). They were widely regarded as influential devotional books.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Onsite storage.

Terms of access:

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.

Preferred citation:

Item description, MRL 3: George Bowen Papers, 1846-1862, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Location of this collection:
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Contact:
burke@library.columbia.edu