Cowley, Matthew, 1897-1953
Dates
- Existence: 1897 - 1953
Biography
Matthew Cowley (1897-1953) was an ecclesiastical leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who lived in Utah and New Zealand.
Matthew Cowley was born on August 2, 1897 in Preston, Idaho to Matthias F. Cowley and Abbie Hyde. He attended L.D.S. University in Salt Lake City, Utah prior to receiving a mission call to New Zealand in 1914. As a missionary he was involved in revising the translation of the Book of Mormon into Maori, and helped to prepare translations of the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. After his return to Utah he studied at the University of Utah, and later attended George Washington University Law School. He returned to Utah from Washington, D.C. after his graduation to open his own law firm. In 1922 he married Elva Eleanor Taylor in the Salt Lake Temple, and they had one daughter.
In 1938 Cowley was called by the Church to return to New Zealand as mission president, where he remained until 1945. He was then called to serve as an apostle, where he continued to assist with the growth of the Church in the Pacific. His service included presiding over missions in the region, as well as contributing to the building of the New Zealand Temple and the development of the Church College of New Zealand. Cowley died on December 13, 1953 in Los Angeles, California.
Citation:
Matthew Cowley : man of faith, 1954Dictionary of NZ biography WWW site, Nov. 27, 2006 (Cowley, Matthew; missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; b. Aug. 2, 1897; Māori called him Matiu Kauri; d. Dec. 13, 1953)
Wikipedia, via WWW, Mar. 31, 2014 (Matthew Cowley; b. Aug. 2, 1897 in Preston, Idaho; parents: Matthias F. Cowley and Abbie Hyde; attended L.D.S. University in Salt Lake City, Utah; called to serve mission to New Zealand, 1914; prepared revised translation of Book of Mormon in Maori, 1917; also translated Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price; attended University of Utah; graduated from George Washington University Law School; practiced law in Salt Lake City; m. Elva Eleanor Taylor in Salt Lake Temple, 1922, one daughter; served as mission president in New Zealand, 1938-1945; called to serve as apostle, Oct. 1945; presided over church missions in Pacific, involved in building of New Zealand Temple and the Church College of New Zealand; d. Dec. 13, 1953 in Los Angeles, Calif.)
Found in 12 Collections and/or Records:
Achievement / Matthew Cowley, 1953 May 18
Matthew and Elva T. Cowley papers
Holographs, typescripts (some duplicated), printed material and newspaper clippings (photocopies). Contains journals, correspondence, mission papers, speeches and notes, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia concerning Cowley's mission to New Zealand, time as a student in Washington, D.C., his life as a mission president and Apostle, and the development of missionary activity in the South Pacific and Orient. Also included are an autobiography by Elva T. Cowley and Cowley family histories.
Matthew Cowley letter
Photocopy of a handwritten letter addressed to his sister, Laura, concerning the translation of Mormon scriptures into the Maori language. In 1917 Matthew Cowley helped revise the original translation of the Book of Mormon with the help of native Maori people. He went on to translate the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.
Matthew Cowley newspaper clippings
Photocopies of newspaper clippings relating to the career and activities of the apostle in the Mormon Church, Matthew Cowley.
Matthew Cowley photographs
Collection includes three photographs of Matthew Cowley, and one of an unidentified woman, taken during the 1940s.
David O. McKay. Matthew Cowley, 1948 April 27, 1948 November 16
Milton R. Hunter. Matthew Cowley on the C.A.R.E. Program, 1947 October 28, 1947 December 2
Castle Hadlock Murphy photographs of the Hawaiian Mission
Collection includes 1913 photographs of the Hawaiian Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Hawaiian Islands.
Recording of funeral services for Arvel Wells Morrison
Contains a compact disc of a recording of the funeral of "Arvel Wells (Tinks) Morrison." Arvel was a Utah businessman, working and leading in the automotive supply industry. The disc lists the funeral program, which includes a eulogy given by Matthew Cowley. The funeral was held in the Federal Heights Ward, Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 2, 1951.
Royall family sound recordings
Collection consists of three spools of recording wire. Contained upon these spools are Elder Matthew Cowley, Stake Conference Address, February 10, 1952 afternoon session, Robert O. Royall, Jr. family Christmas morning 1954, and Robert O. Royall, Jr. family New Years Eve, 1957.