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Arthur B. Cutler mission diary other material, 1912-1917

 Series — Box: 1
Identifier: MSS 2279 Series 1

Scope and Contents note

Contains mission diary and papers of Arthur Cutler while he was serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan from October 17, 1912 to May 27, 1915. Includes a map of Japan, government documents, Cutler's mission call and minister's certificate, correspondence with Japanese friends, mission buddies, and his mission president, copies of talks, poetry, his mission release, travel meal cards and menus, passenger lists, telegrams and receipts, postcards, and a photocopy of "Cutler-San: A Mormon Missionary'’s Experience in Japan, 1912-1915" by Marlene Yeates Daly.

Dates

  • 1912-1917

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use note

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Arthur B. Cutler papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

From the Collection:

Arthur B. Cutler (1891-1968) son of Thomas R. Cutler and Julia Barnes. Served a mission in Japan during the years 1912-1915. Married three times and had one daughter, Bonnie Jean Cutler Daly.

Arthur Barnes Cutler was born January 8, 1891 in Oakland, Alameda County, California to Thomas R. Cutler and Julia Barnes. Julia was Thomas' second wife, and by the time Arthur was born, polygamy had already been outlawed. Arthur was therefore born in the "polygamist underground." His mother died while she was still young, and Arthur was raised by Laura Cutler, Thomas' first wife.

Arthur grew up in Salt Lake City. His family was well-off, as his father was then working in the booming sugar industry. In September of 1912, Arthur was called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan. He had many wonderful experiences during his time in Japan, which were recorded in journals and letters. During most of 1914, Elder Cutler served as mission secretary. He was then transferred in September 1914 to be the conference president in Osaka. Only a few short months later though, he became very ill. On April 17, 1915, he had surgery to remove a "tubercular ulcer" from his breast. His recovery was not as anyone had hoped because he was released as a missionary on May 27, 1915. This was sad news to a devout missionary who had planned on staying until 1916-1917.

Not much is known of Arthur Cutler's life after he returned home from his mission until he married Ivie Mitchell in Salt Lake City on June 27, 1917. He and Ivie dated for several years before they were married in a civil ceremony by Bishop Jacob Mauss, Bishop of the Waterloo Ward, Arthur's home ward. There is some evidence in Church genealogical records that Ivie may have been married before and that is why they waited so long and were married civilly rather than in a Mormon temple. Their marriage was short-lived as Ivie died of typhoid on July 14, 1917, just three short weeks after their wedding day.

Arthur was devastated by Ivie's sudden death. Ivie had captured Arthur's heart before he left on his mission and had kept a firm grip on it throughout his life. After she died, Arthur stored memorabilia of her and small scraps of their brief marriage in a small wooden box. Later in life, his daughter would see him going through the box reminiscing about the good times.

In 1917, following Ivie's death, Arthur joined the United States Army and fought in World War I. He returned from the War in 1919, having served in France. Not long after Arthur returned, he married Vilate Daly on November 26, 1919. Eventually, the couple would make their home in Los Angeles, California. They had a daughter together, Bonnie Jean, who was born July 21, 1925. Bonnie Jean would be the only child Arthur ever had. Arthur's marriage to Vilate Daly ended in divorce.

After the divorce, Arthur returned to Salt Lake City to work as a finish carpenter. Years later, he would marry a third time to Ellen Cannon on July 2, 1944. The couple made a home in Salt Lake City and lived happily until Arthur's death on February 13, 1968. The years preceding his death were spent teaching grandchildren how to build birdhouses and fishing up the canyon near his home.

Extent

1 box

Language of Materials

English

Other Finding Aids note

A more detailed finding aid is available in print in the repository.

Other Finding Aids

File-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/MSS2279.xml

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States