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Arthur B. Cutler papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2279

Scope and Contents note

Contains the mission diary and papers of Arthur Cutler while having served a mission in Japan for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1912-1915. Also contained are photographs during and after his mission, a photograph album, postcards from Japan, and a photocopy of Marlene Yeates Daly's unpublished book, "Cutler-San: A Mormon Missionary's Experience in Japan, 1912-1915."

Dates

  • 1910-1968

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

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

3 boxes (1.5 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Contains a diary, correspondence, government documents, mission calls and releases, photographs, and a photo album has been organized into three boxes. The first box contains the diary and papers of Arther Cutler. The second box contains photocopies of photographs and the photo album. The third box contains the original photographs and photo album of the collection. Additionally, the photographs have been separated into three series: studio portraits, snapshots, and photo album.

Arrangement note

Arranged in four series: 1. Arthur B. Cutler mission diary and other material, 1912-1917. 2. Arthur B. Cutler studio portraits, 1913-1915. 3. Arthur B. Cutler snapshots, 1913-1914. 4. Arthur B. Cutler photograph album, 1912-1913. The collection has been arranged into three boxes. Box 1 contains the diary and papers of Elder Cutler. Box 2 contains photocopies of the photographs and photo album of this collection. Box 3 contains the original photographs and photo album of Arthur Cutler, which has been transferred to Photo Archives.

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

Custodial History note

All of this material was given to the Brigham Young University Library on April 27, 2000 by Marlene Yeates Daly, in behalf of her husband Brad Daly, the creator's grandson. The collection was originally kept by Bonnie Jean Cutler Daly, the daughter of the creator of the collection. She then gave the contents of the collection to her son and family.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Donated; Marlene Yeates Daly; 2000.

Appraisal note

Utah and the American West and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (19th & 20th Century Western & Mormon Manuscripts Collecting Policy, 2010).

Appraisal

Photographs (Photograph Archives).

Related Materials

This collection as well as the Edwin J. Allen, Jr., Collection (MSS 2283) share many of the same photographs. Elders Cutler and Allen reported for their missions the same day and journeyed to Japan together. They may have been mission companions during the first months of their missions. Elder Allen was transferred in February 1913 to Saporro while Elder Cutler remained in Tokyo. The first fifty-three pages of Elder Allen’s first mission diary dated October 17, 1912 - January 15, 1915, contain entries with Elder Cutler's name mentioned. There was also correspondence between the two while serving their missions.

Processing Information note

Processed; Erin Chapman and Judi Crisp; 2001.

Title
Register of the Arthur B. Cutler papers
Status
Completed
Author
David J. Whittaker, Erin Chapman, and Judi Crisp
Date
2001
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

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