| Dates: | 1876-1959 |
| Size: | .25 linear feet, 17 photographs, 2 oversize folders |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe.n00183 |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | This collection was given by Louis Bowman’s son, Norman Barr Bowman, in 1991-1992. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred Citation | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Louis Andrew Bowman Papers [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library. |
| Finding Aid Author: | Galen Wilson, May 1991. Updated by Andrea Telli, May 2001. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Johanna Russ, 2022. |
Abstract
Personal papers related to Louis Bowman’s ministry and volunteer work, including radio addresses, speeches, articles, pamphlets and correspondence.
Biographical/Historical
Louis Andrew Bowman was born November 23, 1872, in Rock Island, Illinois, the son of Edward H. and Ellen Sinnett Bowman. His mother died when he was 2, and Louis was raised by his maternal grandmother. When his father remarried four years later, he returned to his father and stepmother's care. Bowman attended the Rock Island public schools at which time he became involved with the Rock Island YMCA.
In 1890, 17-year-old Bowman left Rock Island and settled in Chicago, where he continued with YMCA work and attended the Moody Bible Institute. Bowman's early career included positions as an office manager for an insurance agency and a bank collector. In 1900, he received a degree from Kent College of Law in Chicago and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1901.
Throughout the 1890s, Bowman was a member of Third Presbyterian Church on Chicago's West Side. It was there that he married Ella Mae Colville on June 28, 1898. Colville was born in London, Ontario, on May 3, 1873, the daughter of C.R. Colville. She was a resident of Chicago at the time of her marriage and met Bowman at a church retreat at Conference Point near Williams Bay, Wisconsin.
By 1900, the Bowmans had settled in Oak Park, Illinois, where they joined that community's First Presbyterian Church and became involved in many aspects of the church's ministry. Bowman continued to practice law and volunteer with the YMCA. In the early 1900s he became involved with the work of the Olivet Institute, a rescue mission on Chicago's Near North Side, and eventually became Olivet's treasurer. Norman Burton Barr (1868-1943), Olivet's director, arranged for the private adoption in 1915 of the Bowman's only child, Norman Barr Bowman. In recognition of his years with Olivet, the chapel at the Norman Barr Camp on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, was named in Bowman's honor in 1949.
In addition to church and charitable work, Bowman was active in the Sons of the American Revolution, serving in various capacities for 35 years. He was a member of the Union League Club, the Hamilton Club and the American Protective League. From 1919 to 1928 he was the non-resident treasurer of the Yenching Women's College in China. These and many other volunteer efforts were made possible by Bowman's long and successful business career, including positions as: Instructor at Chicago Business Law School (1906-1907); Assistant Manager of the Chicago Trust Company (1912-1915); Assistant Attorney for the Northern Trust Company (1915-1922); Vice President and Trust Officer for the American Trust and Safe Deposit Company (1922-1929); Trust Officer, National Builders Bank (1930-1941); and Department Manager and Assistant Trust Officer for the Central National Bank (1941 until retirement).
Louis Bowman authored several pamphlets and one monograph, The Life of Isaac E. Brown (1927). Of his many accomplishments, he was perhaps most proud of his work which culminated in the words "Under God" being added to the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag.
Ellen Colville Bowman died in Oak Park on August 23, 1947. Louis Bowman continued to live in Oak Park until his death on January 26, 1959. Both were cremated and their ashes scattered on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin at the Norman Barr Camp.
Scope and Contents
Material in the collection documents Bowman’s varied volunteer service. The writings include radio addresses, speeches, articles, pamphlets, and his book. In addition, there are two Oversize items, as well as a run of Photographs.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged with general files first, followed by writings. Within each categories, folders are arranged alphabetically. Photographs are listed separately and are arranged somewhat chronologically.
Subjects
- Bowman, Ella Mae Colville, 1873-1947
- Bowman, Louis Andrew, 1872-1959
- Sons of the American Revolution. Illinois Society — History
- YMCA of Rock Island (Ill.) — History
- Lawyers — Illinois — Chicago — History
- Norman B. Barr Camp (Wis.) — History
Related Collections
- Norman B. Barr Papers
- Louis A. Bowman. The Life Issac Eddy Brown. New York: Association Press, 1926. Special Collections book collection, call number BV1085.B7B6
Container List
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | General: Bowman, Ella Mae Colville (1873-1947). Obituary, funeral address | 1947 August 26 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | General: Correspondence. Norman Burton Barr to Norman Barr Bowman | 1915 October 21, 1922 March 10 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | General: Correspondence. Charles Doak Lowry to Norman Barr Bowman | 1959 May 26 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | General: First Presbyterian Church of Oak Park 75th anniversary | 1958 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | General: Lewis, Marvin H. The Man Who Made Us, presentation copy to Louis A. Bowman. Privately printed | circa 1925 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | General: Memo. Norman B. Bowman regarding the disposition of Louis A. Bowman’s ashes | 1957 November 23 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | General: Newspaper clippings | 1955, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | General: Olivet Summer Assembly Association. Membership certificate | 1908 December 25 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | General: Pledge of Allegiance "Under God" clause. Correspondence, affidavit, clippings, DAR certificate | 1955 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | General: Sons of the American Revolution. George Washington birthday dinner dance program | 1934 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | General: Sons of the American Revolution, Illinois Society, Membership Certificate to Louis A. Bowman | 1903 May 15 | |
| Oversize Folder 2 | General: Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D.C., Certificate to Louis A. Bowman as attorney and counselor | 1949 May 31 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Writings: "The Beautiful in Human Life." WGN Radio | 1939 July 29 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Writings: Bible Study: The Means of the Highest Culture. Chicago: Fleming H. Revell Co. | 1903 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Writings: The Christian Philosophy of Life | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Writings: Dogs Are Not Dumb | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Writings: "The Laymen’s First Chicago Campaign," in The Bible Today | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Writings: Norman B. Barr Camp Chapel dedication address | 1949 August 7 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Writings: Order to Come Out of Chaos | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | Writings: Outline of paper to the Irving Literacy Club of Chicago | 1956 February 3 |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Writings: "Outlines in the Gospel of John for Individual and Class Use" | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Writings: Prayer at service of Oak Park First Presbyterian | 1951 August 19 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Writings: "The Soul of America." WGN Radio | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | Writings: The Strength of Manhood. Chicago: Young Men’s Presbyterian Union | 1905 |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | Writings: The Strength of Manhood. Correspondence from readers | 1905-1906 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | Writings: "Suggested Plan to make the 18th Amendment Effective” | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | Writings: "The 23rd Psalm as interpreted. . .by [a] Shepherd," [See also: Louis A. Bowman. The Life Issac Eddy Brown. New York: Association Press, 1926. Special Collections book collection, call number BV1085.B7B6] | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | Writings: Cards and flyers for Bowman’s "Jokes" lectures | 1903, 1905, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | Writings: Volunteer certificate to Louis A. Bowman | 1953 |
Photographs
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.1 | Louis A. Bowman, carte d’visite, Rock Island, IL | circa 1876 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.2 | Louis A. Bowman, cabinet photo, Rock Island, IL | circa 1882 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.3 | Louis A. Bowman, cabinet photo, Rock Island, IL (2) | circa 1884 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.4 | Louis A. Bowman, cabinet photo, Chicago, IL (2) | circa 1888 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.5 | Louis A. Bowman, cabinet photo, Macomb, IL | circa 1890 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.6 | Louis A. Bowman, Chicago, IL | 1896 July 21 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.7 | Louis A. Bowman, Chicago, IL | 1897 November 23 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.8 | Louis A. Bowman, snapshot | circa 1950 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.9 | Louis A. Bowman, head-and-shoulders studio portrait | circa 1950 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.10 | Louis A. Bowman, three-quarters view studio portrait | circa 1950 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.11 | YMCA workers group, Louis A. Bowman, Frank Burd (?), Issac Eddy Brown (1849-1917), [?] Smith, A. M. Bruner, A. G. Copeland | circa 1895-1898 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.12 | YMCA Camp, Lake Geneva, WI | 1898 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.13 | Olivet Institute, Norman Barr Camp, Bowman Chapel, interior | undated |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.14 | Louis A. Bowman with unidentified group of youths | 1890s |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.15 | Postcard of Rock Island & Davenport ferry | undated |
| Box 2 | Photograph 1.16 | Norman Barr Bowman (1915- ) | circa 1918 |
| Box 2 | Photograph 2.1 | Louis A. Bowman, Chicago, IL [This photograph was received by the Special Collections Department in September 1992.] | circa 1930 |
