Cowling, Donald J. (Donald John), 1880-1965

Donald John Cowling was born in Trevalga, Cornwall, England in 1880. His family immigrated to the United States when Cowling was two years old. He earned his B.A. in 1902 from Lebanon Valley College (Pennsylvania), a second B.A. in 1903, M.A. in 1904, D.B. in 1906 and Ph.D. in 1909, all from Yale University. Dr. Cowling was an assistant professor of philosophy and biblical literature at Baker University (Kansas) before accepting the position of president at Carleton College (Northfield, MN) in 1909. Dr. Cowling served as president for 36 years, retiring in 1945. Donald Cowling died on November 27, 1965.

In 1943, the Minnesota Legislature commissioned a memorial to the Doctors William J. and Charles H. Mayo. Dr. Cowling was appointed as chair of the committee for the Mayo Memorial to be established at the University of Minnesota. The Mayo Memorial Building was finished in 1954 and dedicated in October 1958, becoming the center of medical education and service at the University. A sampling of the schools and departments currently housed in the building include the Medical School, College of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, cell biology, microbiology and neurosurgery. In addition to his work on the Mayo Memorial, Dr. Cowling was a life-long supporter of medical education, including fund raising for medical departments at the University of Minnesota, member of the Board of Trustees for the Minnesota Medical Foundation and founder of the Scholarship Fund of the Minnesota Medical Foundation.