Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William B. Matthews family papers
Abstract
The William B. Matthews family papers (dated 1894-1978, undated; 5.6 cubic feet; 12 boxes) comprise letters, papers, and photographs that document the work, educational, and life activities of an African-American family – William Matthews, his wife Ophelia, and their daughter Louise - and their friends and relatives in Georgia and Kentucky in the first half of the twentieth century.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William B. Matthews family papers
- Date
- 1894-1978, undated (inclusive)
- Extent
- 5.6 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- African Americans -- Education.
- African Americans -- Education (Higher)
- African American college students -- History -- 20th century
- African Americans -- Race identity
- African Americans -- Segregation
- African Americans -- Social conditions.
- African American soldiers.
- Education -- Kentucky -- Louisville
- Great Depression
- Teachers.
- Women in education -- Kentucky.
- World War, 1914-1918.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged alphabetically into three series: Correspondence, Papers, and Photographs. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0283: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William B. Matthews family papers, 1894-1978, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- William Baxter Matthews (1864-1940) was born in Houston County, Georgia (now Peach County) to Annie Head Matthews (d. 1866), and after her death was raised by his Baptist preacher stepfather. He was sent to school by his stepfather to learn the Bible better, attending rural schools, the Lewis High School in Mason, which later became the Ballard Normal School where Matthews did his preparatory work, and then entering Atlanta University where he received his A.B. degree in 1890. After graduation he earned a teachers license and spent time teaching in rural schools until he became principal of the Houston Street Public School in Atlanta, Georgia, where he remained for twenty years. In 1896, Matthews married Josephine Ophelia Beale (1874-1957), who was an accomplished teacher and assistant principal of Summer Hill School. In 1899, they welcomed their only child, Florida Louise Matthews (1899-1987). Matthews was heavily involved in his community, he was chairman for the committee of management for the Atlanta YMCA, a member of the Order of Freemasons, a Knight of Pythias, and an active member of the Congregational Church. In 1910, Matthews resigned from his position as principal and became a state agent for the North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company in the state of Georgia, however by 1912; he accepted a position as principal of the Central Colored High School in Louisville, Kentucky. Matthews was principal until his death in 1940, and the Matthews family remained in Louisville through Louise's death in 1987, as she never married.
- American Letters collector Wade Hall (1934-2015) was a native of Union Springs, Alabama. Starting in 1962, he lived in Louisville, where he taught English and chaired the English and Humanities/Arts programs at Kentucky Southern College and Bellarmine University. He also taught at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida. He held degrees from Troy State University (B.S.), the University of Alabama (M.A.), and the University of Illinois (Ph.D.). He served for two years in the U.S. Army in the mid-fifties. Dr. Hall was the author of books, monographs, articles, plays, and reviews relating to Kentucky, Alabama, and Southern history and literature. His most recent books include A Visit with Harlan Hubbard; High Upon a Hill: A History of Bellarmine College; A Song in Native Pastures: Randy Atcher's Life in Country Music; and Waters of Life from Conecuh Ridge.
- Scope and Content
- The William B. Matthews family papers (dated 1894-1978, undated; 5.6 cubic feet; 12 boxes) comprise letters, papers, and photographs that document the work, educational, and life activities of an African-American family – William Matthews, his wife Ophelia, and their daughter Louise - and their friends and relatives in Georgia and Kentucky in the first half of the twentieth century. The Correspondence series consists of letters mainly sent to William, Ophelia, Louise, and Ophelia's mother Isabella Beale from educators and leaders in the black community, and their friends and family. The letters to William are organized by major correspondent where applicable and then the rest are identified as either personal or professional. Many of the professional letters include letters from applicants for vacant teaching positions, letters of support from applicant's references, requests for advice in operating schools, and requests for letters of support from Matthews for past students of his schools. The personal letters include letters from friends and family that discuss religion, education, World War I, the Great Depression, issues due to segregation, and the daily lives of the letter authors. Major correspondents include Edward T. Ware, president of Atlanta University 1907-1919; lawyer Peyton A. Allen, and G. R. Hutto, Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. These letters discuss operating matters for Atlanta University, business, insurance, the Knights of Pythias, and the state of education in the United States.
- The letters to Ophelia Matthews come from family and friends, discussing other relatives/their children, social outings attended, personal health, and attending school. The letters to Louise Matthews come from family, friends and classmates, love interests, and professional contacts. These letters discuss classes taken and grades received, personal health, social activities, church participation, military service in World War I, the effects of the Great Depression, and information on teaching positions. Louise corresponds frequently with many people, including her parents Ophelia and William, soldier Willie F. Savoy, "brother" Harry B. Peters, and her cousins Julia Gaines, Florida Phillips, and Sol.
- The Papers series include advertisements and tickets for social events, programs for concerts and presentations, school notebooks, financial information, speeches written by William Matthews, newsletters, reports, and newspaper clippings. The Photographs series include positive and negative images of the Matthews family and friends from the 1900s to the mid-1920s.
- The William B. Matthews family papers are part of the Wade Hall Collection of American letters, which includes correspondence and diaries from all over North America covering the time period of the Civil to Korean Wars. The materials were collected by Wade Hall and document everyday men and women.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Correspondence, 1896-1978, undated
Josephine Ophelia Matthews to William B. Matthews, 1896-1928, undated
Josephine Ophelia Matthews to Louise Matthews, 1915-1943, undated
W. Albert Robinson to Louise Matthews, 1916-1919, 1935, 1962, undated
Anniversary and wedding announcements, 1922-1929
Reception invitations, 1922, 1927, undated
Papers, 1894-1971, undated
Biography of William B. Matthews, undated
Financial documents and receipts, 1894, 1910-1928, 1944-1971, undated
Negro Young People's Christian and Educational Congress contract, 1902 July 7
Poll tax fact sheet, undated
Receital and concert programs, 1916-1928, undated
Photographs, 1907-1925, undated
Unidentified young black man in a football uniform, caption reads: "Just me", undated
Two unidentified black men, caption reads: "Owaley is so tall, I made him sit down in order to get his feet", 1925 October 4
Unidentified black man in a field, caption reads: "try and laugh this off", 1925 October 4
Unidentified black man in a field, 1925 October 4
Unidentified young black man in a football uniform, caption reads: "on our gridiron", 1925 October 4
Two unidentified young black men in football uniforms, caption reads: "Ole long shot and myself", man on left identified as a fullback and man on right is identified as a guard, 1925 October 4
Two unidentified young black men in football uniforms, undated
Portrait of two unidentified young black women, possibly Annie Louise and Alzada, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman, undated
Two unidentified young black women, undated
Group photo of three unidentified young black men and five young women, undated
Four unidentified young black women posing together, undated
Unidentified black man holding a dog in front of an unknown house, undated
Unidentified black man in a swimming costume, caption reads: "your brother", undated
Unidentified young black woman, undated
Group photo of unidentified men and women, undated
Group photo of unidentified black men and women, undated
Group photo of unidentified black men and women, undated
Unidentified young black woman holding a camera, undated
Unidentified young black man and woman holding each other, undated
Unidentified group of black women sitting on steps, undated
Unidentified group of black women sitting on porch, undated
Unidentified black man with a dog on a leash, undated
Negative of a group photo of five unidentified black men and women, undated
Negative of a group photo of six unidentified black men and women, undated
Negative of an unidentified black man with two black women, undated
Negative of three unidentified black women, undated
Negative of unidentified black man with two black women, undated
Negative of unidentified men and women in graduation regalia, circa 1919
Negative of unidentified man and woman, circa 1919
Negative of unidentified elderly woman in a park, circa 1919
Negative of an unidentified woman lying in a field, circa 1919
Negative of entryway of unknown house, circa 1919
Negative of two unidentified men in front of an ivy-covered wall, circa 1919
Overexposed negative, circa 1919
Negative of two unidentified women sitting on porch steps, circa 1919
Unidentified young boy in a yard, undated
Negative of unidentified woman sitting on a wall, undated
Negative of unidentified woman sitting on a wall, undated
Negative of unidentified woman sitting on a wall, undated
Negative of two unidentified women, undated
Negative of two unidentified women, undated
Negative of unidentified woman sitting on steps, undated
Negative of two unidentified women sitting on a wall, undated
Negative of two unidentified women, undated
Negative of two unidentified women sitting on steps, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman, undated
Portrait of two unidentified black women, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman, caption reads: "Louise", undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman, undated
Negative of an unidentified woman, undated
Negative of three unidentified women seated on a bench, undated
Negative of three unidentified women seated on a bench, undated
Negative of view of body of water, undated
Negative of unidentified man and woman, undated
Negative of five unidentified women in a park, undated
Negative of an unidentified man and woman seated on a bench, undated
Negative of an unidentified man and two women seated on a bench, undated
Negative of view of water over railing of boat, undated
Negative of two unidentified women, undated
Negative of two unidentified persons in graduation regalia, undated
Negative of an unidentified woman pointing to unidentified man lying underneath a tree, undated
Negative of an unidentified woman, undated
Negative of an unidentified woman sticking her head out a window, undated
Negative of group photo of unidentified women, undated
Negative of three unidentified women, undated
Negative of two unidentified persons in graduation regalia, undated
Negative of an unidentified woman, undated
Negative of three unidentified women in a park, undated
Negative of an unidentified woman in a field, undated
Negative of two unidentified women in a park, undated
Negative of an unidentified person in graduation regalia, undated
Negative of four unidentified women, undated
Negative of an unidentified man and woman, undated
Negative of an unidentified man and woman, undated
Negative of two unidentified persons in graduation regalia, undated
Negative of a crowd in a field, undated
Negative of a crowd watching a baseball game, undated
Negative of an unidentified man and two women, undated
Negative of three unidentified women, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman, undated
Portrait of Jean Frederic Yaues, undated
Portrait of Cleopatra, undated
Exterior of Unitarian Church in West Newtown, Massachusetts, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black child standing next to a potted plant, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black man, undated
Photo strip [L to R]
Two unidentified young black women, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black woman, undated
Photo strip [L to R]
Two unidentified young black women, undated
Unidentified young black woman posing with a racket, undated
Unidentified young black woman, undated
Unidentified young black woman, undated
Unidentified young black woman, undated
Photo strip [L to R]
Unidentified young black woman, undated
Two unidentified young black women, undated
Unidentified young black woman, undated
Unidentified young black woman posing with a racket, undated
Unidentified young black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black baby, note on back reads: "With love, Fannie Louise Allen", undated
Portrait of an unidentified woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black girl in front of a house, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black toddler, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black man in graduation regalia, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black girl and baby, note on back reads: "from Julia and Anna Elizabeth Madison, to Mrs. Matthews", undated
Portrait of an unidentified black man in graduation regalia, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black boy, undated
Three unidentified black women posing with a cow, undated
Portrait of an unidentified white woman {India?], note on back reads: "Lovingly, India", undated
Portrait of an unidentified white woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified baby, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black boy, undated
Portrait of India DeLaine [L] and Moses [R], 1912 February 14
Portrait of an unidentified young black boy, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman [Leonora?], note on back reads: "To Louise, Love Leonora", undated
Portrait of an unidentified baby, undated
Portrait of three unidentified women, undated
Portrait of an unidentified white man, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black girl, undated
Portrait of Winfred Octavus Bryson, Jr. as an infant, note on back reads: "To Aunt Ophelia and Uncle Will from Winfred Octavus Bryson, Jr. (4-20-15)-(7-27-15)", 1915 July 27
Portrait of an unidentified young girl holding books on stair, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black girl [Margaret?] reading a book, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black man, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black man, 1907
Portrait of two unidentified young black men, note on back reads: "To my devoted Aunt. From Sol.", 1914 January 7
Portrait of an unidentified young black man, undated
Portrait of Euphrasia, undated
Exterior of an unknown house, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black toddler, note reads: "Dear Ophelia, Accept with best wishes, Mayme", 1907
Portrait of an unidentified black man, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black family, man and woman with infant; note on back reads: "R.M. Thompson, Jr, born Jan. 5, 1915", 1915 June 3
Portrait of an unidentified white woman and child, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black man standing next to a seated white woman who is reading a book, undated
Portrait of an unidentified black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young black woman, undated
Portrait of an unidentified young woman, undated
Portrait of Lester B. in military uniform, undated
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Table of Contents
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
