Photographs of Mark A. Matthews, approximately 1880-1940

Overview of the Collection

Title
Photographs of Mark A. Matthews
Dates
approximately 1880-1940 (inclusive)
Quantity
26 photographic prints and 1 pen and ink drawing (3 folders ) ; sizes vary
Collection Number
PH1444
Summary
Photographs of Mark Matthews as a young man and in his profession as a Presbyterian minister and a caricature of him as a #2 pencil.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Mark Matthews (September 24, 1867 – 1940) was minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Seattle from 1902 until his death in 1940. During that time he had a significant role in Seattle's history.

Matthews's life reflects many of the currents and tensions that prevailed in America from the end of the Civil War to the beginning of the Second World War. He was deeply aware of the change in America from a rural orientation to an urban and industrialized one. Involved with the progressive movement, he found the implications of the First World War and the radical labor movement in Seattle threatening. In this context Matthews fought to make the Church a moving force within society and preserve his concept of religious orthodoxy. This led him to become a proponent of fundamentalism and an opponent of modernism within the Presbyterian church.

Born in Calhoun, Georgia, on September 24, 1867, Matthews received his formal education at the town's local academy. He was ordained there in 1887, and after brief ministries in Calhoun and Dalton, Georgia, he accepted a ministry in Jackson, Tennessee. Clearly part of the social gospel movement, Matthews attempted to adapt the church to urban conditions. During his years in Jackson, 1896-1901, he was instrumental in building a hospital, organizing a night school, and founding a local humane society. His work as an organizer and preacher earned him an honorary doctorate from Tennessee Normal University and soon after, a call to become minister to Seattle's First Presbyterian Church.

Matthews viewed himself as a progressive with the dual mission of expanding his church and rooting out the corruption prevalent in Seattle at that time. Membership in his congregation grew to ten thousand, the largest Presbyterian church in the world. At the same time, he waged active campaigns against Seattle mayors, police chiefs, business leaders, saloon keepers, and others whom he perceived as evil.

By 1912 Matthews had been elected moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. This led to a close association with Woodrow Wilson, and Matthews became a frequent guest at the White House. As Wilson's devoted follower, Matthews began to consider opponents of Wilson as well as Seattle's radical labor leaders in the International Woodworkers of the World grave threats to the security of the nation. Consequently he became increasingly conservative, calling for restriction of immigration and repressive measures in the context of the red scare of the 1920s, and increasingly strident in his support for such issues as Prohibition, fundamentalism, and William Jennings Bryan's crusade against the teaching of evolution. Strongly opinionated, Matthews made many enemies, but he also had thousands of devoted followers. While his theology was relatively simple, his life reveals the complexity of forces working in America as this Southerner in the Pacific Northwest attempted to lead Seattle to his own particular vision of righteousness.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of Mark Matthews as a young man and in his profession as a Presbyterian minister. Also includes a caricature of Matthews as a #2 pencil.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed by Ishtar Laguna Monroy, January-February 2017.

Collection transferred from Portrait Collection, PH563, 2017.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Mark Matthews as a young manReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
1 1
Mark Matthews as a young man
Written on photograph: G U Piper
circa 1880s
1 2 circa 1880s
1 3 circa 1912
1 4 circa 1910s
1 5a
Mark Matthews as a young man wearing a hat
James & Merrihew, Seattle (photographer)
5a and 5b are the same photograph but have different photographer signatures
circa 1917-1920s
1 5b
Mark Matthews as a young minister wearing a hat
James & Merrihew, Seattle (photographer)
5a and 5b are the same photograph but have different photographer signatures
circa 1917-1920s

Mark Matthews as a ministerReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
box-folder:oversize item
OS7 6
Group photograph of 8 men and Mark Matthews
Royal Photo Studio (photographer)
circa 1910s
Folder
1 7
Mark Matthews working at his desk
Webster & Stevens, Seattle, WA (photographer)
circa 1920s
box:oversize
XH8 8a
Pen and ink caricature of Reverend Mark A. Matthews as a No. 2 pencil
Calvert (artist)
8a is original pen and ink drawing. Drawing is in two parts.
circa 1920s
Folder
1 8b circa 1920s
1 9 circa 1920s
1 10
Mark Matthews sitting at his desk
La Pine & Rogers, Seattle, WA (photographer)
circa 1924-1925
1 11
Mark Matthews sitting in formal vestment
La Pine & Rogers, Seattle, WA (photographer)
circa 1924-1925
1 12
Mark Matthews standing in formal vestment
La Pine & Rogers, Seattle, WA (photographer)
circa 1924-1925
1 13 circa 1920-1930s
1 14
Members of the North India Mission of the Presbyterian Church, Landour in Musoorie, India
H. R. Ferger, Jhansi, India (photographer)
Written on photo. Picture taken at the Annual Meeting in Kellogg Memorial Church
June 1930
1 15 1930
1 16 circa 1930s
1 17 circa 1930s
1 18 April 5, 1934
1 19-20 circa 1930s
folder:oversize
XH8 21 circa 1930s
Folder
1 22
Mark Matthews speaking in church, possibly at Easter, Seattle, WA
The Hart Studio, Seattle, WA (photographer)
circa 1930s
1 23 circa 1938
1 24
Mark Matthews in coffin at funeral, Seattle, WA
Roger Dudley, Seattle, WA (photographer)
1940
1 25 circa 1920s-1930s

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Church buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Membership--Photographs
  • Clergy--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Matthews, Mark A. (Mark Allison), 1867-1940--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Webster & Stevens (photographer)