The William R. Mathews papers (1870-1980)
primarily documents his journalism career as editor and publisher of the
Arizona Daily Star (1930-1967). The collection also includes material relating
to Mathews' military service in World War I, and his role as an official war
correspondent in World War II. Also included are the family papers of William R. Mathews and his wife, Betty B. Mathews.
Collection Number:
MS 406
Repository:
University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
University of Arizona
PO Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6423
Fax: 520-621-9733
URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/
Biographical Note
William R. Mathews (1893-1969) was an accomplished journalist,
newspaper editor and publisher. Born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1893, he
attended elementary and high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, and graduated
with an A.B. degree in Money and Banking from the University of Illinois in
1917. He served as a Second Lieutenant and Captain in the Fifth Regiment of the
Second Division of the United States Marine Corps during World War I. He fought
in the battles of Belleau Wood and Soissons, in France, and was wounded in the
attack on Blanc Mont. Mr. Mathews earned numerous awards and citations,
including the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, in 1918, for capturing 75
German soldiers. After the war he worked as an advertising solicitor for the
San Francisco Chronicle. He married Betty Boyers, in 1919, and they had four
children. From 1920-1924, he was the business manager of the Santa Barbara
Morning Press. In 1924, he and business partner Ralph E. Ellinwood purchased
the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Mathews served as the general
manager from 1924-1930 and as editor and publisher from 1930-1967.
Mr. Mathews' extensive travels enabled him to focus his journalism on
international politics and foreign affairs. He served as an accredited military
correspondent and completed nine trips around the world. He witnessed and
documented unique historical events, such as the signing of the Japanese
Surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in 1945, the Bikini Bomb Test in 1946 and
the John Foster Dulles trip to Japan and Korea, just prior to the outbreak of
the Korean Conflict. Mr. Mathews was active in public service and his
appointments include: special adviser to James B. Forrestal, Secretary of
Defense (1948-1950), member of the Pulitzer Prize Committee, member of the
Board of Regents of the University of Arizona, and Chairman of the Citizens'
Public Utilities and Citizens' Water Advisory Committees for the City of
Tucson. In 1940 he ran for public office as a democratic representative for
Congress.
Scope and Content Note
The William R. Mathews papers (1870-1980) primarily document his journalism career as editor and publisher of the Arizona Daily Star (1930-1967), and also includes material relating to Mathews' military service in World War I, and his role as an official war correspondent in World War II. These papers also contain the family papers of William R. Mathews as well as those of his wife, Betty B. Mathews. This collection consists of biographical information, correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, writings, speeches, public service files, travel files, family papers, ledgers, and newspaper clippings.
Organization
This collection is organized into 12 series. 3 series contain
subseries: Writings, Photographs and Scrapbooks.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish
from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record,
the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The
user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the
University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all
claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Biographical files document Mr. Mathew's military service and accomplishments, along with his experience and achievements as a newspaper journalist, editor and publisher. They include personal and professional recollections and discussions of significant national and international events and leaders during the early to mid-twentieth century. His public service activities at the local, state and national levels are also documented in this series, as well as litigation against the state of Arizona for access to public information. Arrangement is alphabetical.
Correspondence files primarily document Mr. Mathews' professional communication with colleagues and local, state, national and international political and military leaders and other notable individuals. Correspondence in his capacity as editor of the Arizona Daily Star is also included. Some files contain research information and news articles by William R. Mathews. Arrangement is alphabetical.
box
folder
1
16
American National Red Cross,
1950
1
17
Arizona Daily Star,
1924-1940
1
18
Arizona State Welfare Board,
1941
1
19
Arizona Tax Research Association,
1945-1949
1
20
Astor, David,
1935-1966
1
21
Atomic Energy Commission,
1958
1
22
Bohlen, Charles,
1966
1
23
Bolin, Wesley,
1949-1956
1
24
Buckley, William F., Jr.,
1956-1967
1
25
Butler University,
1956-1969
1
26
Central Intelligence Agency; J.E. Hoover and A. Dulles,
1951-1966
1
27
Clay, Lucius D.,
1963
1
28
Cusick, Watkins and Frey,
1958
1
29
Daniels, Josephus,
1937-1942
1
30
Dawes, General Charles G.,
1936-1964
1
31
Dulles, John Foster,
1951
1
32
Eisenhower, President Dwight D.,
1953-1956
1
33
Forrestal, James; Secretary of Defense,
1944-1949
1
34
Fredericks, Pierce G.,
1959
1
35
Fund for the Republic Inc.,
1957-1958
1
36
Galbraith, John Kenneth,
1968
1
37
Garvey, Dan,
1957
box
folder
1a
1
General, (1 of 3)
, 1957-1968
1a
2
General, (2 of 3)
, 1957-1968
1a
3
General, (3 of 3)
, 1957-1968
1a
4
Goldwater, Barry,
1952-1964
1a
5
Goldwater, Barry, (1 of 2)
, 1952-1969
1a
6
Goldwater, Barry, (2 of 2)
, 1952-1969
1a
7
Grand Canyon Dams,
1950-1966
box
folder
2
1
Great Leaders,
1934-1968
2
2
Hadow, R.H.,
1956
2
3
Halifax, H.E. and Lady,
1942-1946
2
4
Harbord, James G.,
1924-1946
2
5-7
Hayden, Carl,
1939-1955
2
8-10
Hayden, Carl,
1956-1968
2
11
Hayden, Carl; Budget Letters,
1935-1954
2
12
Hoover, Herbert,
1941-1943
2
13
Hoover, J. Edgar,
1950-1960
2
14
Inskeep Resignation,
1945
2
15
Internal Revenue Service,
1942-1950
2
16
International Correspondence,
1961-1966
2
17
Janeway, Eliot,
1964
2
18
Kennedy, John. F.
, 1959-1964
2
19
Keyser, Ralph S.,
1950-1955
2
20
Kissinger, Henry,
1960-1966
2
21
Kitchel, Denison,
1963
2
22
Krock, Arthur,
1964-1965
2
23
Landon, Alf M.,
1952
2
24
Lewis, Anthony,
1963
2
25
Lilienthal, Alfred M.,
1940-1966
2
26
Lodge, Henry Cabot,
1959
2
27
Mannini-Klafter Realty,
1953
2
28
Marines,
1917-1968
2
29
Marshall, George C.,
1955-1963
2
30-31
McFarland, Ernest,
1942-1963
2
32
McNamara, Robert S.,
1961
2
33
Morgenthau, Henry Jr.,
1963
2
34
National Press Club,
1942-1951
2
35
Navy Department,
1949-1967
2
36
Newspaper Editors,
1940-1965
2
37-38
Newspapers and magazines,
1942-1967
2
39
Nixon, Richard M.
, 1956-1963
box
folder
2a
1
Osborn, Sidney P.,
1941-1947
2a
2
P., (1 of 3)
, 1945-1959
2a
3
P., (2 of 3)
, 1945-1959
2a
4
P., (3 of 3)
, 1945-1959
2a
5
Patten, Harold A. (Porque),
1949-1958
2a
6
Pegler, Westbrook,
1941-1962
2a
7
Perkins, Milo.
, 1961
2a
8
Pershing, John J.,
1936-1960
2a
9
Phoenix, Arizona,
1940-1963
box
folder
3
1
Phoenix newspapers,
1949-1967
3
2
Powell River company,
1949-1952
3
3
Presidential election predictions,
1956
3
4
Presidential candidates and possibilities,
1943-1952
3
5
Primary gubernatorial campaigns,
1956
3
6
Pulitzer, Joseph,
1947-1954
3
7
Prisoners of war,
1952
3
8
Pyle, Howard,
1950-1956
3
9
R.,
1944-1961
3
10
Ramey, Roger,
1947
3
11
Rankin Family,
1944-1945
3
12
Reston, James,
1963-1964
3
13
Rhodes, John J.,
1953-1966
3
14
Rockefeller, John D. III.,
1952-1960
3
15
Romine, L.A.,
1954
3
16
Roosevelt, Franklin D.,
1931-1943
3
17
Rosenberg, Anna M.,
1951
3
18
Rougeron, Camille.
, 1952
3
19-21
S.,
1941-1960
3
22-23
S.,
1961-1963
3
24
Sale of Arizona Daily Star,
1964-1969
3
25
Salzberger, Arthur Ochs,
1963-1965
3
26
Santa Barbara Daily News,
1959-1968
3
27
Sarnoff, David,
1955
3
28
Schlager, Sig,
1954-1957
3
29
Schweitzer, Albert,
1965
3
30
Sedgwick, Ellery,
1936-1949
3
31
Sen, Sachin; Visit to Tucson,
1956
3
32
Shepherd, Lemuel C.,
1935-1963
3
33
Slee, Margaret Sanger,
1949-1966
3
34
Small loan companies,
1954-1956
3
35
Smith, Howard J.,
1953
3
36
Smith, Ralph C.,
1950
3
37
Social security and welfare,
1942-1958
3
38
South American tabloid,
1956
3
39
Special Senate Committee Testimony,
1940-1957
3
40-42
State Department,
1938-1954
box
folder
4
1
State Department,
1956-1968
4
2
Stauffer, Oscar; Menninger Foundation,
1958-1960
4
3
Stevenson, Adlai,
1956-1965
4
4
Stitt, Phil,
1950-1956
4
5
Stocker, Joseph,
1949-1957
4
6
Stolpe, Bert,
1960
4
7
Swanson, Theodore and company,
1949-1950
4
8
Swinehart, Gerry,
1960-1965
4
9
Symington, Stuart W.,
1950-1960
4
10
T.,
1950-1960
4
11
Tabloid requests,
1954
4
12
Taft, Robert A.,
1949-1952
4
13
Telegrams,
1921-1941
4
14
Thacher, A.G.,
1931-1955
4
15
Thomason, John William, Jr.
, 1940-1955
4
16
Thompson, Dorothy,
1944-1959
4
17
Times Letters to the Editor; "German recovery",
1948
4
18
Times Letters to the Editor; "Indonesia",
1949-1952
4
19
Times Letters to the Editor; "Moderation in Japan
urged",
1945
4
20-21
Times Letters to the Editor; "Repatriating prisoners",
1952-1953
4
22
Times Letters to the Editor; "Report from Tucson on
foreign policy",
1952-1953
4
23
Times Letters to the editor; "Tucson Looks at the
World",
1953
4
24
Times Letters to the Editor; "Use of atomic energy",
1954
This series is divided into three subseries: Articles and Editorials (1919-1967), Oversize Articles and Editorials (1937-1949), and Manuscripts (1939-1962). Articles and Editorials includes writings by Mr. Mathews, primarily in his capacity as editor of the Arizona Daily Star, documenting his interviews with notable individuals, global travels, and local, state, national and international affairs and politics. The arrangement is alphabetical with the bulk of this series organized chronologically under the 'General' category. Manuscripts include several revised and re-titled versions of Mr. Mathews' unpublished book on his military and other professional experiences.
This series includes professional and public speeches, primarily
on national and international affairs. The arrangement is alphabetical with the
bulk of this series organized chronologically under the 'General' category.
box
folder
8
2
"America Marches on to its Destiny",
1962
8
3
"An American Empire?",
1958
8
4
Channel Club, Santa Barbara,
1955
8
5
"Food, People and War",
undated
8
6
General,
1937-1940
8
7-8
General,
1942-1949
8
9-12
General,
1950-1966
8
13
General Shepherd's Remarks at Dinner for Bill Mathews,
1967
8
14
Mathews Candidate for Congress,
1940
8
15
Other Authors,
1959
8
16
Radio Broadcasts,
1943
8
17
"Recent Travels and Observations in the Middle East"; Tucson Committee on Foreign Relations,
1962
8
18
"Resume of War"; Rotary Club,
1945
8
19
"South Viet Nam and American Destiny",
1966
8
20
"Spanish Element in Our Nationality"; Speech to
Spanish Americans,
undated
This series documents Mr. Mathews' local, state and national public service activities, including his campaign for Congress in 1940. Arrangement is alphabetical.
box
folder
8
22
Arizona State Office Building Committee,
1955
8
23
Board of Governors; Federal Reserve System,
1958-1963
8
24
Board of Regents; University and State Colleges of
Arizona,
1949-1961
8
25
Board of Regents; University and State Colleges of
Arizona- Meeting Agendas,
1958
8
26
Campaign for Congress; Publicity.
, 1940
8
27
Campaign for Congress; Republican Hand Bill,
1940-1944
8
28
Citizens' Advisory Water Committee,
1930-1951
8
29
Citizens' Advisory Water Committee,
1940-1949
8
30
Citizens' Advisory Water Committee; Avra-Altar Valley
Water,
1951-1952
8
31
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee,
1943-1946
8
32
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Arizona
Corporation Commission Hearing,
1944-1945
8
33
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Arizona Edison
Company,
1945
8
34
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Arizona Power
Authority,
1945
8
35
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Bond Houses,
1942-1945
8
36
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Central Arizona
Light and Power Company,
undated
8
37
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Charter
Amendment,
undated
8
38
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; City Attorney,
1940-1947
box
folder
9
1
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Electric Power
Board of Chattanooga,
1943-1944
9
2
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Engineering
Firms,
1944
9
3
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Federal Light and
Traction Company,
1942-1945
9
4
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Federal Power
Commission,
1938-1945
9
5
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Holding
Companies,
1943
9
6
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Information from
Other Cities, Re: Boards,
1929-1943
9
7
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Initiative
Petition,
1944
9
8
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Knoxville
Electric Power and Water Board,
1935-1943
9
9
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Meeting Minutes,
1943
9
10
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Ordinance
Acquisition Election,
1944
9
11-13
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Rates
Comparisons,
1926-1947
9
14
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Reports: Burns
and McDonnell Engineering Company,
1935-1944
9
15
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Reports: Duff and
Phelps.
, 1944
9
16
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Reports: Finance
Committee,
1943
9
17
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Resolutions:
Dahlberg and Durand,
1941-1943
9
18
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Resolutions:
Stranahan, Harris and Company, Inc.,
1944
9
19
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Safford Utility
Court Decision,
1944
9
20
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; San Antonio
Utility Purchase,
1943-1944
9
21
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Security and
Exchange Commission,
1942-1946
9
22
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Tucson Gas,
Electric Light and Power Company, Analysis from,
1936-1946
9
23
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Tucson Gas,
Electric Light and Power Company, Annual Meeting Notice,
1948
9
24
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Tucson Gas,
Electric Light and Power Company, Annual Reports,
1941
9
25
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Tucson Gas,
Electric Light and Power Company, Annual Reports,
1942
9
26
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Tucson Gas,
Electric Light and Power Company, Annual Reports,
1944-1946
9
27
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Tucson Gas,
Electric Light and Power Company, Income Tax Returns,
1937
9
28
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Tucson Gas,
Electric Light and Power Company, Pension Trust Plan,
1953
9
29
Citizens' Public Utilities Committee; Utilities
Purchase, Mayor's Statement,
undated
9
30-31
Mid-Century Conference on Resources for the Future
Steering Committee,
1953-1954
9
32
Pima County Zoning,
1928-1952
9
33
Pulitzer Prize Committee,
1954-1956
9
34
State School Funds,
1951-1956
box
folder
10
1
Sunshine Climate Club,
1951-1952
10
2
Tucson School Bond Elections,
1964
10
3
United States Atomic Energy Commission,
1947
10
4
Young Women's Christian Association; New Building
Committee,
1950-1954
This series documents Mr. Mathews' extensive international
travels. The files include travel itineraries, photographs, field notebooks,
dispatches and other writings and memorabilia. Arrangement is alphabetical.
box
folder
10
5
Africa; 1961,
1961-1963
10
6
Alaska,
1957-1962
10
7-9
Antarctica; 1961,
1961-1962
10
10
Bikini; 1946,
1946
10
11
China; 1937,
1937-1945
10
12
Dutch Indonesia; 1949,
1949-1956
10
13
Europe; 1945-1947,
1945-1947
10
14
Europe; 1951,
1951
10
15
Germany; 1962,
1962-1963
10
16-17
Korea; Dulles Mission; 1950,
1950-1967
10
18
Near East; 1962,
1962
10
19-20
Orient; 1945,
1945
box
folder
11
1
Pearl Harbor; Aboard U.S.S. Oriskany (CVA34),
1960
This series is divided into three subseries: General (1886-circa 1940), Albums (1928-1969) and Oversize (1943-1980). General includes military photographs that document U.S. Navy and Marine Corps training exercises and facilities, World War I personal and aerial photos, and images of William R. Mathews. Albums include photographs documenting Mr. Mathews' travels, meetings with notable individuals and leaders, as well as his military interests and public service activities. Of note are photographs documenting the signing of the Japanese surrender ending World War II and images of the Bikini Bomb Test from aboard the U.S.S. Appalachian. Oversize includes items from both the General and Albums subseries and also includes the family photographs of the Boyers and Mathews families.
This series is divided into three subseries: Military (1916-1968), Newspaper Clippings (1942-1968) and Travel and Events (1945-1950, 1967). Military includes documentation of Mr. Mathews' numerous military awards and citations, extensive travels, meetings with notable individuals and military and civilian leaders, speeches, writings, and memorabilia. Newspaper Clippings document Mr. Mathews' prolific writing career as a journalist, most notably as editor and publisher of the Arizona Daily Star and his extensive travels. The writings of other journalists on particular topics of interest to Mr. Mathews are also documented in this subseries. Travel and Events document Mr. Mathews’ extensive travels and special events held in his honor. Arrangement is alphabetical.
The William R. Mathews Family Papers document the correspondence of Mr. Mathews’ mother as well as correspondence regarding the potential publication of her handwritten autobiography. Also included are several writings regarding the Strong family including historical sketches and genealogical notes representing Mother Mathews’ family.
box
folder
16
1
Correspondence: Mathews, William R. Re: publication of “Mother Mathews Life Story”,
1943-1966
16
2
Correspondence: Mother Mathews,
1942
16
3
"Mother Mathews Life Story"; copy,
circa 1965
16
4
"Mother Mathews Life Story"; Original draft,
1939
16
5
Sketch of the Life of Robert T. Mathews,
undated
16
6
The Strong Family in Indiana,
undated
16
7
Typed copies of Strong Family History,
undated
16
8
The Western Branch of the Strong Family by Clara Murray
Mathews,
1943
This series documents Bettty B. Mathews and the Boyers family through correspondence, journals and diaries. It also includes various papers relating to Betty B. Mathews, including hand copied medical research articles.
box
folder
17
1
Betty B. Mathews Journal,
1972
17
2
Betty B. Mathews Trips Journal,
1935-1937
17
3
Correspondence: Butler University,
1972-1975
17
4
Correspondence: Mathews, Betty B.,
1971-1973
17
5
Diary of Eva E. Boyers,
1927-1937
17
6
Diary of Mrs. J.S. Boyers,
1890-1909
17
7
J.S. Boyers; Account of Experiences,
1870-1879
17
8
Medical Research Materials,
1970
17
9
"Silent Influences"; James S. Boyers,M.D.,
circa 1900
This series consists of newspaper clippings collected by William R. Mathews and his wife Betty B. Mathews. Clippings and magazines relating to Watergate and Richard Nixon’s resignation as President of the United States are also represented in this series. These materials were collected by Betty B. Mathews after the death of William R. Mathews.
box
folder
18
1
Arizona Daily Star,
1949-1953, 1964
18
2
National Newspapers,
1949-1962, 1973
18
3
NNixon Related Clippings,
1972-1973
18
4
Nixon Related Magazines,
1973-1974
18
5
Scrapbook of Nixon Related Political Cartoons,
1973
This series consists of ledgers belonging to William R. Mathews during his undergraduate education at the University of Illinois. Accounts and receipts for dairy purchases are noted, along with the account name. Most accounts were held by University of Illinois fraternities and sororities.