The Edward Mathewson Papers contain the work of Canadian metallurgist Edward Mathewson, known for his work with Anaconda Copper
Mining Company and later, his service as a professor at the University of Arizona. The collection includes five series pertaining to Mathewson’s personal and work
life. Materials include manuscripts, mining papers, patents, letters and correspondence, scrapbooks, published books and papers, journals, diaries, blueprints,
photo albums, photographs, postcards, financial records, certificates and degrees, and other ephemera.
Collection Number
MS 594
Language:
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/
E-Mail: LBRY-askspcoll@email.arizona.edu
Biographical Note
Edward Payson Mathewson was born on October 16, 1894 in Montreal Canada to parents James
Adams and Amelia Seabury (Black) Mathewson. He was raised with an Episcopalian upbringing
and focused on his studies as a child. Interested in mining, he enrolled at McGill University, a
public university in Montreal, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in mining in 1885.
Post-graduation, Mathewson moved to Pueblo Colorado in 1886 began working as an assayer at
Pueblo Smelting and Refining Company, where he rose to the position of general superintendent
of the plant by 1889. It was early on in his career as an assayer that Mathewson met Alice Barry,
whom he was infatuated with instantly. The couple married in 1890 and throughout his career,
Mathewson continued to write about his wife profusely. During the couple’s early years together
Mathewson took on the job of superintendent at Pueblo (Colorado) Smelting and Refining
Company (1889-1897). Next, he joined Guggenheim’s Sons technical staff in 1897 and followed
this with becoming the superintendent and manager at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Monterey,
Mexico, and Antofagasta, Chile, until 1902. He remained under the employ of Anaconda Copper
Mining Company (1902-1916) while also staying on as the manager of Washoe Reduction
Works of company at Anaconda (1903-1916).
As a metallurgist, Mathewson received several other honors and awards during his career. He received gold medals
from the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy in London (1911) as well as
from the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America (1917).
Mathewson soon returned to Canada and worked as the general manager of British American
Nickel Corporation, Ltd., in Toronto from 1916-1918. After this excursion, he became the
director and consultant metallurgist at American Smelting and Refining Company in New York
(1918-1919). He remained a consultant metallurgist since 1919. From 1919-1926 he took on
work as a private consultant.
Still interested in pursuing further degrees, Mathewson completed further coursework and
received his Doctorate of Science from Colorado School of Mines in 1920. Two years later, he
received his Doctor of Laws degree. He was an active member of the American Institute Mining
and Metallurgical Engineers, including a stint as President in 1923. He also was a notable Fellow
of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. During his time in Tucson, he was
part of the Old Pueblo Club.
In 1926, Mathewson came to the University of Arizona in Tucson to teach mining administration
and metallurgical courses. He continued with this career until his retirement in 1942 and passed
away a few years later on July 13, 1948.
Mathewson, a dedicated scholar, never forgot to strengthen the bonds of family at home. He and
Alice had four daughters and a son: Alice Seabury (Mistress E. V. Graybeal), Grace (Mistress
North Carolina Streit), Gertrude (Mistress Arkansas Nolin), Mary Elizabeth (Mistress E. F.
Bissantz), and Edward Payson.
Scope and Content Note
The Edward Mathewson Papers contain the work of Canadian metallurgist Edward Mathewson, known for his work with Anaconda Copper Mining Company and later,
his service as a professor at the University of Arizona. The collection includes five series pertaining to Mathewson’s personal and work life. Series I consists
of mining papers and materials, including work related manuscripts, mining papers, mining machinery patent designs, books, periodicals, scrapbooks, and blueprints
with a date range 1891-1950. Some of the papers within this series include mining correspondence and letters, papers from publications that Mathewson worked on,
as well as some material from his work as a professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.
Series II includes printed and negative photographs that
Mathewson took while working in different mines across the country as well as tourist photographs taken while on vacation by himself or with his family. Earlier
photographs are taken in 1877 with the later of the photos being taken in 1922. There are both loose and rolled photographs as well as a series of scrapbooks and
family photo albums (1877-1931).
In the third series, there are various forms of correspondence including a large collection of postcards from different countries.
Some of these postcards have correspondence on them while others remain unused and were collected as Mathewson traveled Europe. There are also several mining
photographs, taken by Mathewson, that were used as postcards. Mathewson’s letters include several compiled collections of letters he wrote to his wife, Alice Barry.
Also included are letters to other members of the family, personal correspondence to friends and colleagues, and University of Arizona related correspondence as
acting professor. A subseries also includes diaries and journals written by both Edward and Alice, as wells as a few cashbooks that tracked the family finances.
In Series IV there are printed materials from 1900-1950, including many newspapers. Some of the clippings are about mining, but many of the clippings are about
the opera—one of Edward’s personal pleasures. There are also a few large landscape prints. Series V includes various ephemera related to Mathewson’s life. Items
include certificates and degrees he was awarded, plaques from scholarly associations, and a small collection of pins and medallions.
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.
Series I contains materials directly related to Mathewson’s work as a metallurgist and his other work in the
mining industry. The first subseries contains work related manuscript papers, many of which contain Mathewson’s thoughts and ideas
for bettering the industry. A few correspondence letters are also included. The second subseries contains a collection of papers
Mathewson kept regarding his work at several mines across the country and internationally, as well as some personal correspondence
regarding his business taxes, work as a professor, and other mining related papers. They remain housed in the order Mathewson archived
his papers to remain true to his vision. This subseries also includes items that have been separated based on their association to
different mines and scholarly associations. The third subseries contains materials related to a mining machinery patent Mathewson was
working on in 1893. The fourth subseries contains books and periodicals pertaining to different aspects of mining and metallurgy.
Subseries five contains materials that have been bound in scrapbooks and includes photographs, postcards, and greeting card correspondence
that Mathewson took, wrote, or receiving on business or while working in the mining industry. The sixth series includes blueprints of
mining machinery.
Series II contains photographic materials. There are photographs in various sizes and in different mediums. While many of these
photographs appear to be tourist photographs from trips, some may have also been taken while Mathewson was working. The first subseries includes
printed photographs that are loose and unbound, including photographs taken within the United States and internationally, including Mexico, South America,
Germany, and England. Many of the printed photographs that are loose were rolled and need additional processing to flatten them back to their original form.
The second subseries includes photograph albums ranging from personal family albums to work, travel, and art albums. The third subseries contains glass
negatives.
This series includes postcards, letters, diaries, and journals from Edward Matheson and other individuals
close to him, including his wife Alice Barry. Subseries one contains postcards from across the world that Mathewson collected,
sent, and received. Postcards have been categorized based on country, with secondary categorization based on cities if there are multiple
postcards from a specific city within a country. Some miscellaneous postcards include photographs of mines that Mathewson took and used to send
as postcards. Subseries two consists of correspondence and letters authored by Mathewson. A majority of the letters are related to his
relationship with Alice Barry, although there are some additional university related letters and miscellaneous correspondence. Correspondence has
been arranged by chronological date order. Subseries three consists of diaries and journals from Edward and Alice Mathewson as well as a few
cashbooks that tracked the family’s daily finances.
This series includes printed materials related to Mathewson, including both his interest in newspaper clippings
about art, the theatre, events, and mining as well as some of his certificates and degrees. Subseries 1 is a collection of newspaper clippings,
circa 1900-1950, collected by Mathewson. Due to the nature of these clippings, many of the clippings are fragile and should be handled with
extreme care. Smaller, loose clippings have been enclosed in envelopes within their folders to try and further protect them from deteriorating.
The second subseries includes prints of landscapes.
This series includes certificates, degrees, and awards that Mathewson received during his career. Subseries one consists of several
certificates and degrees that Mathewson was awarded, many of which remained rolled and need further preservation. The second subseries includes two
plaques Mathewson received relating to mining and metallurgy. Subseries three includes several small pins and medallions that Mathewson received from
different organizations.
