By: Samantha Riley, Bicentennial Intern, Class of 2020, French and Anthropology, IUPUI
Edited by: Bre Anne Briskey, Bicentennial Graduate Assistant
“I like to think of the archivist as an hour glass which is preserving the past for the future [of which] the middle is the archivist.”[1]–Jeannette Matthew
At IUPUI, the archives connect the school’s present with the past. This partnership is due to the hard work and dedication of IUPUI’s archivist, Jeannette Matthew.
Early Life and Education
Jeannette Matthew was born in St. Louis, MO on March 6, 1922 to Harry Wylie Morrow and Ruth Wilkinson.
After Matthew graduated from high school in 1941, she attended a business college before deciding that she did not want to pursue that type of career. Instead, Matthew dreamed of a different career path and decided to go to Park College. Because Park College required students to participate in work-study programs, Matthew had her first experience working in a library.[2]
Matthew earned her degree in library science in 1946. She then worked in libraries across the United States, ranging from the Denver Public Library to Columbia University. While working at the Columbia University, she took a number of courses at its prestigious library school.[3] Matthew also gained experience in administration as she was sent to meetings that higher administrators did not want to attend. This administrative experience later proved to be vital for Matthew’s next stage of her career.[4]
Coming to IUPUI
After working in the library at Columbia University, Matthew worked at the New York Public Library branch in the Bronx and Bell Telephone before moving to Indianapolis in 1951. She first worked at the Post Library at Fort Benjamin Harrison, before going to work in the Adjutant General’s School Library.[5]
In 1956, Jeannette Matthew joined Indiana University in Indianapolis as the librarian of the School of Social Work and the undergraduate library.[6] During this time, she worked in the Special Libraries Association, working her way up to being on national committees.[7]
She was promoted to assistant librarian in 1974. A year later, she advanced to associate librarian, in addition to being named special collections librarian and archivist. After attending a workshop at Case Western Reserve University, Matthew established the IUPUI archives.[8]
As the university’s archivist, Matthew was in charge of building the archives from the ground up—which was no easy feat. According to her, “We did not have that first piece of paper,” when the archive first began.[9]
Prior to the creation of the archives, there had been no formal collection procedures established for campus materials. She and her co-workers began the collection with flyers, newspapers, and administrative files found around campus. Before too long, everyone wanted to lend a hand in building the school’s collection; retired faculty members began donating their own records.[10]
Beyond collecting and preserving the university’s history in the archives, Matthew created a series called “The Way it Was,” which featured oral histories from retired faculty members.[11]
Matthew’s Contributions
Matthew was an active member in a number of organizations. She was an important part of the Special Libraries Association at both the local and the national levels, served on the board of directors of the Indiana Women’s History Archives, and was appointed to the Commission on College and University Archives of the Society of American Archivists.[12]
In addition to these roles, Matthew was a co-founder of the Adult Education Council of Greater Indianapolis, and in 1961 was the first woman to serve as President of the Council. Matthew also served as the Indiana director of the American Library Association’s National Library Week programs.[13]
Her Legacy
Jeannette Matthew retired from IUPUI in 1987. Despite retiring, Matthew remained active in the field. She regularly attended and participated in meetings for the Midwest Archives Conference and the national organization.
After retiring, she moved to Arizona. She gave back to her community by being active in the Welcome Wagon Club, the Homeowner’s Association, and helped to establish the Arizona State Museum Library at an Open House.
She volunteered once a week at the Arizona State Museum Library until 1999, when an illness prevented her from continuing. While she was ill, she completed a manual on how to process the library’s reprint files. [14] She passed away on August 30, 2000.[15]
The success of the IUPUI Archives can be credited to Matthew’s impressive groundwork.
Bibliography
- Harris, Betsy. “’Pack Rat’ Loves Her Job As IUPUI’s First Archivist.” The Indianapolis Star, October 21,1979.
- “Jeannette Matthew.” Office for Women. https://ofw.iupui.edu/Leadership/Online-Archive-Women-Creating-Excellence-at-IUPUI/Women-Creating-Excellence/JeannetteMatthew.
- Jeannette Matthew memorial resolution, passed August 30, 2000, UA-45, IUPUI Faculty Council Records, IUPUI University Library Special Collections and Archives.
- “Site 11: University Library (UL).” Women Building IUPUI: A Walking Trail. http://www.iupui.edu/~history/OLDSITE/trail/11.htm.
- “Funeral Notices: Jeannette Morrow Matthew.” Arizona Daily Star, 01 September 2000, pg. 6.
Notes
[1] Betsy Harris, “’Pack Rat’ Loves Her Job As IUPUI’s First Archivist,” The Indianapolis Star, October 21,1979
[2] “Funeral Notices: Jeannette Morrow Matthew,” Arizona Daily Star, 01 September 2000, pg. 6.
[3] Jeannette Matthew memorial resolution, passed August 30, 2000, UA-45, IUPUI Faculty Council Records, IUPUI University Library Special Collections and Archives.
[4] “Funeral Notices: Jeannette Morrow Matthew,” Arizona Daily Star, 01 September 2000, pg. 6.
[5] “Funeral Notices: Jeannette Morrow Matthew,” Arizona Daily Star, 01 September 2000, pg. 6.
[6] “Site 11: University Library (UL).” Women Building IUPUI: A Walking Trail. http://www.iupui.edu/~history/OLDSITE/trail/11.htm.
[7] “Funeral Notices: Jeannette Morrow Matthew,” Arizona Daily Star, 01 September 2000, pg. 6.
[8] Harris, Betsy. “’Pack Rat’ Loves Her Job As IUPUI’s First Archivist.” The Indianapolis Star, October 21,1979; “Funeral Notices: Jeannette Morrow Matthew,” Arizona Daily Star, 01 September 2000, pg. 6.
[9] Harris, Betsy. “’Pack Rat’ Loves Her Job As IUPUI’s First Archivist.” The Indianapolis Star, October 21,1979.
[10] “Site 11: University Library (UL).” Women Building IUPUI: A Walking Trail. http://www.iupui.edu/~history/OLDSITE/trail/11.htm.
[11] Jeannette Matthew.” Office for Women. https://ofw.iupui.edu/Leadership/Online-Archive-Women-Creating-Excellence-at-IUPUI/Women-Creating-Excellence/JeannetteMatthew.
[12] “Jeannette Matthew.” Office for Women. https://ofw.iupui.edu/Leadership/Online-Archive-Women-Creating-Excellence-at-IUPUI/Women-Creating-Excellence/JeannetteMatthew.
[13] “Funeral Notices: Jeannette Morrow Matthew,” Arizona Daily Star, 01 September 2000, pg. 6.
[14] “Funeral Notices: Jeannette Morrow Matthew,” Arizona Daily Star, 01 September 2000, pg. 6.
[15] Jeannette Matthew.” Office for Women. https://ofw.iupui.edu/Leadership/Online-Archive-Women-Creating-Excellence-at-IUPUI/Women-Creating-Excellence/JeannetteMatthew.