Brander Matthews
Encyclopedia
James Brander Matthews (February 21, 1852 in New Orleans – March 31, 1929 in New York City
), was a U.S. writer
and educator. Matthews was the first U.S. professor
of dramatic literature
.
in 1871, where he was a member of the Philolexian Society
and the fraternity of Delta Psi AKA St. Anthony Hall
, and from Columbia Law School
in 1873, but turned to a literary career. From 1892 to 1900 he was professor of literature at Columbia
, and thereafter held the chair
of dramatic literature. His influence was such that a popular pun claimed that an entire generation had been "brandered by the same Matthews".
During his tenure at Columbia, Matthews created and curated a "dramatic museum" of costumes, scripts, props, and other stage memorabilia. Originally housed in a four-room complex in Philosophy Hall
, the collection was broken up and sold after his death. However, its books were incorporated into the university library system and its dioramas of the Globe Theatre
and other historic dramatic venues have been dispersed for public display around campus, mainly in Dodge Hall. Matthews was also remembered as the inspiration for the now-destroyed Brander Matthews Theater on 117th Street, between Amsterdam Avenue
and Morningside Drive
. An English professorship in his name still exists at Columbia.
and of the Players' Club, both of New York; one of the organizers of the American Copyright League; a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters
and president (1913) of the National Institute of Arts and Letters; the first chairman (1906) of the Simplified Spelling Board
; and president of the Modern Language Association of America (1910). In 1907 the French government decorated him with the Legion of Honor.
, "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses," Mark Twain
criticizes Matthews' statements concerning the merits of Cooper's literary works.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
), was a U.S. writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and educator. Matthews was the first U.S. professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of dramatic literature
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
.
Biography
He graduated from Columbia CollegeColumbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
in 1871, where he was a member of the Philolexian Society
Philolexian Society
The Philolexian Society of Columbia University is one of the oldest college literary societies in the United States, and the oldest student group at Columbia...
and the fraternity of Delta Psi AKA St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall, also known as Saint Anthony Hall and The Order of St. Anthony, is a national college literary society also known as the Fraternity of Delta Psi at colleges in the United States of America. St...
, and from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1873, but turned to a literary career. From 1892 to 1900 he was professor of literature at Columbia
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and thereafter held the chair
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of dramatic literature. His influence was such that a popular pun claimed that an entire generation had been "brandered by the same Matthews".
During his tenure at Columbia, Matthews created and curated a "dramatic museum" of costumes, scripts, props, and other stage memorabilia. Originally housed in a four-room complex in Philosophy Hall
Philosophy Hall
Philosophy Hall is a building on the campus of Columbia University in New York City. It houses the English, Philosophy, and French departments, along with the university's writing center, part of its registrar's office, and the student lounge of its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences...
, the collection was broken up and sold after his death. However, its books were incorporated into the university library system and its dioramas of the Globe Theatre
Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613...
and other historic dramatic venues have been dispersed for public display around campus, mainly in Dodge Hall. Matthews was also remembered as the inspiration for the now-destroyed Brander Matthews Theater on 117th Street, between Amsterdam Avenue
Tenth Avenue (Manhattan)
Tenth Avenue, known as Amsterdam Avenue north of 59th Street, is a north-south thoroughfare on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City. It carries uptown traffic as far as West 110th Street, also known as Cathedral Parkway for the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine...
and Morningside Drive
Morningside Drive (Manhattan)
Morningside Drive is a roughly north-south bi-directional street in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan...
. An English professorship in his name still exists at Columbia.
Activities
He was one of the founders of the Authors' ClubAuthors' Club
The Authors' Club is a British membership organization established as a place where writers could meet and talk. It was founded by the novelist and critic Walter Besant in 1891....
and of the Players' Club, both of New York; one of the organizers of the American Copyright League; a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters
The American Academy of Arts and Letters
The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 250-member honor society; its goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, music, and art. Located in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan in New York, it shares Audubon Terrace, its Beaux Arts campus on...
and president (1913) of the National Institute of Arts and Letters; the first chairman (1906) of the Simplified Spelling Board
Simplified Spelling Board
The Simplified Spelling Board was an American organization created in 1906 to reform the spelling of the English language, making it simpler and easier to learn, and eliminating many of its inconsistencies...
; and president of the Modern Language Association of America (1910). In 1907 the French government decorated him with the Legion of Honor.
Twain's criticism of
In his essay critiquing the fiction of James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
, "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses," Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
criticizes Matthews' statements concerning the merits of Cooper's literary works.
Works
His works cover various topics and subjects.- The Theatres of Paris (1880)
- French Dramatists of the Nineteenth Century (1881; revised in 1891 and 1901)
- Margery's Lovers (1884)
- Actors and Actresses of the United States and Great Britain (five volumes, 1886), with Laurence HuttonLaurence HuttonLaurence Hutton was an American essayist and critic, born in New York City and educated privately there. He was an inveterate traveler and for about 20 years spent his summers abroad. From about 1870 he contributed continually to periodicals. From 1886 to 1898 he was the literary editor of...
- In the Vestibule Limited (1892)
- Americanisms and Briticisms (1892)
- The Decision of the Court (1893)
- Vignettes of Manhattan (1894)
- Studies of the Stage (1894)
- The Gift of Story-Telling (1895) (Harper's New Monthly Magazine Oct 1895)
- His Father's Son (1895), a novel
- Aspects of Fiction (1896; revised in 1902)
- An Introduction to the Study of American Literature (1896)
- Studies in Local Color (1898)
- A Confident To-Morrow (1900)
- The Action and the Word (1900)
- The Historical Novel and Other Essays (1901)
- Parts of Speech, Essays on English (1901)
- The Philosophy of the Short-Story (1901)
- The Development of the Drama (1903)
- The Short Story (1907)
- Americans of the Future and Other Essays (1909)
- MolièreMolièreJean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
: His Life and Works (1910) - Introduction to the Study of American literature (1911)
- Shakespeare as a Playwright (1913)
- On Acting (1914)
- The Oxford Book of American Essays (1914)
- These Many Years (1917), his autobiographyAutobiographyAn autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
- Principles of Playmaking (1919)
- Playwrights on Playmaking (1923)
Further reading
- Oliver, Lawrence J. Brander Matthews, Theodore Roosevelt, and the Politics of American Literature, 1880-1920, (Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press, 1992), 254p.