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COLLECTION Identifier: MC 248

Papers of Annabel Matthews, 1880-1960 (inclusive), 1901-1960 (bulk)

Overview

Correspondence, clippings, photographs, etc., of Annabel Matthews, lawyer and government tax specialist.

Dates

  • Creation: 1880-1960
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1901-1960

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Access Restrictions:

Access. Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright. Copyright in the papers created by Annabel Matthews is held by the President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Schlesinger Library. Copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns.

Copying. Papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures.

Extent

.63 linear feet ((1 + 1/2 file boxes) plus 1 folio+ folder, 1 folio folder)

The papers of Annabel Matthews include: correspondence, almost all of which is about her appointment and her later efforts toward re-appointment to the United States Board of Tax Appeals; newsclippings about Matthews, the Women's Bar Association, and prominent women in government work; and photographs of Matthews, other Matthews family members, and friends (Mabel Walker Willebrandt and Laura M. Berrien). Except for one folder of personal correspondence, there are few papers about Matthews's personal life; there are also few papers about her early life.

BIOGRAPHY

Annabel Matthews, lawyer and government tax expert, was born in Culloden, Georgia on December 31, 1883, the daughter of Alphonso Houghton and Augusta Louisa (Vaughan) Matthews. Her schooling prior to college was begun at home and continued in the ungraded public schools in the small towns of Barnesville and Culloden. At the age of fourteen (1898) she entered Brenau College, Gainesville, Georgia and graduated with an AB degree in 1901. She taught first, fourth, and seventh grades in Gainesville and Thomasville public schools (1901-1914) before becoming a technical clerk in the income tax division of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Washington, D. C.

She advanced steadily within the Bureau. In 1918, realizing a full legal background would allow her a broader field of work and more rapid promotion, she began studying law at night at Washington College of Law. In 1921, at the age of 35, she graduated with honors and was admitted to the Washington bar. She was assigned to the general counsel's office of the Bureau as an attorney in 1925, the second woman to be so honored. As "the expert in the United States service who knew the most about the taxation of non-residents, aliens, and foreign corporations under the Federal tax laws," she was sent as the assistant to the American delegate to two League of Nations Conferences on double taxation (London, 1927; Geneva, 1928).

In 1930 President Hoover appointed her to fill an unexpired term on the United States Board of Tax Appeals. She was the first woman to serve on the Board, which heard the appeals of taxpayers who owed additional income or estate taxes and determined whether the deficiency had to be paid. These hearings were held throughout the United States and Matthews presided over many of them, earning her the title of "Judge" Matthews. President Roosevelt did not reappoint Annabel Matthews to the Board in 1936 and she returned to the chief counsel's office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. In 1944 she retired from government work and entered private practice.

President Truman appointed her to the Fair Employment Board of the Civil Service Commission in 1948 where she served until 1954. Her appointment was opposed by the American Council on Human Rights, the National Council of Negro Women, and the CIO United Public Workers Union because of her prominent role in preventing blacks from becoming members of the Washington chapter of the American Association of University Women.

During her lifetime Matthews was a trustee of Brenau College and held active memberships in the American Bar Association, the Women's Bar Association (D.C. chapter, President 1937-1939), League of Women Voters (D.C.), American Association of University Women, Phi Mu sorority, and the Phi Delta Delta legal fraternity. She was active and vocal throughout her lifetime about the role and position of women in the work force, especially in the federal government.

Annabel Matthews died March 24, 1960 in Washington, D. C.

ANNABEL MATTHEWS CAREER INFORMATION
  • 1901AB degree, Brenau College, Gainesville, Georgia; two summers University of Tennessee.
  • 1901-1914Teacher, Georgia public schools.
  • 1914-1925Clerk, Income tax division, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Washington, D. C.
  • 1921LL.B., Washington College of Law; admitted to Washington bar.
  • 1925-1930Special attorney, Office of general counsel, Bureau of Internal Revenue.
  • 1927Assistant to United States delegate at International Conference on double taxation, London.
  • 1928Assistant to United States delegate at International Conference, Geneva.
  • 1930-1936Appointed member United States Board of Tax Appeals.
  • 1936-1938Chief Counsel's Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue.
  • 1938-1942United States Processing Tax Board of Revenue.
  • 1943-1944Attorney, Chief counsel's office, Bureau of Internal Revenue.
  • 1945-(1958?)Private practice.
  • 1948-1954Appointed Fair Employment Board, Civil Service Commission.

ANNABEL MATTHEWS CAREER INFORMATION
1901
AB degree, Brenau College, Gainesville, Georgia; two summers University of Tennessee.
1901-1914
Teacher, Georgia public schools.
1914-1925
Clerk, Income tax division, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Washington, D. C.
1921
LL.B., Washington College of Law; admitted to Washington bar.
1925-1930
Special attorney, Office of general counsel, Bureau of Internal Revenue.
1927
Assistant to United States delegate at International Conference on double taxation, London.
1928
Assistant to United States delegate at International Conference, Geneva.
1930-1936
Appointed member United States Board of Tax Appeals.
1936-1938
Chief Counsel's Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue.
1938-1942
United States Processing Tax Board of Revenue.
1943-1944
Attorney, Chief counsel's office, Bureau of Internal Revenue.
1945-(1958?)
Private practice.
1948-1954
Appointed Fair Employment Board, Civil Service Commission.

Physical Location

Collection stored off site: researchers must request access 36 hours before use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession numbers: 804, 1254 75-85

The Annabel Matthews papers were given to the Schlesinger Library in September 1964 by Mary Pearce Matthews, her sister; and in December 1967 and March 1975 by Benjamin A. Matthews, her brother.

CONTAINER LIST

  1. Box 1: 1-16
  2. Box 2: 17-23

INDEX OF CORRESPONDENTS

This index lists writers and recipients of letters. Information about individuals is not indexed; nor are subjects. The numbers refer to folder numbers.

  1. Abbott, Grace - 12
  2. Adams, T. S. - 12
  3. Adamson, Nell - 14
  4. Ainsworth, Harry - 19
  5. Akerson, George - 14
  6. Allen, Jno. S. - 10
  7. Allen, Nila S. - 14
  8. Alston, Robert C. - 16
  9. Armand, Banks (Miss) - 14
  10. Armstrong (Mr.) - 11
  11. Armstrong, Florence A. - 12
  12. Ash, Robert - 19
  13. Atherton, Leland T. - 15
  14. Atkinson, Edith M. - 15
  15. Bailie, Norman H. - 6
  16. Ball, Ruby - 19
  17. Ball, Sarah - 19
  18. Banister, Marion - 18
  19. Barbour, Harriet M. - 14
  20. Barnett, B. M. - 14
  21. Barwick, Allen J. - 10
  22. Battle, George Gordon - 12, 18
  23. Battle, J. D. - 12
  24. Bennett, Claude N. - 6
  25. Bentley, Fay L. - 14
  26. Berrien, Laura M. - 12
  27. Bischoff, Florence M. - 15
  28. Blair, Ruth - 4, 12
  29. Blount, G. Dexter - 12
  30. Boley, Bertram S. - 16
  31. Booker, Yleverton E. - 14
  32. Boussand, Minnie S. - 12
  33. Boykin, Florence B. - 17
  34. Bradshaw, Minnie Bagley - 12
  35. Branch, Harlee - 12, 18
  36. Brandeis, Susan - 12, 14
  37. Bright, Frank S. - 14
  38. Broch, W. E. - 14
  39. Brown, Helen Elizabeth - 14, 15
  40. Brown, Lelia Moncure - 13
  41. Brown, Paul - 19
  42. Brueggeman, Bessie P. - 14
  43. Burlew, E. K. - 14
  44. Caffey, Francis G. - 12
  45. Canning, Fleda R. - 14
  46. Capper, Arthur - 12
  47. Carden, W. Morton - 11
  48. Carlisle, Roselyn R. - 19
  49. Carlisle, W. A. - 12
  50. Carlisle, W. T. - 13
  51. Carloss, Helen - 14
  52. Carmack, Betty Bradley - 19
  53. Carr, Sterling - 16
  54. Carter, O. A. - 14
  55. Chamberlain, Mary - 13
  56. Childs, Jessie H. - 15
  57. Clapp, Elizabeth - 16
  58. Clark, Lucile Vernon - 13
  59. Cocke, Erle - 17
  60. Coleman, Beverley M. - 16
  61. Compton, R. U. (N.?) - 6
  62. Cone, Gilbert A. - 16
  63. Connally, Tom - 14
  64. Connor, Mary - 12
  65. Cooper, Pearl - 12
  66. Copeland, Royal S. - 12
  67. Couzens, James - 12
  68. Cox, E. E. - 18
  69. Cox, Elizabeth M. - 19
  70. Cox, Eugene - 19
  71. Craig, William Boyd - 14
  72. Cromelin, Paul B. - 14
  73. Cullison, James B. - 16
  74. Davie, C. N. - 12
  75. Davis, Ella M. - 14
  76. Davis, J. Warren - 13
  77. Davis, Louise Garrard - 4
  78. Deen, Braswell - 19
  79. Deering, Helen -13
  80. Deibert, Robert P. - 12
  81. Dell, Jessie - 12
  82. Deming, William C. - 14
  83. Derby, George - 1
  84. Dewson, Mary Williams - 17, 19
  85. Doyle, Richard S. - 13, 14, 19
  86. DuBose, Louise Toombs - 13
  87. Dunlop, Edgar B. - 17, 19
  88. Durand, Mary Bennett - 15
  89. Earseman, Lois - 15, 16
  90. Eastman, Ellen Libby - 13
  91. Eastman, May B. - 16
  92. Ecles, Elizabeth - 14
  93. Estes, Alice - 19
  94. Estes, Charles - 19
  95. Estes, Helen - 12, 19
  96. Farley, James A. - 17, 18, 19
  97. Farnum, George Rossiter - 12
  98. Faulconer, Oda - 12
  99. Fesler, Ruth - 14
  100. Fish, Tallu Jones - 12
  101. Fitzgerald, Grace - 14
  102. Fitzpatrick, Henry T. - 12
  103. Folger, Cliff - 15
  104. Forster, Rudolph - 19
  105. Fraser, B. F. - 10
  106. Frysinger, Grace E. - 13, 14
  107. Gaffney, Blanche McFarlane - 17
  108. Gambrell, E. Smythe - 12
  109. Garber, M. C. - 16
  110. Garner, E. R. - 18
  111. George, Walter F. - 11-13, 17-19
  112. Gholston, G. H. (Mrs.) - 19
  113. Gilbert, William B. - 6
  114. Gilchrist, Eleanor - 15
  115. Glass, Carter - 13
  116. Gluckstein, Nina - 16
  117. Gordon, Erskine - 16
  118. Greacon, Clara - 12
  119. Green, Dwight H. - 16
  120. Green, Mary Fitzpatrick - 17
  121. Gregg, A. W. - 11
  122. Grogan, Sara Pope - 6, 12, 14, 16
  123. Grubb, W. I. - 12, 14
  124. Guinn, Robert J. - 12, 14
  125. Haight, Charles A. - 12
  126. Ham, Walter C. - 14
  127. Hamel, Charles D. - 14
  128. Hanna, Margaret - 12
  129. Harper, Arnold - 14
  130. Harper, Elizabeth - 14
  131. Harper, Harold - 11
  132. Harrington, Catherine M. - 13
  133. Harris, Ralph S. - 11
  134. Harris, William J. - 12
  135. Haworth, Edith - 15
  136. Hayes, James E., Jr. - 19
  137. Hayes, Louise - 17
  138. Heeth, Cyrus - 19
  139. Heft, Matilda - 14
  140. Herbener, Gabrielle - 19
  141. Herndon, Grace M. - 12
  142. Hilkey, C. J. - 16
  143. Hill, Helen F. - 16
  144. Hoffman, Dale E. - 16
  145. Hollzer, Harry A. - 14
  146. Holmes, Bertha - 15
  147. Hoover, Herbert - 12-14
  148. Hosch, Annie Mae - 14
  149. Hosch, Elizabeth - 17
  150. Hosch, Heywood - 19
  151. Hosch, J. Alton - 12, 14, 16
  152. Hosch, John H. - 12
  153. Hosch, John H., Jr. - 15
  154. Hosch, Lester - 17
  155. Howlett, Blanche C. - 12
  156. Hudson, Hattie W. - 19
  157. Hughes, Sarah T. - 14
  158. Hughes, William J. - 16
  159. Hulsey, Eula Dorsey - 13
  160. Hunt, Odessa - 12
  161. Hunt, William H. - 6, 12
  162. Hurley, Patrick J. - 16
  163. Hurn, Reba J. - 14
  164. Ingells, Nelle - 14
  165. Jacob, Harvey D. - 12
  166. Jerger, E. R. - 19
  167. Johnson, Hammond - 16
  168. Johnson, O. M. (Mrs.) - 1
  169. Jones, Ralph (Mrs.) - 19
  170. Keir, Alisa F. - 6
  171. Kenney, Elizabeth L. - 14
  172. Kenyon, E. D. - 16
  173. Knoeller, Grace B. - 6
  174. Knox, Jane - 14
  175. Koehl, Bessie I. - 16
  176. Laws, Bolitha J. - 12, 14, 16
  177. Levy, Irving J. - 16
  178. Lisinby, Albert S. - 19
  179. Little, Arthur - 19
  180. Logan, Lucy - 19
  181. Lomen, Carl J. - 12, 15
  182. Lomen, Laura - 12, 15
  183. Lovett, Archibald B. - 14, 18, 19
  184. Magill, Roswell - 16
  185. Malone, Mary K. - 18
  186. Marions, J. W. - 10
  187. Marsh, Albert H. - 14
  188. Martin, J. O. - 13
  189. Massey, Ellen Spencer - 16
  190. Matthews, Annabel - 1, 4, 11-20
  191. Matthews, Benjamin A. - 6, 11-14, 18
  192. Matthews, Benjamin A., Jr. - 15
  193. Matthews, Ernestine - 14
  194. Matthews, M. Alice - 15
  195. Matthews, Mary Pearce - 12
  196. Matthews, May (Mrs. B. A.) - 15
  197. May, George O. - 12
  198. Memhard, A. R. - 12
  199. Menezes, Sarah C. - 14
  200. Merrill, Katherine - 14
  201. Merritt, Mary - 19
  202. Mershon, J. A. - 10
  203. Miller, Grady - 11
  204. Miller, Mary W. - 15
  205. Miller, Robert N. - 19
  206. Miller, Royall J. - 12
  207. Mitchell, Fraser (Miss) - 19
  208. Mitchell, William D. - 14
  209. Moore, Theodore R. - 17
  210. Morgan, Eliza - 17
  211. Morris, Logan - 14
  212. Morton, Eva - 18
  213. Mulholland, M. B. - 13
  214. Murphy, Nell Robert - 12
  215. Myers, (Mr.) - 11
  216. McGuinness, Hugh Thornton - 13
  217. McIntosh, T. M. - 10
  218. MacIntyre, Hugh J. - 19
  219. McIntyre, M. H. - 17-19
  220. MacIntyre, William F. - 19
  221. McPherson, Leighton - 17
  222. McPherson, Louise - 17
  223. Newton, Walter H. - 12
  224. Nordenholz, Sophie K. - 14
  225. Oftedal, (Mr.) - 16
  226. Ogburn, Charlton - 6, 12-14, 18
  227. O'Neill, Ann - 12
  228. Osterhaudt, P. James - 16
  229. Overton, Florence M. - 14
  230. Owen, E. M. - 19
  231. Owen, Ruth Bryan - 15
  232. Paige, Mabeth Hurd - 12
  233. Palmer, J. B. (Mrs.) - 19
  234. Palmour, Alice B. - 12
  235. Palmour, Hayne - 10, 12, 14, 19
  236. Palmour, Mary - 15
  237. Parker, John F. (Mrs.) - 19
  238. Parks, Benjamin G. - 15
  239. Patterson, Thomas H. - 16
  240. Pearce, H. J. - 1, 10, 12, 14, 19
  241. Penny, J. C. - 6
  242. Perdue, Helen - 15
  243. Perkerson, Angus - 16
  244. Perry, H. H. - 10
  245. Persons, C. Ogden - 13
  246. Peterson, Agnes - 12
  247. Peterson, Hugh J. - 19
  248. Phillips, Anna V. - 16
  249. Phillips, Esther (?) - 13
  250. Prettyman, E. Barrett - 12
  251. Primm, Paul H. - 14
  252. Pringle, W. A. - 19
  253. Quarles, Diana - 17, 19
  254. Quarles, Sue - 14
  255. Quillian, Ralph R. - 16
  256. Quinn, Agnes - 14
  257. Quinn, Veronica - 16
  258. Ramsey, Mary Louise - 16
  259. Ramspeck, Robert - 19
  260. Reid, James - 19
  261. Richey, Lawrence - 13, 14
  262. Ritchie, H. B. (Mrs.) - 18
  263. Robinson, Helen H. - 16
  264. Robinson, Joe T. - 11
  265. Robinson, Ruth - 19
  266. Roderick, Virginia - 14
  267. Rohleder, Grace I. - 14
  268. Rollison, Marty (Mrs.) - 17, 19
  269. Roman, Julia B. - 14
  270. Roop, J. Clawson - 14
  271. Roos, Nola M. - 18
  272. Roosevelt, Franklin Delano - 17-19
  273. Ross, Nellie Trayloe - 14
  274. Rothwell, Lydia - 14
  275. Rothwell, Vincent H. - 11, 14
  276. Rueff, Jack - 15
  277. Russell, Richard B., Jr. - 17-19
  278. Sabin, Vera Mankinen - 6, 14
  279. Saxe, John Godfrey - 14
  280. Settle, Anna Hubbach - 6
  281. Shaw, Randolph C. - 14
  282. Shephard, Morris - 14
  283. Sherriff, Lois C. - 12
  284. Simpson, Mary Jean - 13
  285. Simpson, S. Milton - 12
  286. Sisson, Charles P. - 12
  287. Sisson, Margaret G. - 14
  288. Sloan, Boyd - 17, 18
  289. Smith, Charles P. - 12
  290. Smith, Edwin B. - 12
  291. Smith, Isabel - 17
  292. Smith, Jesse Kimball - 16
  293. Smith, Kathleen Duggan - 19
  294. Smith, M. A. - 11
  295. Smith, Sidney O. - 6, 14, 19
  296. Soffel, Sara M. - 13, 14
  297. Spaulding, Augusta - 14, 19
  298. Speer, Luther F. - 12
  299. Spencer, M. Lyle - 14
  300. Spilman, Emily A. - 14
  301. Steele, Maude - 14
  302. Stephens, Alexander W. - 12
  303. Stevens, Emma J. Britt - 15
  304. Stockbridge, Jessie Folsom - 16
  305. Stone, Harlan F. - 11
  306. Stovall, Clara - 18
  307. Sturtevant, Paul - 11
  308. Swafford, W. B. - 14
  309. Tannehill, Edith - 14
  310. Tead, Ordway - 12
  311. Thompson, Hope - 14
  312. Thrasher, Mildred M. - 16
  313. Tiller, Leona Patterson - 12
  314. Tiller, Theodore - 12
  315. Tucker, W. R. - 12
  316. Turner, J. L. - 12
  317. Underwood, Ella - 13
  318. Underwood, J. D. - 10
  319. Vallance, William R. - 16
  320. Van Hoose, A. W. - 10
  321. Vereen, William J. - 18
  322. Vinson, Carl - 19
  323. Waldran, Callie S. - 12
  324. Ward, Mary Frances - 15
  325. Watt, Hansel - 19
  326. Watt, John - 19
  327. Watt, Will - 19
  328. Waxelbaum, Lewis (Mrs.) - 17
  329. Weeks, Mangum - 19
  330. Weisl, Edwin L. - 12
  331. Wellborn, Ethel - 14
  332. Wheeler, A. C. - 16
  333. Whelchel, B. Frank - 19
  334. White, Edward Franklin (Mrs.) - 14
  335. Whitson, Virginia - 16
  336. Wilbur, William A. - 16
  337. Wilkins, Josephine - 19
  338. Willebrandt, Mabel Walker - 6, 11, 14, 16
  339. Williams, Charl Ormond (Miss) - 12, 18
  340. Williams, William M. - 1
  341. Williams, Zora B. - 6, 14
  342. Wolfe, Carolyn - 17, 18
  343. Wolfe, Nana W. - 16
  344. Wollcott, A. W. W. - 11
  345. Wood, Katherine E. - 12
  346. Woodward, N. Faye - 15
  347. Wright, Ethel Robinson - 6
  348. Yost, Eunice F. - 14
  349. Yost, Lenna Lowe - 13, 14, 19

Processing Information

Processed: August 1977

By: Madeleine Bagwell Perez

Title
Matthews, Annabel, 1883-1960. Papers of Annabel Matthews, 1880-1960 (inclusive), 1901-1960 (bulk): A Finding Aid
Author
Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
Language of description
eng
Sponsor
Processed under NEH Grant Number RC 24669-76-987.
EAD ID
sch00729

Repository Details

Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository

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