Guide to the Marjorie and J. Warren Matson Papers, 1942-1980 AIS.1984.17
Arrangement
Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Marjorie and J. Warren Matson Papers
Creator
Matson, J. Warren
Collection Number
AIS.1984.17
Extent
12.5 Linear Feet(8 boxes)
Date
1942-1980
Abstract
This collection contains the records of Marjorie and J. Warren Matson, a couple known for their community involvement. Marjorie Matson (1913-1980), a prominent lawyer and civil libertarian in Pittsburgh, served as Allegheny County solicitor, assistant district attorney, and president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). J. Warren Matson (1905-1983), an engineer and social worker, was known for his work for the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP), as well as community activities on behalf of seniors and other residents of the Hill District. These records detail their work in their respective careers from 1942 to 1980, and cover a broad range of subjects including academic freedom, civil liberties and rights, health care, racial conflicts, the Vietnam War, conscription, housing, juvenile delinquency, prisons, and advocacy for senior citizens.
Language
English
.
Author
Archives Service Center staff. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in April 2006.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System Archives & Special Collections Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman) Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Biography
Marjorie Matson (1913-1980) was a well-known lawyer and civil libertarian. In 1932, she joined the League for Social Justice and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. She was active in the Pennsylvania Security League from 1934 to 1936, which promoted better working conditions in the state, and served as the secretary for the Joint Committee of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). After receiving a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1937, she became an assistant county solicitor in 1941, the first woman in Allegheny County to occupy that position. After World War II she was active in various community organizations, including the Berkely Hills Volunteer Fire Department and the White Oak Heights Women's Club. In 1947 she became an assistant district attorney, another position that had never been occupied by a woman before.
Matson became active in the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in 1942, and served as the local representative and chair for some years after. The group later recognized her with its first annual Civil Libertarian Award. She was also a member of Americans for Democratic Action and the Allegheny Council on Civil Rights and was involved in several controversial court cases. She took a leave of absence from her job as assistant district attorney in 1950 due to allegations of communist sympathy brought by Charles J. Margiotti, the state attorney general. When the allegations against her were cleared in 1951 she returned to the position until 1952, when Republican James F. Malone became district attorney.
J. Warren Matson (1905-1983) was especially known for his social work and community activities in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. Matson earned an engineering degree in 1933 and a Master's degree in social work in 1938, both from the University of Pittsburgh. During the Depression, Matson spent two years working for the WPA on the Transient Bureau Farm in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was employed as an engineer for the Union Switch Signal Company from 1933 through 1936. In 1939, Matson worked for the probation office of Allegheny County. From 1940-1961, he worked for the Pittsburgh City Housing Authority, dealing with tenant selection problems. Matson founded Hill Opportunity Progress and Education (HOPE), an organization which addressed economic and housing problems in Pittsburgh's Hill District. He also helped to establish the Action Coalition of Elders, an organization which helped provide support services for the elderly.
Scope and Content Notes
The records in this collection show the various causes the Matsons were involved in throughout their careers, such as academic freedom, civil liberties and rights, health care, racial conflicts, the Vietnam War, conscription, housing, juvenile delinquency, prisons, and advocacy for senior citizens. The records, dating from 1942 to 1980, are organized into five series:
Series I. American Civil Liberties Union, Marjorie Matson
Series II. Legal Records of Marjorie Matson
Series III. City Development and Housing, J. Warren Matson
Series IV. Other Civic Involvement of J. Warren Matson
Series V. Subject Files
Series VI. Client Files of Marjorie Matson (Closed until 2036)
Additional scope notes are found at the series level.
Access Restrictions
This collection contains materials protected by attorney-client privilege and, therefore, may be subject to review prior to researcher use. Access to privileged documents will be restricted in compliance with attorney-client confidentiality. Please contact the Archives Service Center for more information.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Susan Brandt, daughter of the Matsons, in June 1984.
Preferred Citation
Marjorie and J. Warren Matson Papers, 1942-1980, AIS.1984.17, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh
Previous Citation
Marjorie and J. Warren Matson Papers, 1942-1980, AIS.1984.17, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Papers of J. Warren Matson, 1942-1977, ais 84:17, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Archives Service Center staff in 1984.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Charles Stanford on April 28, 2006. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1404666
Copyright
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
