William Frederick MatthewsCGIA (7 January 1898 – 8 April 1977) was a leading British bookbinder. He trained at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London before being apprenticed at the bindery of W. T. Morrell & Co. He won a gold medal at the Paris exhibition of 1925 and started his own practice in 1926. He taught at the central school for nearly 50 years during which time his notable pupils included Edgar Mansfield, Roger Powell, and Bernard Middleton. He published two guides to bookbinding, and in 1976 was the first bookbinder to be awarded the City and Guilds of London Insignia Award (CGIA).
William Matthews was born on 7 January 1898[1] to a carpenter also named William Frederick and his wife Alice Mary Matthews.[2][3] In August 1921, he married Ellen Rawlinson at the parish church, Tooting, in London.[2]
He later taught at the central school for nearly 50 years, and trained Anthony Cains, Bryan Maggs, H. J. Desmond Yardley, Edgar Mansfield, Roger Powell, and Bernard Middleton.[4][6] In 1929, he published Bookbinding: A manual for those interested in the craft of bookbinding, and the following year Simple Bookbinding for Junior Schools.
Alms for Oblivion: An antiquary's scrapbook by Mortimer Wheeler bound by Matthews in goat skin, 1970
He was described by Catherine Porter as "one of the greatest craftsmen of the 20th century", being particularly skilled in gold tooling and lettering.[6] His work is generally noted for its "sober dignity" but with bindings produced for pleasure having a "joyful charm".[4] He favoured bindings in oasis Morocco with marbledend-pages from Morris Marbles of Oxford. Doublures and end leaves could be in Morocco, silk, or vellum. He did his own edge-gilding.[4] In 1970, he bound a copy of Mortimer Wheeler's Alms for Oblivion: An antiquary's scrapbook (1966) in olive-green goat skin with a sun design on the boards bordered by groups of overlapping radiating gilt lines. The book was presented by the author to the bookbinder Daphne Beaumont-Wright.[7]
A bound volume of his designs for book bindings is in the Bridwell Library of the Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology. It was bound by Matthews himself in full terra-cotta Morocco, and includes designs from 1928 to 1976, including the design for the binding.[8]
Death and legacy
Matthews died in hospital on 8 April 1977.[9] His home at the end of his life was Track End, Admiral's Way (Admiral's Walk in probate entry), in Pirbright, Surrey.[9][10] His funeral was at St Michael and All Angels church in Pirbright, followed by cremation.[9] He left an estate of £27,328.[10] In 1978, his work was the subject of a joint exhibition with Edgar Mansfield at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.[11]
Selected publications
Bookbinding: A manual for those interested in the craft of bookbinding.. Gollancz, London, 1929.
Simple Bookbinding for Junior Schools. Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, London, 1930.
References
^William F Matthews in the 1939 England and Wales Register]. Ancestry.com Retrieved 20 March 2023. (subscription required)
^ abWilliam Frederick Matthews in the London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938. Ancestry.com Retrieved 20 March 2023. (subscription required)
^London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923, Southwark, St Matthew, Newington, 1865-1920. Ancestry.com Retrieved 23 March 2023. (subscription required)
^ abcd"Matthews, William" in Geoffrey Ashall Glaister (1996) Encyclopedia of the Book. 2nd edition. New Castle: Oak Knoll Press. p. 318. ISBN 1884718140
^ ab"Matthews, William F." in Michael F. Saurez & H. R. Woudhuysen (Eds.) (2010) The Oxford Companion to the Book. Vol. 2 D-Z. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 919. ISBN 9780198606536
^ abPorter, Catherine. (2003) Miller's Collecting Modern Books. London: Miller's. p. 150. ISBN 1840007230
^Lot 460. 22 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Forum Auctions, 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
^The working drawings of William F. Matthews: manuscript drawings. 26 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine WorldCat. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
william, matthews, died, 1977, confused, with, william, matthews, died, 1896, william, frederick, matthews, cgia, january, 1898, april, 1977, leading, british, bookbinder, trained, central, school, arts, crafts, london, before, being, apprenticed, bindery, mor. Not to be confused with William Matthews died 1896 William Frederick Matthews CGIA 7 January 1898 8 April 1977 was a leading British bookbinder He trained at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London before being apprenticed at the bindery of W T Morrell amp Co He won a gold medal at the Paris exhibition of 1925 and started his own practice in 1926 He taught at the central school for nearly 50 years during which time his notable pupils included Edgar Mansfield Roger Powell and Bernard Middleton He published two guides to bookbinding and in 1976 was the first bookbinder to be awarded the City and Guilds of London Insignia Award CGIA William F MatthewsBorn7 January 1898Died8 April 1977Alma materCentral School of Arts and Crafts LondonOccupationBookbinderKnown forFirst bookbinder to be awarded the City and Guilds of London Insignia Award CGIA Contents 1 Early life and family 2 Career 3 Binding style 4 Death and legacy 5 Selected publications 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly life and family EditWilliam Matthews was born on 7 January 1898 1 to a carpenter also named William Frederick and his wife Alice Mary Matthews 2 3 In August 1921 he married Ellen Rawlinson at the parish church Tooting in London 2 Career EditMatthews studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London where he was trained by Peter McLeish Noel Rooke and Graily Hewitt 4 He was apprenticed at the bindery of W T Morrell amp Co and won a gold medal at the Paris exhibition of 1925 He started his own practice in 1926 5 He later taught at the central school for nearly 50 years and trained Anthony Cains Bryan Maggs H J Desmond Yardley Edgar Mansfield Roger Powell and Bernard Middleton 4 6 In 1929 he published Bookbinding A manual for those interested in the craft of bookbinding and the following year Simple Bookbinding for Junior Schools In 1976 he was the first bookbinder to be awarded the City and Guilds of London Insignia Award CGIA 5 Binding style Edit Alms for Oblivion An antiquary s scrapbook by Mortimer Wheeler bound by Matthews in goat skin 1970 He was described by Catherine Porter as one of the greatest craftsmen of the 20th century being particularly skilled in gold tooling and lettering 6 His work is generally noted for its sober dignity but with bindings produced for pleasure having a joyful charm 4 He favoured bindings in oasis Morocco with marbled end pages from Morris Marbles of Oxford Doublures and end leaves could be in Morocco silk or vellum He did his own edge gilding 4 In 1970 he bound a copy of Mortimer Wheeler s Alms for Oblivion An antiquary s scrapbook 1966 in olive green goat skin with a sun design on the boards bordered by groups of overlapping radiating gilt lines The book was presented by the author to the bookbinder Daphne Beaumont Wright 7 A bound volume of his designs for book bindings is in the Bridwell Library of the Southern Methodist University s Perkins School of Theology It was bound by Matthews himself in full terra cotta Morocco and includes designs from 1928 to 1976 including the design for the binding 8 Death and legacy EditMatthews died in hospital on 8 April 1977 9 His home at the end of his life was Track End Admiral s Way Admiral s Walk in probate entry in Pirbright Surrey 9 10 His funeral was at St Michael and All Angels church in Pirbright followed by cremation 9 He left an estate of 27 328 10 In 1978 his work was the subject of a joint exhibition with Edgar Mansfield at the Victoria amp Albert Museum in London 11 Selected publications EditBookbinding A manual for those interested in the craft of bookbinding Gollancz London 1929 Simple Bookbinding for Junior Schools Sir Isaac Pitman amp Sons London 1930 References Edit William F Matthews in the 1939 England and Wales Register Ancestry com Retrieved 20 March 2023 subscription required a b William Frederick Matthews in the London England Church of England Marriages and Banns 1754 1938 Ancestry com Retrieved 20 March 2023 subscription required London England Church of England Births and Baptisms 1813 1923 Southwark St Matthew Newington 1865 1920 Ancestry com Retrieved 23 March 2023 subscription required a b c d Matthews William in Geoffrey Ashall Glaister 1996 Encyclopedia of the Book 2nd edition New Castle Oak Knoll Press p 318 ISBN 1884718140 a b Matthews William F in Michael F Saurez amp H R Woudhuysen Eds 2010 The Oxford Companion to the Book Vol 2 D Z Oxford Oxford University Press p 919 ISBN 9780198606536 a b Porter Catherine 2003 Miller s Collecting Modern Books London Miller s p 150 ISBN 1840007230 Lot 460 Archived 22 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Forum Auctions 2019 Retrieved 23 March 2023 The working drawings of William F Matthews manuscript drawings Archived 26 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine WorldCat Retrieved 23 March 2023 a b c Deaths The Times 11 April 1977 p 12 a b 1977 Probate Calendar p 5348 Two Modern Binders William Matthews amp Edgar Mansfield 12 April until 24 June 1978 Designer Bookbinders London 1978 Further reading Edit Craft Binders at Work 1 William Matthews by D Harrop in The Book Collector Vol 19 1970 pp 465 477 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to William F Matthews https id loc gov authorities names no2013095703 html https pictures abebooks com inventory 30945369829 jpg Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William F Matthews died 1977 amp oldid 1154216193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
