James Campbell Matthews

James Campbell Matthews (November 6, 1844—November 1, 1930) was an Albany, New York attorney and judge. He was notable as the first African American law school graduate in New York. He was elected a municipal judge in the late 1890s, which was the highest judicial office attained by an African-American up to that time.

James Campbell Matthews
James C. Matthews, Albany, New York attorney and judge.
Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia
In office
August 19, 1886 – March 3, 1887
Preceded byFrederick Douglass
Succeeded byJames M. Trotter
Judge of the Albany, New York Recorder's Court
In office
January 1, 1896 – December 31, 1899
Preceded byAlbert Hessberg
Succeeded byLyman H. Bevans
Personal details
Born(1844-11-06)November 6, 1844
New Haven, Connecticut, US
DiedNovember 1, 1930(1930-11-01) (aged 85)
Albany, New York, US
Resting placeAlbany Rural Cemetery, Menands, New York
Political partyRepublican (Before 1872)
Democratic (From 1872)
SpouseAdella Duplessis (m. 1875)
Children1
Alma materAlbany Law School
ProfessionAttorney
Judge

Early life

James C. Matthews was born in New Haven, Connecticut on November 6, 1844.[1] His father was a barber, and the family moved to Albany when James Matthews was a boy.[2] His parents died in 1861, and Matthews was raised by Lydia Mott and Phebe Jones, two Albany anti-slavery activists who later worked in support of racial integration.[3]

Though Albany's schools were segregated, Matthews succeeded in attending the public schools attended by white students.[4] He then won a scholarship to The Albany Academy, and succeeded in winning acceptance despite objections "by canting hypocrytes in the Republican fold."[5] Matthews was a stellar student who won Best English Essay and the Beck Literary Medal, graduating in 1864.[6]

Matthews worked initially as a clerk at Albany's Congress Hotel, and was later employed as a bookkeeper.[7] After deciding on a legal career, Matthews began studies at Albany Law School.[8] He graduated in 1870, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Albany.[9]

Career

Most African-Americans of the 1800s who were able to vote and participate in the political process joined the Republican Party, which was viewed favorably as having eliminated slavery during the American Civil War. Matthews was initially active as a Republican, but later became notable for his decision to join Albany's Democratic Party.[10]

In 1885 President Grover Cleveland nominated Matthews to serve as Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia, a position previously held by Frederick Douglass.[11] He held the position by virtue of a recess appointment, but the U.S. Senate, then controlled by Republicans, refused to confirm him, claiming that he had attempted to coerce other African-Americans in Albany to switch their allegiance to the Democratic Party in local elections.[12][13]

Matthews won the election for Judge of Albany's Recorder’s Court in 1895.[14] At the time he took office, Matthews held the highest judicial position of any African-American up to that time.[15] He served until 1899, when Albany's Republicans won the city elections and reclaimed control of the municipal government.[16]

Later life

After leaving the bench Matthews resumed the practice of law, and remained active until he retired in the early 1920s.[17]

Death and burial

Matthews died in Albany on November 1, 1930. He was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery, Section 28, Lot 95.[18]

Family

In 1875 Matthews married Adella Duplessis of New York City.[19] They were the parents of a son, Charles D. Matthews.[20]

Legacy

Albany Law School's faculty includes an endowed professorship, the James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence.[21]

In 2013 Albany Law School inaugurated the James Campbell Matthews Lecture Series.[22]

See also

References
  1. "Albany Rural Cemetery Burial Cards, 1791-2011, entry for James Campbell Matthews". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. November 2, 1920.
  2. "The Colored People: J. C. Matthews Twice Nominated for Receiver of Deeds for the District of Columbia". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, KY. December 26, 1886. p. 6.
  3. Simmons, William J. (1887). Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising. Cleveland, OH: Geo. M. Rewell & Co. p. 964. j c matthews albany recorder.
  4. Simmons, 1887, pp. 964-965
  5. Simmons, 1887, pp. 964-965
  6. Simmons, 1887, pp. 964-965
  7. James C. Matthews – First NYS Afro-American Judge... And from Albany!
  8. James C. Matthews – First NYS Afro-American Judge... And from Albany!
  9. "James C. Matthews: New York State's first black judge, Albany Law graduate". All Over Albany. Albany, NY. February 20, 2015.
  10. Cromwell, John Wesley (1914). The Negro in American History: Men and Women Eminent in the Evolution of the American of African Descent. Washington, DC: The American Negro Academy. p. 169. james c. matthews albany liberal republican democrat.
  11. Cleveland, Grover (1889). The Public Papers of Grover Cleveland: March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1889. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 216–217. james c. matthews cleveland douglass recorder.
  12. Simmons, 1887, p. 974
  13. "The Senate Gives Reasons for Rejecting the Nomination of Matthews" (PDF). New York Times. New York, NY. February 8, 1887.
  14. "A Negro Democrat: James C. Matthews the Candidate for Recorder of Albany County" (PDF). New York Times. New York, NY. October 29, 1885.
  15. "Various Election Topics". Public Opinion. New York, NY: Public Opinion Company: 617. November 14, 1895.
  16. Proceedings of the Common Council. Vol. 2. Albany, NY: The Argus Company. 1917. p. xxvii.
  17. James C. Matthews – First NYS Afro-American Judge... And from Albany!
  18. Albany Rural Cemetery Burial Cards, 1791-2011
  19. Simmons, 1887, p. 965
  20. "1900 United States Federal Census, entry for James C. Matthews. Albany, New York, Ward 12, District 0045". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1900.
  21. "Endowed and Distinguished Professorships". Albany Law School Faculty. Albany, NY: Albany Law School. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  22. Singer, David, ed. (2013). "Inaugural Matthews Lecture Recognizes 1870 African-American Graduate". Albany Law Magazine. Albany, NY: Albany Law School: 7.
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