Arthur John Matthews

Arthur John Matthews (September 3, 1860 – July 20, 1942) was the seventh principal/president of Arizona State University (ASU), then known as the Tempe Normal School. He served as principal from 1900 to 1904, when the position was renamed president; he remained president until 1930. Matthews is the longest-tenured president in ASU history.

Life Matthews was born on September 3, 1860, in Cazenovia, New York, to Patrick Henry and Anne King Matthews. After attending the Methodist Cazenovia Seminary and Syracuse University, Matthews became a teacher at the age of 19, while still at the seminary and Syracuse, and later moved to positions as teacher in West Eaton and superintendent of the schools in Adams. In 1887, Matthews moved to Wyoming, where he became superintendent of schools in the towns of Rock Springs and Rawlins.

In 1896, Matthews ran as a Democrat for the post of Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction and lost to Republican Estelle Reele, the first woman to be elected to a public office in the United States.

In 1902, Matthews spearheaded the development of the normal school's first dormitory, Alpha Hall, which had been built in 1898 as a boarding club. It housed 25 women and was later converted to a men's dormitory.

Buildings 18 buildings were constructed during Matthews's three decades as head of the school; six remain in use today, two of which are named for A. J. Matthews and his wife, Carrie: Matthews Hall, built in 1922, was originally commissioned as a men's dormitory. In 1930, when the Matthews Library was completed, the residential hall was renamed in honor of his wife, Carrie, as it had become a women's dormitory. It is the oldest intact dormitory on the ASU campus. Matthews Center, built in 1930, served as the school library until 1966; it also housed university administrative offices until 1950. After its replacement, it became home to a variety of offices, currently including student media and disability resources.