William F. Matthews

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 apprenticing at the bindery of W. T. Morrell & Co.

Matthews 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.

Matthews published two guides to bookbinding and in 1976 was the first bookbinder awarded the City and Guilds of London Insignia Award.

Early life and family William Matthews was born on 7 January 1898 to a carpenter also named William Frederick and his wife Alice Mary Matthews. In August 1921, he married Ellen Rawlinson at the parish church, Tooting, in London. He was apprenticed at the bindery of W. T. Morrell & Co. and won a gold medal at the Paris exhibition of 1925. He started his own practice in 1926.

Matthews 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. His work is generally noted for its "sober dignity" but with bindings produced for pleasure having a "joyful charm".

A bound volume of Matthew's bookbinding designs is in the Bridwell Library of the Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology. He designed and bound it in full terra-cotta Morocco, and included designs from 1928 to 1976.

Death and legacy Matthews died in hospital on 8 April 1977. In 1978, his work was the subject of a joint exhibition with Edgar Mansfield at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

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.