Background
Matthews, John Floyd was born on April 8, 1919 in Cincinnati. Son of Floyd L. and Helen (Orth) Matthews.
Matthews, John Floyd was born on April 8, 1919 in Cincinnati. Son of Floyd L. and Helen (Orth) Matthews.
Student, Wooster College, 1935-1937; student, Northwestern University, 1937; Bachelor of Arts, University Cincinnati, 1940; postgraduate, U. Cincinnati, 1940-1941; postgraduate, Columbia University, 1943; postgraduate, New School for Social Research, 1944-1945.
Lecturer, New School for Social Research, 1948-1950;
lecturer, chairman faculty, Dramatic Workshop and Technology Institute, New York City, 1950-1952;
lecturer in playwriting, City College of New York, 1947-1963;
assistant professor dramatic literature and history, Brandeis U., 1952-1959;
associate professor, Brandeis U., 1959-1967;
Schulman professor, Brandeis U., 1967-1971;
department chairman theatre, Brandeis U., 1955-1958;
professor American studies, Brandeis U., since 1971;
department chairman American studies, Brandeis U., 1973-1974;
Richter professor American Civilization and Institutions, Brandeis U., 1972-1984;
professor emeritus, Brandeis U., since 1984. Visiting critic Yale School Drama, 1965. Member Seminar in American Studies, Circle Cultural de Royaumont, France, 1965.
Founding member Brandeis Creative Arts Awards Commission.
Member Westport (Connecticut) Democratic Town Committee, 1959-1964. Member Newton (Massachusetts) Republican City Committee, since 1977, Massachusetts Republican Platform Committee, 1978. Board directors Newton Taxpayers Association, 1979-1981, 86-91.
Member British Drama League, The National Trust, English Speaking Union, Trustees of Reservations.
Married Maurine Zollman, March 4, 1945 (deceased 1959). Children– Lauralee Alice, Caroline Elaine (deceased). Married Brenda Martin, August 27, 1966.