By Mary A. Sego
Title: Charles P. Matthews papers, 1896-1907
Primary Creator: Matthews, Charles P. (1867-1907)
Extent: 4.0 Folders. More info below.
Arrangement: Chronological
Subjects: Electrical engineering, Purdue University--Faculty, Purdue University. Dept. of English, Purdue University. School of Engineering
Forms of Material: Articles, Personal papers, Reports
Languages: English
Professor Charles Philo Matthews was born in Fort Covington, Vermont September 18, 1867. He attended the St. Johnsbury Academy at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, graduating there in 1887. He then entered Cornell University, graduating from Sibley College with the degree of Mechanical Engineering in 1892. In 1901 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from his Alma Mater.
Immediately after graduation he became instructor in Physics and Applied Electricity at Cornell, serving in that capacity four years, until 1906. At that time he was called to Purdue and appointed Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering. From this time until his death he was continuously a member of the Purdue faculty.
As a result of a strenuous investigation involving photometric measurements his eyesight became impaired in 1903, and he was given leave of absence for a year, returning to the University thereafter in greatly improved health. In 1905 he succeeded Professor Goldsborough as head of the School of Electrical Engineering.
During Professor Matthews' connection with the School of Electrical Engineering it grew to be the largest in the country in point of numbers. In this development he had a large share. His instruction was of the highest order, not only on account of his professional ability and training, but quite as much on account of his exceptional personality and gifts.
He made valuable contributions to his science; his chief work being in investigation of photometric standards for arc lamps. This was done in connection with the National Electric Light Association. In this he directed all of the experimental work, aggregating about two hundred pages.
In this connection he devised an patented an integrating photometer. This instrument received a gold medal at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. He was also collaborator in the production of text books in physics and electricity with Professor Nichols and Shearer of Cornell and with Professor Esterline of Purdue, and he published a number of papers on electrical subjects. He was a member of the honor fraternity, Sigma Xi.
Electrical engineering
Purdue University--Faculty
Purdue University. Dept. of English
Purdue University. School of Engineering
Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections
Alternate Extent Statement: 0.2 cubic feet
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation: MSF 249, Charles P. Matthews papers, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries
Standards of Light: a preliminary report of the sub-committee of the institute, Nichols, Edward L.; Sharp, Clayton H.; Matthews, Charles P. A report presented at the 13th General Meeting of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, New York, May 20th, 1896, pp. 135-208.
The Photometry of the Enclosed Alternating Arc, Matthews, Charles P.; Thompson, W. H.; Hilbish, J. E. A paper presented at the 127th Meeting of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, New York, September 28, 1898, President Kennelly in the Chair. Reprinted from A.I.E.E. Transactions, vol. 15, no. 8 & 9, 1898, pp. 599-617.
On the Methods of Measuring Mean Horizontal Candle-Power, Matthews, C. P. Reprinted from the Physical Review, vol. VI, no. 30, January, 1898, pp. 55-57.
Report of the Committee on Arc-Light Photometry of the National Electric Light Association, Matthews, C. P., Photometrist for the Committee. [no other publication information available - 2 copies available]
An Improved Apparatus for Arc-Light Photometry, Matthews, Charles P. [no other publication information available]
Second Progress Report of the Committee for Investigating the Photometric Values of Arc Lamps, Matthews, C. P., Photometrist to the Committee. Read before the National Electric Light Association at its twenty-fourth convention held at Niagara Falls, New York, May 21, 22 and 23, 1901.
Lamp Efficiencies - Experiments for Shelby Electric Co., 1901.
Third Progress Report of the Committee for Investigating the Photometric Values of Arc Lamps, Matthews, C. P. Read before the National Electric Light Association at its twenty-fifth convention held at Cincinnati, Ohio, May 20, 21 and 22, 1902.
An Integrating Photometer for Glow Lamps and Sources of Like Intensity, Matthews, Charles P. A paper read at the 169th meeting of the American Institute of electrical Engineers, New York, October 24, 1902.
The Matthews Integrating Photometer - Advertisement dated April 20, 1903. Invented by Professor C. P. Matthews, Purdue University, and fully described and discussed in Transactions of the A. I. E. E., Nov., 1902.
The Dog That Talked - A talk given by Charles P. Matthews at a convocation in Eliza Fowler Hall, ca. February 26, 1907.
Memorial program, December 4, 1907 and death announcement, November 25, 1907 [5 copies]
