Saluting Major Matthews
Posted June 12, 2014 6:52 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – He was a natural-born collector and an amateur historian who went on to become Vancouver’s first official archivist.
A “Places That Matter” plaque presentation today will recognize Major James Skitt Matthews and his life’s work.
Matthews collected artifacts and historical records his whole life, becoming Chief Archivist in 1933, a post he would keep right to his death in 1970 at the age of 92.
Heather Gordon holds that title these days and admits it’s not often people in her line of her work are celebrated like this.
“We’re usually behind the scenes and we’re the people who make the work of historians and writers and other people in the arts and culture sector and the heritage sector [possible]. So we’re just really honoured that this time, we’re a little bit in the spotlight,” she says.
“Matthews was a great advocate of monuments and statues. I think he’d be thrilled to bits that the [Vancouver] Heritage Foundation is honouring him with a plaque,” she adds.
The plaque presentation is taking place at the City of Vancouver Archives building. It will be installed near Matthews’ first home on Maple Street.
The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is working to find a permanent location, most likely at the corner of Maple and Cornwall.
This marks the 77th Places That Matter presentation.
