William Matthews (poet)
Encyclopedia
William Matthews was an American
poet
and essayist.
, and a master's from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
.
In addition to serving as a Writer-in-Residence at Boston's Emerson College
, Matthews held various academic positions at institutions including Cornell University
, the University of Washington (Seattle), the University of Colorado at Boulder
, and the University of Iowa
.
He served as president of Associated Writing Programs
and of the Poetry Society of America
.
At the time of his death he was a professor of English and director of the creative writing program at City College of New York
A reading series has been named for him at City College of New York
. His sons are Sebastian Matthews
and Bill Matthews.
, and the National Endowment for the Arts
. In 1980, Matthews was the poet in residence at The Frost Place
in Franconia, New Hampshire, and in 1997 he was a recipient of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize
.
in 1996 and was a Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize finalist. Two posthumous collections have been released: Search Party: Collected Poems and After All: Last Poems. Frequent subjects in his writing are the early years of professional basketball and historical Jazz figures.
Matthews believed that poetry should have subject matter, so as to provide the substance needed for the art to fulfill its function.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and essayist.
Life
Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Matthews earned a bachelor's degree from Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, and a master's from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
.
In addition to serving as a Writer-in-Residence at Boston's Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
, Matthews held various academic positions at institutions including Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, the University of Washington (Seattle), the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, and the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
He served as president of Associated Writing Programs
Association of Writers & Writing Programs
The Association of Writers & Writing Programs is a literary organization whose mission is "to foster literary talent and achievement, to advance the art of writing as essential to a good education, and to serve the makers, teachers, students, and readers of contemporary writing."-Members:AWP...
and of the Poetry Society of America
Poetry Society of America
The Poetry Society of America is a literary organization founded in 1910 by poets, editors, and artists including Witter Bynner. It is the oldest poetry organization in the United States. Past members of the have included such renowned writers as Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent...
.
At the time of his death he was a professor of English and director of the creative writing program at City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
A reading series has been named for him at City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
. His sons are Sebastian Matthews
Sebastian Matthews
-Life:He graduated from the University of Michigan with an MFA. He teaches at Warren Wilson College and edits Rivendell.His poems have appeared in Atlantic Monthly, Greensboro Review, New England Review, Post Road, Seneca Review, and Tin House.His father is William Matthews...
and Bill Matthews.
Awards
During his 27 years as an author, Matthews received fellowships from the Guggenheim FoundationGuggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
, and the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
. In 1980, Matthews was the poet in residence at The Frost Place
The Frost Place
The Frost Place is a museum and nonprofit educational center for poetry located at Robert Frost's former home in Franconia, New Hampshire, USA....
in Franconia, New Hampshire, and in 1997 he was a recipient of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize
Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize
The Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize is awarded annually by The Poetry Foundation; the Foundation also publishes Poetry. The Prize was established in 1986 by Ruth Lilly. The prize honors a living U.S. poet whose "lifetime accomplishments warrant extraordinary recognition"; its value is presently $100,000...
.
Works
Matthews published 11 books of poetry, including Time & Money which won the National Book Critics Circle AwardNational Book Critics Circle Award
The National Book Critics Circle Award is an annual award given by the National Book Critics Circle to promote the finest books and reviews published in English....
in 1996 and was a Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize finalist. Two posthumous collections have been released: Search Party: Collected Poems and After All: Last Poems. Frequent subjects in his writing are the early years of professional basketball and historical Jazz figures.
Matthews believed that poetry should have subject matter, so as to provide the substance needed for the art to fulfill its function.