Born John Harold Matthews in 1925, "Jack" Matthews attended Ohio State University, receiving a bachelor's degree in Classics and English (1949), followed by a master's degree in English (1954). Prior to receiving his formal education, Matthews served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II (1943-1945). After being employed as a Post Office clerk in Columbus, Ohio (1950-1959), Matthews began his academic career at Urbana College, Ohio, where he was associate professor (1959-1962) and professor (1962-1964) of English. Matthews joined the English faculty at Ohio University as associate professor (1964-1970). In 1970-1971, Matthews was Distinguished Writer-in-Residence, Wichita State University, Kansas. Matthews returned to Ohio University as professor of English in the following year. He was named Distinguished Professor by Ohio University in 1978. Matthews has to-date (September 2010) published six novels, seven short story collections, six major works on book collecting, and the poetry collection An Almanac for Twilight, as well as two plays, and two chapbooks. He has also provided editorial input for four non-fiction books. Matthews' poetry and stories have appeared in a wide range of prominent journals and anthologies, including The Best American Short Stories and Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards, Yale Review, The Malahat Review, The Sewanee Review, the New York Times, The Nation, The New Republic, The National Review, Poetry, The Kenyon Review, Mademoiselle, The Southern Review, Soundings, The London Review of Books, and many others. Matthews has been the recipient of several major awards and grants, including a Guggenheim Fellowship (1974), Ohio Arts Council Grants, Ohio University Research Foundation Grants, and The Sherwood Anderson Award.
From the guide to the Jack Matthews papers, 1958-2000, (Ohio University)
