James Campbell Matthews (November 6, 1844—November 1, 1930) was an

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York C ...

attorney and judge. He was notable as the first African American law school graduate in New York. He was elected a municipal judge in the late 1890s, which was the highest judicial office attained by an African-American up to that time.

Early life

James C. Matthews was born in

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on November 6, 1844. His father was a barber, and the family moved to Albany when James Matthews was a boy. His parents died in 1861, and Matthews was raised by Lydia Mott and Phebe Jones, two Albany anti-slavery activists who later worked in support of racial integration. Though Albany's schools were segregated, Matthews succeeded in attending the public schools attended by white students. He then won a scholarship to

The Albany Academy The Albany Academy is an independent college preparatory day school for boys in Albany, New York, USA, enrolling students from Preschool (age 3) to Grade 12. It was established in 1813 by a charter signed by Mayor Philip Schuyler Van Renssela ...

, and succeeded in winning acceptance despite objections "by canting hypocrytes in the Republican fold." Matthews was a stellar student who won Best English Essay and the Beck Literary Medal, graduating in 1864. Matthews worked initially as a clerk at Albany's Congress Hotel, and was later employed as a bookkeeper. After deciding on a legal career, Matthews began studies at

Albany Law School Albany Law School is a private law school in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 and is the oldest independent law school in the nation. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and has an affiliation agreement with University at Al ...

. He graduated in 1870, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Albany.

Career

Most African-Americans of the 1800s who were able to vote and participate in the political process joined the Republican Party, which was viewed favorably as having eliminated slavery during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. Matthews was initially active as a Republican, but later became notable for his decision to join Albany's

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

. In 1885 President

Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. Cleveland is the only president in American ...

nominated Matthews to serve as

Recorder of Deeds Recorder of deeds or deeds registry is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over ...

for the

District of Columbia ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, a position previously held by

Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, February 1817 or 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became ...

. He held the position by virtue of a recess appointment, but the U.S. Senate, then controlled by Republicans, refused to confirm him, claiming that he had attempted to coerce other African-Americans in Albany to switch their allegiance to the Democratic Party in local elections. Matthews won the election for Judge of Albany's Recorder’s Court in 1895. At the time he took office, Matthews held the highest judicial position of any African-American up to that time. He served until 1899, when Albany's Republicans won the city elections and reclaimed control of the municipal government.

Later life

After leaving the bench Matthews resumed the practice of law, and remained active until he retired in the early 1920s.

Death and burial

Matthews died in Albany on November 1, 1930. He was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery, Section 28, Lot 95.

Family

In 1875 Matthews married Adella Duplessis of

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. They were the parents of a son, Charles D. Matthews.

Legacy

Albany Law School's faculty includes an endowed professorship, the James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence. In 2013 Albany Law School inaugurated the James Campbell Matthews Lecture Series.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, James Campbell 1844 births 1930 deaths District of Columbia Recorders of Deeds Politicians from New Haven, Connecticut Lawyers from Albany, New York Albany Law School alumni New York (state) lawyers New York (state) Republicans New York (state) Democrats New York (state) state court judges Burials at Albany Rural Cemetery Lawyers from New Haven, Connecticut The Albany Academy alumni