Woodall-Matthews Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS400
The Woodall-Matthews Papers consists primarily of the coursework of John Henry Woodall, Jr. (1917-2005) who graduated from Georgia Tech in 1938. Also included are coursework and training from his time spent in the Navy in the early 1940s. There is a small amount of material from Charles W. Matthews, Woodall's great-uncle and a 1904 graduate of Tech.
(four document cases, one half-size document case, one oversize box)
None.
Permission to publish materials from this collection must be obtained from the Head of Archives and Special Collections.
2.8 Linear Feet
The first series, which contains the papers of John H. Woodall, Jr., is divided into three subseries. The first subseries consists of coursework, exams, and notes from Georgia Tech courses that Woodall took as an undergraduate between 1934 and 1938. Courses include physics, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, economics, social science, and English. The second subseries includes naval training materials from Woodall's training as a naval communications officer during the Second World War, covering the period from 1943 to 1944. The third subseries consists of a small number of Woodall's personal items, including some from Woodall's fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, as well as T-Books from the Georgia Tech YMCA and other personal items.
The second series includes a small number of items from Charles W. Matthews, both from Matthews' time as an undergraduate at Georgia Tech and from later in his life. A graduation invitation and a football flyer date from Matthews' undergraduate years; a postcard, two newspaper clippings, and a Georgia Tech 25th Anniversary book from 1913 document Matthews' participation as a member of the Tech alumni.
Charles William Matthews (17 December 1882-26 July 1955), of Woodland, Georgia, entered Georgia Tech in December 1900. After graduating in 1904 with a degree in textile engineering, he worked for several years at Spalding Cotton Mills in Griffin, Georgia. By 1909, Matthews had returned to Talbot County and was farming. Beginning in 1918, the Georgia Tech register of graduates lists him as the general manager of T.F. Matthews and Son in Woodland. Matthews married Sallie Woodall, sister of John Henry Woodall, Sr.
John Henry Woodall, Sr. (04 April 1886-25 August 1965), also of Woodland, Georgia, entered Georgia Tech in October 1903 as a sub-apprentice. Woodall graduated in 1908 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Following his graduation, he became the manager and then proprietor of the Woodland Excelsior Works. By 1920, he was general manager of Georgia Cushion and Wrapper Company in Woodland, GA. Woodall married Alberta (Berta) Matthews, a sister of Charles W. Matthews.
John Henry Woodall, Jr. (22 October 1917-04 August 2005) was a son of John Woodall, Sr. and Berta Matthews Woodall. John Jr. also attended Tech, graduating in 1938. He participated in many student organizations and was the head football cheerleader his senior year, president of Alpha Tau Omega, and basketball team manager. In WWII, Woodall, Jr. served as a Navy communications officer. He later served as a trustee of Georgia Tech National Alumni Association. Henry H. Woodall was born to John Woodall, Jr. and his second wife, Elizabeth Harman.
Over the years, the Woodall-Matthews family founded and ran several businesses in the Woodland, Georgia area, including the Georgia Cushion and Packing Company (Georgia Cushion and Wrapper Company) and Woodland Furniture Company.
A print copy of this finding aid is available in the Georgia Tech Archives reading room.
Donation, 2007; accessions #2007.067 and 2007.072.
The visual materials in this collection have been separated and processed as VAM400. Artifacts (including a 1938 Rat cap, two Tech cheerleading letters, a 1950 Sugar Bowl postcard with two pins attached, a Tennessee Paper Mills sliderule, and a Golden Anniversary cloth square memento from 1938) will be added to the Artifacts collection. The collection's books (approximately 28 titles) will be cataloged and added to the Library collection.
(four document cases, one half-size document case, one oversize box)
Marcia Kochel processed these papers in June, 2011.
Part of the Archives and Special Collections, Library, Georgia Institute of Technology Repository