Annie Mathews

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Annie Mathews
A white woman with sandy-colored hair, in an oval frame
Annie Mathews, from a 1924 publication
BornNovember 6, 1866
New York City, New York, US
DiedOctober 24, 1959 (age 92)
New York City, New York, US
Occupation(s)Politician, suffragist

Annie Mathews (November 6, 1866 – October 24, 1959) was an American politician. She was elected to the office of Register of New York County in 1921, and re-elected in 1925.

Early life and education[edit]

Mathews was born in New York City,[1] the daughter of John Mathews and Elizabeth Gillespie Mathews.[2] Her father was born in England and her mother was born in Ireland. She had brothers Cyril[2] and William.[3] She attended Columbia University.[1]

Career[edit]

Mathews was a suffragist,[1] and was a clothing designer and importer before her political career.[4][5] When she ran for county office in 1921, as the Tammany Hall candidate,[6] the press commented on her "stunning" evening gowns. "A woman's dress should be such as to call attention to the woman herself and the things she stands for," she explained of her strategy.[7]

Mathews was elected to the office of Register of New York County in 1921, and re-elected in 1925. "I feel that I have a duty in paving the way for women officials who are to follow," she said in 1921; "It is absolutely necessary that I succeed, for if I do not thousands will say it is because I am a woman and thereby a difficulty barrier would be placed in the way of the next woman to hold office."[8]

Mathews' office filed property records for the City of New York, including deeds, mortgages, and building plans. She clashed with Mayor John Francis Hylan in 1922 when she tried to give two of her employees unscheduled salary increases.[9] During her tenure as Register, she promoted logistical and technological improvements, including photostat machines.[10][11][12] She organized an exhibit of historic maps when she was on the planning committee for the 1924 Democratic National Convention when it met in New York City.[13][14] She was a delegate to the 1928 Democratic National Convention in Houston.[15]

The New York Times reported on Mathews' opinions about women's votes and how they might affect the outcomes of state and national political races. "The women are the buyers," she explained in 1924. "They know how much the prices of all the things which they must buy have gone up under a Republican tariff. Women also do not take political corruption so philosophically as do men."[16]

Mathews retired from office in 1929. At the time of her retirement, she spoke at the Madison Club. "We are new and few in office and all eyes are upon us," she said of women in elected office."[17] In 1931, she made controversial statements about political parties paying district leaders and allowing gifts of gratitude, to avoid hidden corruption.[18] "Nobody would do this difficult and trying work just for love of country", she declared.[19][20] In 1936 she spoke at Democratic rallies on a tour of New York state.[21][22]

Publications[edit]

  • "Methods of Land Registration" (1925)[23]

Personal life[edit]

Mathews lived with her widowed brother William when they were both retired.[3] She died in 1959, at a nursing home in Yonkers, at the age of 92.[24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Woman Winner". New York Herald. 1921-11-09. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-10-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Cyril C. Mathews". The Reporter Dispatch. 1955-01-18. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-10-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "William Mathews". The Reporter Dispatch. 1950-02-06. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-10-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Woman Elected as Register of County of N. Y." Albuquerque Morning Journal. 1921-11-29. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-10-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Woman Puts Dress Issue in Politics" (PDF). Albuquerque Morning Journal. November 9, 1921. p. 5. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Chronicling America.
  6. ^ "Miller Victor over Eilert by about 91,000". New-York Tribune. 1921-11-09. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-10-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Candidate's Gowns Her Plea for Votes; Miss Mathews, Running for Register, 'Stunning in Evening Dress,'Campaign, Statement Reads". The New York Times. October 28, 1921. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  8. ^ "Honor Miss Mathews; Woman's City Club Gives Luncheon for Register-Elect". The New York Times. 1921-11-27. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  9. ^ "Mayor Badgers Woma Register; Repeatedly Warns Miss Mathews Against 'Departmental Politicians'". The New York Times. April 4, 1922. p. 19. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  10. ^ "Photostat Expedites Searching of Deeds; Register Annie Mathews Tells of Other Changes to Speed Up Title Investigations". The New York Times. June 28, 1929. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  11. ^ "Says Photography Will Oust Typists; Miss Mathews to Install New Device in Register's Office to Copy Records". The New York Times. May 31, 1925. p. 61. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  12. ^ "Machine Copying Would Save City $500,000, is View". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1929-05-30. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-10-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Coster, Esther A. (1925-11-08). "Miss Annie Mathews, Who Has Won Success at a Man's Job, Eschews Mannish Manners". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 97. Retrieved 2023-10-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Official Souvenir & Program of the Democratic National Convention, New York City, June, 1924. Democratic National Committee. 1924.
  15. ^ "Women Delegates Sail for Houston; Miss Elisabeth Marbury and Miss Annie Mathews Lead Convention Group". The New York Times. June 17, 1928. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  16. ^ Crawford, William H. (1924-11-04). "Picks Smith to Win N.Y. State for Davis; Register Annie Mathews Asserts Governor Entered Race Only to Aid National Ticket". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  17. ^ Frugone, Marie (1929-11-19). "With the Women Voters". The Brooklyn Daily Times. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-10-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Miss Mathews Sticks to Guns on Job 'Gifts'". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1931-04-16. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-10-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Boro Co-Leaders Amused Over Mathews Statement". The Standard Union. 1931-04-17. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-10-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "A Woman's Tongue". Democrat and Chronicle. 1931-04-20. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-10-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "New Deal Speakers Cite Income Gains". Star-Gazette. 1936-09-26. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-10-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Caravan Here for Campaign on Wednesday". Press and Sun-Bulletin. 1936-09-18. p. 21. Retrieved 2023-10-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Mathews, Annie (February 1925). "Methods of Land Registration". American Monthly Review of Reviews. 71 (2): 164–166.
  24. ^ "Annie Mathews". Daily News. 1959-10-25. p. 101. Retrieved 2023-10-29 – via Newspapers.com.
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