Call Number:

08

Repository:

Philadelphia History Museum

Extent:

1.25 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1920-1928 (bulk) and 1831-1928 (inclusive)

Creator:

Matos, William W., 1872-1935

Abstract:

William Warder Matos (1872-1935) owned an advertising company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early 20th century. He was heavily involved in planning the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926. The William W. Matos papers on the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition, 1831-1928 (bulk 1920-1928), primarily consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and ephemera relating to the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition. Other materials in the collection include some personal papers of William W. Matos and a scrapbook documenting Women's Committee fundraising tea parties for the 1876 Centennial Exposition.

William Warder Matos (1872-1935) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Sarah Elizabeth Parker and Cuban immigrant Louis Antonio Matos. Matos married Elizabeth Catherine Brehm in 1905 and they had one daughter, Elizabeth Brehm Matos.

After graduating from Central High School, Matos worked for a number of newspapers in Philadelphia including the Morning Times, the Evening Telegraph, and the Philadelphia Press, before switching to the advertising business in the early 20th century. Matos became a pioneer in the advertising industry, establishing the Matos Advertising Agency and serving as its president until his death at his home in Swarthmore (Delaware County, Pennsylvania) in 1935. He was a charter member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, and was affiliated with groups such as the National Outdoor Advertising Bureau and the Audit Bureau of Circulations (now known as the Alliance for Audited Media).

In addition to being heavily involved in advertising organizations, Matos was prominent in Masonic circles in Philadelphia, serving as the chairman for the committee in charge of building the Scottish Rite Temple at Broad and Race streets in 1926. (The building was demolished in 1983.) Matos also belonged to numerous arts, culture, and history organizations in Philadelphia and wrote books on topics such as early Philadelphia history.

Matos was designated the Chairman of the Publicity Committee, member of the Executive Committee, and Director of Pageantry for the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926. The world's fair, held in Philadelphia, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence and the 50th anniversary of the 1876 Centennial Exposition (which was also held in Philadelphia). As Director of Pageantry, Matos wrote the patriotic production "Freedom," for which he received the Gold Medal award.

Bibliography:

Obituary of William W. Matos written by Charles Palmer as recording secretary for the Delaware County Historical Society. Item found in collection.

This collection primarily consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and ephemera relating to the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition that took place in Philadelphia in 1926. Other materials in the collection include some personal papers of William W. Matos and a scrapbook documenting tea party fundraisers organized by Elizabeth Duane Gillespie (1821-1901), president of the Women's Executive Committee of the 1876 Centennial Exposition.

Materials relating to the Sesqui-Centennial Exposition include correspondence, some of which relates to the planning of the "Freedom" pageant Matos wrote; the charter and by-laws of the Sesqui-Centennial Association (1923); congratulatory letters sent to Matos regarding the Exposition; invitations to various special events at the Exposition such as the Flag Day celebration and dinners at the Union League for President Calvin Coolidge, General John J. Pershing, and Charles Lindbergh; programs and pamphlets; newspaper clippings; photographs; and other materials.

A small amount of William W. Matos' personal papers are present in the collection. There are letters from friends, building specifications for the Scottish Rite Temple at Broad and Race streets, proof pages for "History of Independence Hall," and programs and pamphlets from various commemorative events including the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Brandywine (for which Matos directed a pageant re-enacting the battle) and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin.

The collection also includes a 19th century scrapbook. It principally documents tea parties given by Elizabeth Duane Gillespie to raise funds in support of the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, especially the Woman's Pavilion. The scrapbook includes tickets to various tea parties as well as newspaper accounts and reproductions of documents and newspapers from the period of the American Revolution onward. A couple of other items in the collection also relate to these "Centennial tea parties."

Additional, more detailed description of this collection is available on-site.