Papers of Sir Robert H. Matthew

A first tranche of papers of Sir Robert Hogg Matthew (acquired 1980) is composed largely of office papers, but does include personal material, letters of knighthood, and speeches. Otherwise, the papers are composed of: R.I.B.A material; and, material relating to other organisations including the Scottish Civic Trust; material relating to Department of the Environment enquiries; conference material, including the Vancouver Conference on the Environment; and, material on buildings in Hong Kong, and on architectural competitions. There are also many printed publications (some on ecology) and pamphlets.

Click HERE to see an interim handlist.

Robert Hogg Matthew was born on 12 December 1906. He was a pupil of Melville College (now Stewart's Daniel and Melville College) and then a student in the School of Architecture in the Edinburgh College of Art. His professional career began in the office of his father's firm, Messrs. Lorimer and Matthew. Between 1936 and 1946 he worked for the Department of Health for Scotland and became the Chief Architect and Planning Officer in 1945. Thereafter he was Architect to the London County Council, 1946 to1953. Matthew was involved in the Clyde Valley Regional Plan in Scotland and also in the building of the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank. In 1952, he was appointed Professor of Architecture at Edinburgh University and Head of the School of Architecture in the Edinburgh College of Art. From 1970 he was consultant adviser on building convservation policy to the Secretary of State for Scotland. Matthew was awarded the CBE in 1952, and was knighted in 1962. Sir Robert Hogg Matthew died on 21 June 1975.

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An important finding aid is the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives. Additions to the typed slips in sheaf binders were made until 1987.