Finlay B. Matheson collection

Identity elements

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Collection

Title

Finlay B. Matheson collection

Date(s)

  • circa 1830s-2020s (Creation)

Extent

26 linear feet (44 flat photograph boxes, 5 flat newspaper boxes, 2 non-standard boxes, 9 record storage boxes, 2 document cases, and 2 oversized flat files)

Name of creator

Matheson, Finlay B.

Biographical history

Name of creator

Matheson, William J.
(1856–1930)

Biographical history

William J. Matheson was a philanthropist, agriculturalist, and pioneer developer in South Florida in the early 20th century. His agricultural experiments, social activities, travels, and estate are recorded in this collection and offer a unique visual history of Key Biscayne. Matheson served as commodore of the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club from 1912 until 1923. His annual Chowder Party on the Key became a highlight event of the season. In the early 20th century, Matheson traveled on a world cruise with his friend Arthur Curtiss James aboard his yacht, Aloha. Matheson also supported the development of south Florida, and nearly one hundred maps, plans, and images document his visionary work - including architectural plans for three of his residences, two of which are no longer standing. In 1940, Matheson's children donated more than 800 acres to Dade County for what would become Crandon Park.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

The Finlay B. Matheson collection includes more than 2,411 photographs; 112 maps, surveys, and architectural plans; and 13 books related to William John Matheson and his immediate family. Estate documents and other documents containing historical and biographical information pertaining to the Matheson family and their various business ventures can also be found within this collection, as well as drawings, postcards, and some of the first aerial view photographs of Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove, the Miami River, and the Florida Keys. Florida's landscape during the early 20th century is captured throughout the various albums and scrapbooks and attests to a more leisurely lifestyle before the advent of skyscrapers and multi-lane highways. Furthermore, the collection provides an in-depth glimpse into the burgeoning social life of early inhabitants who gathered at the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club.

System of arrangement

This collection has been divided into six series based on subject area and material type:

Series I: Photographic materials (large portions of this series have been digitized)

  • Contains photographs, photo albums, negatives, and slides of the Matheson family's lands and estate around Key Biscayne, the 1926 hurricane, and the family members themselves and their various trips around the world.

Series II: Matheson estate records

  • Contains appraisal reports, architectural plans, correspondence, deeds, promotional materials, and other documents related to the Matheson family's various estates, businesses, and acquisitions.

Series III: Finlay B. Matheson and Matheson family biographical materials

  • Contains family biographies, family trees, genealogical research, correspondence, scrapbooks, diplomas, birth and death certificates, boating logs, notes, diaries, date and address books, and other materials pertaining to the family's history.

Series IV: Biscayne Bay Yacht Club

  • Contains photographs, invitations, organizational files, correspondence, annual yearbooks, and other materials centered around the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club and its history and events.

Series V: Periodicals and news clippings

  • Contains a collection of assorted Florida-related periodicals and news clippings gathered by Finlay B. Matheson and R. Hardy Matheson.

Series VI: 3D objects

  • Contains a single ritual flag from Haiti.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

This collection is open for research.

Physical access

Items from this collection are kept on-campus and may be requested from the first floor Kislak Center in the Otto G. Richter Library at University of Miami.

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Finlay B. Matheson collection finding aid © 2022 University of Miami. All rights reserved. Requests to reproduce or publish materials from this collection should be directed to asc.library@miami.edu.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Generated finding aid

asm0216.pdf

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Immediate source of acquisition

Gift of Mr. Finlay B. Matheson.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Portions of this collection have been digitized:

https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/asm0216

Related archival materials

All books included in the donation have been removed from the archival collection and added to the cataloging record.

Related descriptions

Notes element

Specialized notes

  • Citation: Finlay B. Matheson collection Finding Aid © 2021 University of Miami.

Alternative identifier(s)

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Sources used

Archivist's note

Collection re-processed by Yvette Yurubi, Archives Technician, August 2022.

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Accession area