Affiliated Faculty

Donald R. Matthews (1925-2007)

Donald R. Matthews, distinguished professor of political science, passed away on November 3, 2007. Don arrived here at the University of Washington in 1976 and chaired the department from 1976-1983. Prior to his arrival, Don was on the faculty at Smith College, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Michigan. He also was a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1953. Don became Chair of the department at a critical juncture and is by all accounts most responsible for turning the fortunes of the department around an laying the foundation for the outstanding department that exists today. Don was a major figure in the discipline and is most well known for two important books, U.S. Senators and Their World and Negroes and the New Southern Politics. Indeed, Don, who retired in 1995, still has the highest citation count among our faculty as reported in the Political Science 400: A Twenty Year Update. Most notable among Don's numerous awards and honors were Fellow, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavior Sciences (1964-64), Guggenheim Fellowship (1980-81), Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1970), Vice President, American Political Science Association (1985-86), and the 14th Annual Faculty Lecturer, University of Washington (1989). Don was a wonderful friend and mentor to many of us, was an inspirational leader and provided extraordinary financial support to the department with the Donald R. Matthews Endowment for Excellence in Political Science that provided resources for both graduate fellowships and a Distinguished Professorship.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to: University of Washington Foundation Matthews Fund, P.O. Box 353539, Seattle, WA 98195-3530