Matthews-Howard Family Papers

PAT MATTHEWS HOWARD

Ruth "Pat" Matthews Howard was born as Ruth Marie Fields in 1918 in Oberlin, Ohio. She was the daughter of George Fields and Marvyl Berry Fields. She graduated from Wilberforce University. While at Wilberforce, she married Reverend Wesley Matthews. The couple had three daughters: Domina, Westina, and Kriza.

Mrs. Matthews Howard worked closely with Reverend Matthews throughout his career. She assisted him in his work at the Carver Community Center in Chillicothe and the at the Senior Citizens Center in Yellow Springs.

Mrs. Matthews Howard worked for the Yellow Springs News on the clerical staff and as a writer. After the civil rights riot in Yellow Springs in March 1964, she wrote an article entitled "What the Negro is Trying to Say", which was published throughout the country and attracted national attention. From 1966-1976, she wrote a column entitled "A Chat with Pat".

After leaving her job at the newspaper, she worked as a secretary and taught journalism at Morgan Middle School in Yellow Springs. She also pursued her interest in black history by interviewing many of the black people in Yellow Springs.

After the death of Reverend Matthews, she married Wendell Houston Howard in late 1979. The marriage lasted until Mr. Howard's death on October 7, 1984.

REVEREND WESLEY MATTHEWS

The Reverend Wesley S. Matthews was the first husband of Pat Matthews Howard. He was born on January 28, 1912 in Cartersville, GA. He graduated from Wilberforce University and received his degree from Payne Theological Seminary in 1935. He also held a L.L.D. from Monrovia College in Liberia. The Reverend Matthews married Pat Fields in the 1930's and they worked together throughout his career. The couple had three daughters: Domina, Westina, and Kriza.

Reverend Matthews pastored a variety of churches during his career. These churches include Lee Chapel AME in Cincinnati, Central AME in Yellow Springs, Quinn Chapel AME in Chillicothe, Trinity AME in Springfield, and St. Paul AME in Urbana.

In the 1940's, Reverend Matthews was the first black recreation supervisor in the City of Dayton, serving at the Linden Community Center as Boy's Work Secretary.

Reverend Matthews was also active in Chillicothe and Urbana. He founded the Carver Community Center in Chillicothe in the 1940's. He was recognized by the Chillicothe Junior Chamber of Commerce for his work at the CCC in 1949. In the 1960's, he organized the Head Start Program for 45 children in Urbana.

In the 1970's, Reverend Matthews was active in senior adult programs. He was director of the Senior Citizen Center in Yellow Springs, helped found the Greene County Commission on the Aging, and was an active participant in the first several National Conferences on Aging.

The Reverend Wesley Matthews passed away on May 30, 1979.

ROY HOWARD

Roy Howard was born in Ohio on January 31, 1883. He married Julia Ford on January 22, 1912. The couple moved to Tuskegee, Alabama shortly after their marriage, where Mr. Howard took a job as a faculty member of Tuskegee Institute. The Howards had one child, Wendell Houston Howard, who was born on November 5, 1912.

In 1921, the Howards moved to Atlanta, Georgia. While in Atlanta, Roy worked for an insurance company. Later, the Howards moved to Springfield, where he obtained his real estate license and sold real estate in the 1930's and 1940's.

Mr. Howard was also involved with the Works Project Administration as an adult education instructor. These classes were held at the Center Street YMCA in Springfield.

Roy Howard passed away in 1958.

WENDELL HOUSTON HOWARD

Wendell Houston Howard was the second husband of Pat Matthews Howard. He was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on November 5, 1912 and was the only child of Roy Howard and Julia Ford Howard. Mr. Howard graduated from Springfield High School and attended Tuskegee Institute, Wilberforce University, and Howard University in pursuit of his degree in Pharmacology. He graduated from Howard University School of Pharmacy in Washington D.C.

Wendell Howard served as a Pharmacy Specialist with the United States Army during World War II. He owned and operated Howard's Pharmacy in Springfield and later worked for Buell Pharmacy. He retired from pharmacy work in 1983.

Wendell Houston Howard married Pat Matthews in late 1979. He passed away on October 7, 1984.