Matheson, James Adam Louis

Positions summary

Founding Vice-Chancellor 1960-1976; Chairman, later Chancellor Papua New Guinea University of Technology, 1966-1975.

Biography

Louis Matheson was born in Huddersfield, UK on 11 February 1912. He attended Bootham School in York and later Manchester University, receiving a MSc in 1933. Between 1933 and 1938 Matheson worked as a civil engineer before becoming a lecturer at Birmingham University where he received his PhD in 1946. He was appointed to positions at the University of Melbourne and the University of Manchester before becoming the founding Vice-Chancellor of Monash University in 1960.

As Vice-Chancellor Matheson was a central figure in the planning and development of the university. He expressed his commitment to excellence in scholarship by establishing a strong departmental organisation including full time Deans as administrative and academic heads of each faculty, and a Professorial Board which bore ultimate responsibility for academic policy. During his 16 years as Vice-Chancellor, the university grew from a body of 363 students, 67 academic staff and 5 faculties in 1961, to over 13,000 students, 830 full time academic staff, and 7 faculties with 51 departments in 1976. These years also saw Monash become the focus of unprecedented political unrest among a growing student population in Victoria.

Matheson served on a variety of Councils, Commissions and Inquiries in his capacities as an educational administrator and as an engineer. He was regularly invited to give addresses, and spoke on such topics as conflict in the universities, and the relationship between universities and industry. He was the recipient of an Honorary DSc from the University of Hong Kong, and Honorary LLDs from Manchester (1972), Melbourne (1975) and Monash (1975). He was awarded a KBE in 1976. The Matheson Library at Papua New Guinea University of Technology was named in recognition of his contribution there as Chairman and later Chancellor between 1966 and 1975, and the Matheson Organ in Robert Blackwood Hall was named in honour of his work for Monash University. Matheson's publications include Hyperstatic Structures Vol.1, 1959 and Vol.2, 1960; Still Learning, 1980; and many journal articles. The texts of his articles and addresses are included among his papers.

Papers

Personal papers and Monash memorabilia 1959-1983
Collection documenting foundation of the university and all aspects of life on the Clayton campus between 1959 and1976. Includes memos; press cuttings; invitations; addresses; photographs and slides; programs for opening ceremonies, Open Days and for events staged at Robert Blackwood Hall; and student and faculty publications. Correspondence and reports related to Dr Matheson's appointment and the establishment of the university and recording and transcript of interviews in 1976 are included.

Manuscript material for Still Learning 1979-1982
Original handwritten manuscript of Still Learning, published in 1980, together with original typescript and typescript of the condensed version accepted by the publisher.

Articles, addresses and reports 1969-1975
Drafts and reprints of published articles and reports, together with copies of addresses delivered by Dr Matheson during his term as Vice-Chancellor.

See also
Encyclopedia of Australian Science: Matheson James Adam Louis

Foundation Vice-Chancellor of Monash University