• Identification00066186
  • TitleDescriptive inventory for the Judge David F. Matchett, Sr., family papers, 1868-1974, bulk 1895-1970
  • PublisherChicago Historical Society
  • Language
    • English.
    • English
  • RepositoryChicago History Museum Research Center 1601 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 60614-6038
  • OriginationJudge David F. Matchett, Sr. Robert Devereaux David F. Matchett, Jr. Jennie Elizabeth Moore Matchett Chicago Bar Association Cornell University National Light, Heat and Power Company
  • Date
    • 1868-1974
    • 1895-1970
  • Physical Description
    • 11.25 linear ft. (21 boxes)
    • 1 oversize folder
  • Location
    • MSS Lot M
    • MSS Oversize M

This collection is open for research use.

Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Gift of Mrs. David F. Matchett, Jr. (accession #: M1979.0045; M1982.0021).

Judge David F. Matchett, Sr., family papers (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/ folder number of a specific item.

Correspondence, legal documents, financial records, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and other papers of Judge David F. Matchett, Sr., his wife Jennie Elizabeth Moore Matchett, and his son David F. Matchett, Jr. Present are materials related to Judge David F. Matchett's involvement with the National Light, Heat and Power Company of Chicago (Ill.), Cornell University, and the Chicago Bar Association. Also included are correspondence and legal documents related to David F. Matchett, Jr.'s settling of the estate of Roberta Jerrems. Topics include law, politics (both Matchetts were Republicans), and family matters. Mr. and Mrs. Matchett, Sr., resided in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago for many years; David F. Matchett, Jr., had a law practice in Northfield, Ill.

Judge David F. Matchett, Sr. (1867-1946) was a lawyer and judge who served for many years on the Illinois Appellate Court. He was born in Newton (Iowa), attended Colorado College, and received his law degree from Cornell University in 1894, moving to Chicago in 1895. Matchett was a member of the Sixth United Presbyterian Church, the Chicago Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Academy of Political and Social Science.

Jennie Elizabeth Moore Matchett was from Hanover (Ill.) and married Judge Matchett in 1907. She was an active member of the Arché Club, the Woodlawn Property Owners League Gardening Club, and the Woodlawn League of Women Voters.

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Louise Matchett papers and the Judge David F. Matchett, Sr., and family visual materials (1979.0045).

  • Names
    • Matchett, David F. (David Fleming), 1867-1946--Archives
    • Devereaux, Robert
    • Jerrems, Roberta
    • Matchett, David F. (David Fleming), 1910-1974
    • Matchett, Jennie Elizabeth Moore
    • Chicago Bar Association
    • Cornell University
    • National Light, Heat and Power Company
    • Republican Party (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Republican Party (Cook County, Ill.)
  • Subject
    • Grocery trade--Illinois--Hanover--19th century
    • Judges--Illinois--20th century
    • Judges--Illinois--Cook County--20th century
    • Lawyers--Illinois--Chicago--19th century
    • Lawyers--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
    • Lawyers--Illinois--Northfield--20th century
  • Geographic Coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.)--Politics and government--19th century
    • Chicago (Ill.)--Politics and government--20th century
    • Chicago (Ill.)--Social life and customs--19th century
    • Chicago (Ill.)--Social life and customs--20th century
    • Hanover (Ill.)--Commerce--19th century
    • Hyde Park (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Woodlawn (Chicago, Ill.)

The collection is arranged in five series

Series 1. Correspondence and legal documents, 1891-1945 (box 1-10)

Series 1 consists of correspondence, bills and receipts for legal services rendered and personal expenses, and legal documents of David F. Matchett, Sr. Also present are materials pertaining to Matchett's business involvement with the National Light, Heat and Power Company of Chicago (Ill.).

Series 2. Personal and professional materials, 1891-1954 (box 11-15)

Series 2 contains pamphlets, yearbooks, and commemorative items from Cornell University; dinner invitations and programs from Chicago Bar Association (CBA) events, including the annual Christmas pageant; and other personal and professional papers of David F. Matchett, Sr. Also present are Matchett's law school thesis and clippings pertaining to his political elections.

Series 3. Other materials, 1892-1946 (box 16, 1 oversize folder)

Series 3 is composed of miscellaneous materials such as scrapbooks pertaining to Matchett's legal and political career, and framed awards.

Series 4. Jennie Elizabeth Moore Matchett materials, 1868-1949 (box 17-18)

Series 4 consists of scrapbooks compiled by Jennie Elizabeth Moore Matchett, wife of David F. Matchett, Sr., mainly containing newspaper clippings about film celebrities. Also present are ledgers from her parents' grocery store in Hanover (Ill.).

Series 5. David F. Matchett, Jr., materials, 1914-1974 (box 19-21)

Series 5 consists of legal files of David F. Matchett, Jr., including correspondence and documents related to the estate of Roberta Jerrems. Correspondents include Robert Devereaux, executor of the estate and Jerrems' nephew. From 1953-1974, Matchett represented Devereaux in dealings regarding the estate, including selling Jerrems' home in Woodlawn (Ill.), transferring ownership of her Texas farm property to Devereaux, and dividing up the proceeds of the estate sale among twelve beneficiaries.