Washington Matthews – Major, United States Army

Washington Matthews of Ireland

Appointed from Iowa, Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army, 16 November 1868
Major, Surgeon, U. S. Army, 10 July 1889
Retired 26 September 1895

Washington Matthews (1843-1905), U.S. Army Major and Surgeon, was based in the Southwest for a number of years. Conversant in Navajo, he was one of the earliest recorders of Navajo culture.

Washington Matthews (1843-1905) was an army surgeon who was stationed in Dakota Territory (1860s-70s), California (1875-1880), New Mexico (1880s and 1890s), and Washington, D. C. (late 1880s).

In Dakota Territory, Matthews started his self-training as an anthropologist by working with the Mandan and Hidatsa. Unfortunately, most of the unpublished material relating to this study was destroyed in a fire.

In California, Matthews carried out limited studies among the Modoc. In New Mexico, he undertook work for which he is perhaps best remembered among the Navaho.

In Washington, stationed at the U. S. Army Medical Museum, he carried on physical anthropological work, especially on the specimens from the Hemenway Expedition.

MATTHEWS, WASHINGTON

• MAJOR RET U S ARMY
• DATE OF DEATH: 04/29/1905
• BURIED AT: SECTION W DIV  SITE 559
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard