John F. Matheus facts for kids

John Frederick Matheus (born September 10, 1887 – died February 19, 1983) was an American writer and a smart scholar. He was an important part of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s. He was famous for his short stories, but he also wrote essays, plays, and poems. His story "Fog" won a top prize in a writing contest in 1925. It was even published in a famous book called The New Negro by Alain Locke. Matheus won another first prize in 1926 for his story "Swamp Moccasin". His writing was inspired by books like Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and the works of Phillis Wheatley and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Early Life and Influences

John Frederick Matheus was born on September 10, 1887. His parents were John William and Mary Susan Brown Matheus. His father had been a slave. They lived in Keyser, West Virginia.

His family later moved to Steubenville, Ohio. This happened after his father faced threats at his job. Moving to Ohio gave young Matheus many ideas for his stories. He wrote 24 short stories based on the Ohio landscape. He also wrote about his travels to Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean.

Matheus was interested in writing about the lives and experiences of African Americans. He was influenced by other writers. These included Edgar Allan Poe, Phillis Wheatley, and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Education and Teaching Career

Matheus went to Western Reserve University. He earned his first degree there in 1910. Later, in 1921, he received a master's degree from Columbia University.

He also studied in Paris at Sorbonne in 1925. Then he continued his studies at the University of Chicago in 1927.

Matheus started teaching in 1911. His first job was at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College. He taught Latin and modern languages there. He continued teaching for most of his life. From 1922 until he retired in 1958, he taught foreign languages at West Virginia State College.

Writing Achievements

By the mid-1920s, Matheus's writing became very popular. In 1925, his short story "Fog" won first prize. This was in a writing contest held by Opportunity magazine. The story was also included in a famous book called The New Negro by Alain Locke.

The next year, in 1926, Matheus won more awards. His play Cruiter won first prize for drama from Opportunity magazine. His essay "Sand" also won first prize in the magazine's "personal experience" category. He received another first prize in 1926 from Crisis magazine for his story "Swamp Moccasin". Matheus also wrote poems for The Crisis and Opportunity. His poem "Requiem" was in Countee Cullen's book Caroling Dusk in 1927.

Later Years and Legacy

Matheus taught in Haiti from 1927 until the mid-1940s. In 1939, he wrote the story for an opera called Ouanga!. He used his knowledge of Haitian history and music for this. The opera was about Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Dessalines helped Haiti become free from France. Ouanga! was performed in Chicago in 1939. Later, in 1956, it was performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

John F. Matheus passed away in Florida on February 19, 1983. He was 95 years old.