Brander Matthews

Born in New Orleans in 1852 and educated at Columbia College, he became one of the most visible American men of letters of his era. He wrote across many forms—fiction, criticism, essays, and books about the stage—and was especially interested in how literature worked in practice, not just in theory.

At Columbia University, he became the first full-time professor of dramatic literature, an important step in bringing theater into academic study. His teaching and criticism helped argue that drama deserved the same close attention as poetry and the novel, and he remained a prominent voice in literary and theatrical culture for decades.

He is also remembered for his work on the short story and for championing a distinctly American literary life. Matthews died in 1929, but his career still stands out as an early bridge between creative writing, literary criticism, and the serious study of performance.