J. Howard Mathews Papers
00220

Summary Information

Repository
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Creator
Mathews, J. Howard, (Joseph Howard), 1881-1970
Title
J. Howard Mathews papers
ID
00220
Date
circa 1913-1970
Extent
13.5 Cubic feet
Language
English
Language of Materials
Some of the materials are in French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan."

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Biographical Note

Joseph Howard Mathews was born October 15, 1881 in Auroraville, Wisconsin to Joseph and Lydia T. Mathews. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1903, his M.A. in chemistry from Harvard in 1906, and his Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard in 1908. Mathews spent most of his career as a professor, and later chairman, of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin. He taught there from 1908 until his retirement in 1952.

Mathews was an expert on scientific methods of crime detection. During his long career, he conducted research in this field and lectured on it at the University of Wisconsin and nationwide. In 1962 his authoritative three volume work, Firearms Identification was published. It served as a comprehensive guide to identifying hand firearms manufactured throughout the world over the span of nearly 100 years. Firearms Identification includes characteristics of various makes of firearms including widths of lands and grooves, twist of rifling, diameter of bore and grooves, and other measurements. Much of the data was gathered by Mathews which was a colossal task as these measurements vary both from gun to gun and from year to year. His hard work paid off as the book was highly regarded by gun collectors and people in the law enforcement field.

Mathews married Ella G. Gilfillan in 1909. The union produced two daughters, Marion (born 1912) and Jean (born 1917). Mathews died on April 15, 1970 at the age of 88.

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Scope and Contents note

This collection includes correspondence to and from firearms manufacturers and experts, catalogs, brochures, and booklets from manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and gun powders, and materials from a course he taught at the University of Wisconsin. Much of the collection focuses on Mathew's comprehensive book, Firearms Identification. Research data on firearms identification, including rifling specifications for thousands of firearms and photographs of firearms, test shells, and laboratory equipment are in the collection, along with book reviews and drafts of the book.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections July 2012

Conrad Hall
888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu

Revision Description

  March 2018

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Legal Status

Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

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Controlled Access Headings

Genre(s)

  • Brochures
  • Catalogs
  • Course materials
  • Letters (correspondence)
  • Manuscripts
  • Photographs

Personal Name(s)

  • Mathews, J. Howard, (Joseph Howard), 1881-1970
  • Munhall, Burton D., (Burton David), 1910-
  • Turner, Ralph F.

Subject(s)

  • Ballistics
  • Crime scene investigations
  • Criminology
  • Firearms
  • Firearms -- Identification
  • Forensic ballistics
  • Sociology -- Study and teaching

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Collection Inventory

Correspondence 
Box Folder

Correspondences with Firearms Manufacturers 1934-1935, 1938, 1950 

 1 1

Miscellaneous Correspondence 1963-1964 

 1 2

A 1954, 1963, 1968-1969 

 1 3

Aberman, Sidney 1953-1969 

 1 4

B 1952-1969 

 1 5

Berg, Stanton O. 1957-1969 

 1 6

Biasotti, A.A. 1953-1959 

 1 7

Byrne, Daniel M. 1968-1970 

 1 8

C 1952-1968 

 1 9

Carlson, John R. 1968-1969 

 1 10

Comparison Camera 1936-1941 

 1 11

Dingeman, Major D.R. 1952-1953 

 1 12

D 1952-1968 

 1 13

E 1956-1968 

 1 14

F 1953-1966 

 1 15

Ferracuti, Dr. Franco [Italian, English] 1955-1958 

 1 16

G [French, English] 1953-1969 

 1 17

Goddard, Col. Calvin 1930-1937, 1953-1955 

 1 18

Hatcher, Major General J.S. 1935-1938, 1952-1954 

 1 19

Hoover, J. Edgar 1935-1945 

 1 20

H 1953-1969 

 1 21

I 1953-1967 

 1 22

Jones, Dr. Herman D. 1950-1954 

 1 23

J [French, English] 1952-1968 

 1 24

K 1956-1969 

 1 25

Kaufman, Clark E. 1954-1960 

 1 26-28

Krcma, Jack 1960-1969 

 1 29-30

L 1944, 1954-1970 

 2 1

Munhall, B.D. 1953-1958 

 2 2

Munhall, B.D. 1958-1969 

 2 3

Mc 1957-1969 

 2 4

M 1953-1969 

 2 5

N 1953-1969 

 2 6

O 1952-1958, 1969 

 2 7

P 1951-1959, 1963, 1968-1969 

 2 8

R 1949, 1952-1953, 1958-1969  

 2 9

Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory 1930-1940, 1963 

 2 10

Stevens Brand Names 1963 

 2 11

Shomber, Charles Eldon 1966-1969 

 2 12

S 1952-1959 

 2 13

S 1960-1970 

 2 14

T 1968 

 2 15

Turner, Ralph 
Box Folder

 1939-August 6, 1947 

 2 16

 September 30, 1947-November 14, 1951 

 2 17

 January 11, 1952-October 28, 1958 

 2 18

 February 12, 1954-July 14, 1969 

 2 19

Copies of Professional Papers, Minutes, Proceedings 1949-1951 

 2 20
Box Folder

V [German, English] 1958, 1962, 1969 

 2 21

Van Amburgh, Charles J. 1941 

 2 22

Wolff, Eldon G. 1953-1954, 1966 

 2 23

Wandrus, Harry 1948-1958 

 2 24

W 1953-1970 

 2 25

Z 1955-1965 

 2 26

Bady, Donald 
Box Folder

Volume I October 1955-March 1956 

 2 27-28

Volume II April 1956-March 1957 

 2 29-30

Volume III April 1957-April 1958 

 2 31-32

Volume IV April 1958-December 1958 

 2 33

Firearms Information Files 

Rifling Specifications 
Box Folder

4.25 mm, 5 mm, .22 cal., .25 cal. 

 3 1-6

6.35 mm, 7.25 mm, .28-.31 cal. 

 2 7-13

7.62 mm-7.63 mm, .32 cal. 


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   3 14-15
    Box Folder
Mixed materials   4 1-5

Box Folder

7.7 mm, 8 mm, .35 cal., .357 cal., .38 cal. 

 4 6-11

10.1 mm - 11.5 mm, .40 cal. - .50 cal. 


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   4 12-14
    Box Folder
Mixed materials   5 1

Box Folder

Miscellaneous 

 5 2-3

7.65 mm 

 5 4-11

9 mm - 9.4 mm 


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   5 12-15
    Box Folder
Mixed materials   6 1

Box Folder

Specifications and Graphs 

 9 6

Summary of Rifling Data - Book I 

 9 8-10

Summary of Rifling Data - Book II 

 Box
9		 Folder
11-12

Rifling Data for Revolvers 

 9 13-15
Box Folder

Miscellaneous Information on Hand Guns: Catalog Illustrations, Descriptions, etc. 

 6 2-3

Excerpts from Old Catalogs: Rifles, Revolvers, and Automatic Pistols 

 6 4-5

Firearms Material from Catalogs, Booklets, and Circulars 
Box Folder

Book I 

 6 6-7

Book II 

 6 8

Trade and Identification Marks 
Box Folder

Book I 

 6 9-10

Book II 

 6 11-12
Box Folder

Automatic Magazine, published by National Automatic Pistol Collectors Association 1968 

 6 15-16

Grip Designs on Pistols and Revolvers 

 6 13-14

"A Chronological Listing of Firearms Patent Dates" by T/Sgt. A.B. Hart (N.Y. State Police Scientific Laboratory) 

 6 17

[Unknown Title] Firearm Identification Book 
Box Folder

Volume I, Part 1 (photocopy) 

 6 18

Volume I, Part II A (photocopy) 

 6 19-20

Volume I, Part II B (photocopy) 

 6 21

Volume I, Part II C (photocopy) 

 6 22
Box Folder

Gun Collection, Rock Island Arsenal 

 6 23

Ancion-Marx Fabrique D'Armes [French, English] Pre-1914, 1953 

 7 1

Aguirre y Aranzabal [Spanish] 1921, 1953, Undated 

 7 2

Astra July 1958 

 7 3

B [Italian, French, German, English] 1953 

 7 4

C [French, English] 1953 

 7 5

D [French, English] 1939, 1953, Undated 

 7 6

F [German, French, English] 1953 

 7 7

G [Spanish, English] 1953 

 7 8

H [Spanish, German, French, English] 

 7 9

J [French, English] 1953 

 7 10

K [German, English] 1953 

 7 11

L [French, German, English] 1953 

 7 12-13

M [French, German, Italian, English] 1953 

 7 14

N [French, Spanish, English] 1953 

 7 15

O [Spanish, English] 1953 

 7 16

P [French, English] 1953 

 7 17

R 1953 

 7 18

S [Spanish, German, English] 1953 

 7 19

T [Spanish, French, German, English] 1953 

 7 20

V [French] 1953 

 7 21

W 1953 

 7 22

Firearms Companies Histories (Browning, Webley) 1942, 1953 

 7 23

Publications Relating to Identifying Firearms 1920s-1960s 

 7 24

Antique Guns Pricing Guides 1953, 1959 

 7 25

Firearms Instruction Manuals 1946, 1949-1950 

 7 26

Price Lists and Advertisements for Firearms 1954, Undated 

 7 27

Akah: 75 Jubiläums-Ausgabe (75th Anniversary Edition) Catalog 1932 

 7 28

Akah Haupt-Katalog (Main Catalog) 1925 

 7 29

Akah: Waffen, Munition, Jagdgeräte (Arms, Ammunition, Hunting Supplies) Catalog Undated 

 7 30

DuPont Powders - Brochures 

 7 31

Western Ammunition Booklets and Price Lists 1931-1935, Undated 

 8 1

Peters Ammunition and US Ammunition Brochures and Booklets 1933-1935, Undated 

 8 2

Firearms Catalogs and Booklets 1935, Circa 1946, Undated 

 8 3

Catalog of Cartridge Manufacturers and Base Markings by H.P. White and B.D. Munhall (copy) 1958 

 8 4-5

"Automatic Pistols," extracts from J. Lugs, Ruční Palné Zbraně (published in Prague) 1956 

 8 6

Automatic Pistols List 

 8 16

Shell Diameter Tests November 11, 1931 

 8 17

Land and Groove Measurements 1938-1939 

 8 18

Gun Inventory April 1938 

 8 19

"Aus Der Fertigung Des Infantrie-Gewehre Model Mauser 98" by von K. Trotter 1937 

 8 20

Firearms Identification 
Box Folder

"Definitions of Terms Used in Following Tables and for Slug Characterization in General" 

 8 7

Errata 

 8 8

Rifling Specifications 

 8 9

Data on Shells Supplied by Stanton O. Berg 

 8 10

Prints for Publication List 

 8 11

Information Used for Book 

 8 12

Book Reviews [French, German, Japanese - with translations] 1963-1964 

 8 13-15

Drafts 

 9 1-5
Box Folder

Criminology Papers 1935, Undated 

 8 21

"Studies in Forensic Ballistics" Study Undated 

 8 22

Ballistics Papers 

 8 23

"The Stimulus of the War to Chemistry" lecture (Colloid Chemistry) 1922 

 8 24

Hair Burning (?) Shots Fired at Different Distances (from an investigation) 

 8 25

Miscellaneous Notes and Correspondence with Leonard Keeler and Ralph Turner 

 8 26

National Automatic Pistol Collectors Association, Membership List August 1969 

 8 27

Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners Newsletters, Numbers 1-5 1969-1970 

 8 28

Great Guns article about Mathews November 1954 

 8 29

The American Rifleman interview with Mathews January 1963 

 8 30

Biographical Materials 

 8 31

Obituary in Finger Print and Identification Magazine June 1970 

 8 32

Sociology 165 (University of Wisconsin) 

Course Materials 1934 


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   9 16
    Box Folder
Mixed materials   9 7

Note Cards 
Box

Firearms Information -- H.P. White Laboratory 

 13

Firearms Information -- H.P. White Laboratory [continued] [Card File] 

 14

Firearms Information Service -- Rifling Specifications [Card File] 

 14
Box Carton

Less Well Known Pistols and Revolvers 

 10 1

Automatics Manufacturers 

 10 2

Automatics 

Revolvers (Name of Gun) 

Revolvers (Manufacturer) 
Box

Trade Marks and Identification Marks 

 12

Photographs and Negatives 
Box Folder

Advertisements -- Handguns 

 11 1

Astra (handguns) 

 11 2

Catalog Illustration Photographs 1955, Undated 

 11 3

Comparison Microscope Photos -- Breech Block Marks 

 11 4

Crime Laboratory 

 11 5

Extractor Marks 

 11 6

Firearms Identification Illustrations 

 11 7

Firing Pin Impressions 

 11 8

Group Photograph -- Unidentified 

 11 9

Handguns 

 11 10-14

Kansas City Police Department (photos from Ralph Turner) 

 11 15

Krcma -- Photographs of Guns 

 11 16

Laboratory Equipment 
Box Folder

Lab. Equipment 

 11 17

Comparison Camera - Groove Measuring Apparatus, Rifling Meter, Appartatus for Measuring Rifling Pitch 

 11 18

Equipment used to Measure Grooves, Bore, and Rifling 

 11 19

Photographic Equipment 

 11 20
Box Folder

Llama (handguns) 

 11 21

Mauser (handguns) 

 11 22

Pistol Atlas Basic Forms 

 11 23

Severed Leg -- Shot Point Blank with 12 Gauge Shotgun 

 11 24

Test Shells 

 11 25-26

Rim Fire Firing Pin Impressions 

 11 27

Dusts 

 11 28

Graphs 

 11 28

Stereocards -- Evidence 

 11 29

Envelopes 

 11 30-32
Box Folder

Sarco and Vanzetti Case -- Copies of Photos Given to Mathews by Col. Goddard 

 11 30

Comparison Camera -- Photos of Matches 

 11 30

Micrometer Stand 

 11 30

Shell Heads Showing Matching of Breech Block Marks 

 11 30

Comparison Camera Photos -- Brenden (?) Case 

 11 30

Extractor Marks 

 11 30

Stereo Photomicrograph Set Up 

 11 30

CZ Mod P-27 7.65 mm shells 

 11 30

Comparison Camera Photos -- Luick Dairy Case 

 11 30

Apparatus for Measuring Groove Widths on Bullets 

 11 30

Comparison Camera Photos -- "Butch" King Case 

 11 30

Comparison Camera Photos -- Matching of Lead Bullets 

 11 31

Comparison Camera Photos -- Matching of Jacketed Bullets 

 11 31

Ejector Marks 

 11 31

Apparatus for Measuring Angles of Rifling on Bullets June 1, 1956 

 11 31

Punch Press for Making Disks for Rifling 

 11 31

Sauer Pistol -- Triptow Case 

 11 31

Tony Farino Case -- Matching of Rifling Marks 

 11 31

Eliza Shellhouse Murder 1943 

 11 31

Comparison Camera Photos 

 11 31

Fibers Embedded in Lead Bullet 

 11 31

Loading Marks 

 11 31

Photos of .32 H & R 

 11 31

Breech Block Marks -- George King Case 

 11 31

Photos of Loading Marks on Shell 

 11 31

Stereo Photomicrographs 

 11 31

Contact Prints -- King Case 

 11 31

Comparison Camera Photo -- Matching of Bullets from Savage Automatic (.32 cal.) 

 11 31

Extractor Mark Matches -- Pliner Case 

 11 32

Extractor Mark Matches -- Wagener Case 

 11 32

Extractor Mark Matches -- Trumble Case 

 11 32

Photos of Comparison Camera 

 11 32

Extractor Marks -- Smith-Erdman Case 

 11 32

Breech Block Marks -- Excellent 

 11 32

Extractor Marks -- Case at Wisconsin Crime Lab. 

 11 32

Breech Block Marks -- CZ - P-27 - 7.65 mm 

 11 32

Rifling Measurement Drawings 

 11 32

Comparison Microscope Photos -- Jonas Case 

 11 32

Stereo Photomicrographs of Shell Heads 

 11 32

Rifling Marks 

 11 32

Serial Number Restorations 

 11 32

Breech Block Marks -- Cameron Suicide Case 

 11 32

Breech Block Marks 

 11 32

Bullet Matches (Comparison Microscope) -- Jonas Case 

 11 32

Bullet Matches (Comparison Microscope) -- Van Deuser Murder Case 1930 

 11 32
Box

Firing Pin Marks -- S.O. Berg Shells 

 12

Firing Pin Marks (Rim Fire) -- Published 

 12

Firing Pin Marks (Rim Fire) -- Published [continued] 

 13

Firing Pin Marks -- C.E. Kauffman Shells 

 13

Rim Fire Firing Pin Impressions 

 14

Original Gun Photographs -- Guns from H.P. White Laboratory 

 15

Spur Trigger Revolvers -- C.E. Shomber Guns 

 15

Spur Trigger Revolvers -- C.E. Shomber Guns [continued] 

 16

Prints Removed From Manuscript 

 16

Breech Block Photos from Pistol Atlas Basic Form no. 1 -- Prints and Negatives 

 17

Breech Block Photos from Pistol Atlas. Basic Forms 2-8. Prints and Negatives 

 17

Breech Block Negs and Prints -- Not used 

 17

Comparison Camera Photos (for book) -- not good enough 

 17

Comparison Microscope and matches on same pair 

 17

Comparison Microscope. Some very good mounted (on 81/2 x 10 1/2) 

 17

Photographs set up for photographing guns (for Book) 

 17

Negatives and Prints -- Firing Pin Impressions. Rectangualr 

 17

Negatives & Prints -- Firing Pin Impressions. Round - Semi Circular - Special (some rect. also) 

 17

German Experiments on Gain Rifling. from Bady. Negatives of Photostats 

 17

Kersten Negatives 

 17

Kersten's Book -- Photos and Negatives 

 17

Three Different Shots for Same Match (Pretty good) 

 17

Two Separate Shots on Same Matched Bullets 

 17

Additional Negs and Prints -- Munhall's Rim Fire Impressions of Firing Pin 

 17

Shear Marks on Primuns (?) Colt .45 cal. 

 17

Sam Smith's Antique Guns (Extra Prints) 

 17

Unlabeled [firing pin impressions] 

 17

Unusual Bullet Collecting Medium. .22 cal. lead bullets were fired into a block of ice. 

 17

Velo Dog Negatives August 1954 

 17

Comparison Camera Photographs -- .22 cal. bullets from Wisconsin Crime Laboratory August 15, 1958 

 17

Extra Prints of Firing Pin Impressions taken From H.P. White Laboratory Information Cards. Nos. 71 to 110 as they appear on Plates for Appendix No. VIII 

 17

Firing Pin Impressions Nos. 71 to 110 -- Negatives. H.P. White Laboratory Reproductions 

 17

Gun Photographs 

 18

Original Gun Photographs -- 6.35 mm, A-Q 

 18

Original Gun Photographs -- 6.35 mm, A-Q [continued] 

 19

Original Gun Photographs 

 19

Original Gun Photographs 

 20-21

Oversize Items 
Drawer

Marking and Preserving the Chain of Evidence in Gunshot Cases (Poster) 

 3

Table Showing Variation in Weight of Bullets of Two Makes 

 3

Gun Data Tables (3) 

 3

Comparison Camera Photographs of Four Bullets from a .38 Calibre Revolver 

 3

Diagrams of a Vise 1941 

 3