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John E. Mathews, Jr. was a Florida state legislator from 1956 to 1970 and President of the Florida Senate in 1969-70. He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Florida in 1963/64 and 1969/70. The collection contains the extensive personal papers, documents, and memorabilia of Mr. Mathews, spanning the years 1920 - 1988. His early years are particularly well documented, with scrapbooks, report cards, awards, etc. The legislative years (1956-70) are chronicled by detailed reports, documents, and newsclippings; and the gubernatorial campaign years (1963; 1969-70) are well-represented with a near complete set of the master campaign files of correspondence, lists, speeches, newsclippings, scrapbooks, and travel / itinerary materials. The collection is of primary value for research on Mr. Mathews, but in totality, provides insights into Florida political history and government circa 1950-70.