John A. Matzko

John Austin Matzko (born 1946) is a historian, published author and Chairman of the Division of Social Science at Bob Jones University. Matzko specializes in the areas of historical research and writing, historiography, and American legal history. Matzko has been a member of the Organization of American Historians since the early 1980s.
Biography
Born in New Jersey, Matzko’s ancestors came to the United States from Eastern Europe. His father served in the military during World War II. The first of his family to pursue higher education, Matzko completed his undergraduate work at Bob Jones University, graduating in 1968 with a BA in History.
He went on to obtain a Master’s Degree from the University of Cincinnati and a PhD from the University of Virginia. In 1969, he was drafted into the army and had the honor of performing duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
Matzko is the director of the Bob Jones University Scholastic Bowl competitions, drawing from a pool of almost 800 questions that are used to challenge students during the Scholastic Bowl’s 5-year rotation. Matzko notes, “I tell the students that this is entertainment,” and that they should not be afraid to make mistakes. He is also a supporter of the Bob Jones University Art Gallery.
He has been involved with providing support for several U.S. historic sites: Ash Lawn-Highland (Home of James Monroe), Arlington House: The Robert E. Lee Memorial (Arlington, VA), Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (Located on the North Dakota/Montana border), and Homestead National Monument, located in Beatrice, NE.
Matzko has published on a range of topics including the reconstruction of Fort Union, the history of the American Bar Association, the history of Bob Jones University and an article on the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Jr..
Matzko married Rachel Grace Smith (1943-2009), an English teacher, and they had one son. He is a member of Faith Free Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina. An amateur musician, Matzko plays the violin, viola, and recorder, and he sings in the Bob Jones University Faculty Men’s chorus.
Publications
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu