- The Matheson History Museum will hold a free scaled-back event on Sept. 12 to celebrate Sarah Hamilton Matheson's birthday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sarah Matheson was a global traveler, community leader, and founding board member who deeded her historic house to the museum before her death in 1996.
The Matheson History Museum will celebrate the birthday of its namesake, Sarah Hamilton Matheson, with a scaled-back but free community event on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum (513 E. University Ave., Gainesville). No registration is required.
This year’s Sarah’s Birthday Bash has been scaled back because of a busy summer that included the museum’s inaugural summer camp and a new exhibition, as well as several years of significantly reduced or unfunded state grants, according to a Matheson press release.
The celebration will include free cupcakes, a mini-exhibit highlighting Matheson’s life, self-guided tours of the current “Chains of Steele” exhibition and shopping in the museum’s newly reorganized gift shop.
The day will begin with a reception and short program from 11 a.m. to noon hosted by Immediate Past Board President and current Advisory Council Chair Robert Mounts. The program will highlight Matheson’s civic life and her many contributions to the Gainesville community. Mimosas and other refreshments will be served. The reception is free and open to the public.
Matheson was born in Davidson, North Carolina, in 1901 and was the last resident of the historic Matheson House.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State College for Women in Greensboro and a master’s degree from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia. After graduating, she moved to Oklahoma to teach at Oklahoma Presbyterian College, where she met Christopher Matheson.
After two decades of marriage, Matheson was widowed and traveled the world as a teacher and missionary. She later returned to Florida after a two-year teaching trip to Korea during the Cold War and traveled throughout the state speaking about her world travels and Florida history.
Matheson visited more than 40 countries during her 95 years and circumnavigated the globe twice. Her interest in the global community included renting the second floor of the Matheson House to University of Florida exchange students for many years.
She also became the first female elder of First Presbyterian Church and was among the first female elders in Presbyterian churches in the South. She was involved in numerous civic organizations and helped preserve the Matheson House, where she lived for half a century.
Matheson was also a founding board member of the Matheson History Museum. Upon her death in 1996, she deeded the Matheson House to the museum, helping ensure the preservation of the historic home and its place in Gainesville history.
She is buried alongside Christopher Matheson in Evergreen Cemetery.
The museum hopes to return in 2027 to a full community celebration in the Matheson Museum and Sweetwater Park.