History and Archives

The Medical Library's historical collections are housed in the History and Archives and Derbes Rooms and are accessible by permission only. To request access to these collections, contact the Medical Library.

History of the Rudolph Matas Library

History of the Tulane University School of Medicine

History of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

The History of Tulane University School of Medicine's Involvement with Charity Hospital
  - By Douglas R. Lincoln (Class of 2007)

Historical Collections

• Rudolph Matas Collection - historical books and research, personal and professional memorabilia and artifacts from the reknown surgeon and Medical Library benefactor
• Diplomas, Certificates, and Awards
• The Louisiana Physicians File - newpaper clippings collection (primarily obituaries) of Louisiana physicians; many older files contain bibliographies
• Medical Art and Portraits Collection - prints, reproductions of works of art with medical themes
• Medical Memorabilia and Ephemera including matriculation tickets, surgical instruments
• Elizabeth Bass Collection on Women in Medicine - newspaper clippings, pictures, photographs, glass magic lantern slides, books, medical school catalogs and more
• Weinstein Medallion Collection - medals issued in honor of individuals or commemorating a momentous event, disease, hospital, school or society; donated by Benjamin Bernard Weinstein, M.D.
• Light Autograph Collection - correspondence and memoranda with autographs of renowned scientists; donated by David S. Light, M.D. (alumnus, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1944)
• General Hospital Unit 24 Collection - artifacts and photos of the "Tulane Unit" from its service during World War II
• John Joseph Archinard Collection - personal and professional artifacts and memorabilia of John Joseph Archinard, M.D. (alumnus, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1926), including service in World War II, a medical bag with instruments and more
• James L. Griffin Collection - artifacts and memorabilia related to the career of James McArthur Griffin, M.D. (alumnus, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1921) including notebooks, manuals, haemacytometer and more
• Historical Library of E.C. Faust - historic works from the library of Earnest Carroll Faust, Ph.D (head of Parasitology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1928 - 1956)

Collection Highlights

• The First Circular or Prospectus of the Medical College of Louisiana - regarding the founding of the Medical College of Louisiana
• Registre de Comite Medicale de la Nouvelle Orleans - the minutes of the medical licensing board of Eastern Louisiana, 1816-1854

Online Exhibitions

• Tulane University Contributions to Medical Science and Education - for 170 years, Tulane faculty have been at the forefront of medical science. This exhibition highlights some of the outstanding members of the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine.

Military Medicine

The Medical Library's military history collecton contains many works and artifacts from throughout American history, including Confederate imprints.

Of particular interest to American Civil War researchers is Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion (1861-65). An index for this work is available from the Medical Reference Department.

Links

• Tulane University Special Collections Division - home site for Tulane's University Archives, Jazz Archives, Rare Books, Louisiana Collection, Architectural Archives, and Manuscripts Department.
• Tulane Potpourri - a compilation of people and places relating to the history of the university, courtesy of Tulane Alumni Affairs.