Arrangement: The collection is arranged as follows: biographical and personal documents and papers of Rudolph Matas; correspondence, both personal and professional; medical practice and clinical histories; sketches and photographs of medical cases; teaching lectures, syllabi, and notes; diaries; speeches; papers, abstracts, memorials, and case notes; patient account books; history of medicine manuscript; Charity Hospital history; Louisiana State Medical Society and Orleans Parish Medical Society materials; published articles of Dr. Matas and others; newspaper clippings; photographs; Matas decorations, medals, and oral history; Tulane University items; medical slides; phonograph records; biographical bibliography index cards; file drawer of bibliographical cards, and oversized items. The collection consists of 56 boxes and one oversize folder. It is 81 linear feet.

Date Acquired: 08/04/1969

Subjects: Charity Hospital (New Orleans, La.), Louisiana State Medical Society., Matas, Rudolph, 1860-1957., Medicine -- United States -- History., Physicians -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., Physicians -- United States., Tulane University. School of Medicine.

Forms of Material: Bibliographies., Clippings (information artifacts), Diaries., Photographs., Publications., Sketches., Speeches.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection consists of biographical and personal papers, correspondence, clinical histories, photographs and sketches of aneurysm patients, lectures, syllabi, papers, notes, diaries, speeches, abstracts, patient account books, scrapbooks, articles by Matas, newspaper clippings, photographs, personal memorabilia, Tulane memorabilia, and bibliographic cards. There is a scrapbook of the Louisiana State Medical Society created during Dr. Matas' presidency as well as his History of Louisiana State Medical School and History of Medicine in Louisiana. Matas was born in Louisiana and was closely tied to Tulane University from the time of his graduation from the University of Louisiana Medical School, predecessor of Tulane Medical School, in 1880.

Biographical Note

Rudolph Matas (1860-1957) was a noted physician, surgeon, teacher, leader in medical societies locally in New Orleans and internationally, and innovator of surgical methods. Matas was born in Louisiana and is closely associated with Tulane University from the time of his graduation from the University of Louisiana Medical School, predecessor of Tulane Medical School, in 1880.

Subject/Index Terms

Charity Hospital (New Orleans, La.)
Louisiana State Medical Society.
Matas, Rudolph, 1860-1957.
Medicine -- United States -- History.
Physicians -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
Physicians -- United States.
Tulane University. School of Medicine.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Alternate Extent Statement: 81 linear feet

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Acquisition Source: Rudolph Matas.

Preferred Citation: Rudolph Matas papers, Manuscripts Collection 868, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Processing Information: Collection originally processed by Helen Burkes in 1994.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid information entered in Archon by LAC Group in 2011. Revised by LAC Group 10/17/11.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 236484935

Box and Folder Listing

Oversize folder 1: Photographs

1. Oversize photo of R. Mata's mother and father

2. Large photos of R. Matas, 1940 at 80 years

3. Group pictures of medical associations

1910 Southern Surgical, Gynecology

1922 Society International of Chirurgie (2)

1923 Louisiana State Medical Society, New Orleans

1926 American College of Sugeons, New Orleans

1929 Association of American Medical College

1930 Louisiana State Medical Society, Shreveport

1934 Louisiana State Medical Society, Shreveport

1937 dinner in honor of Dr. W. D. Haggard

1947 12th congress of the Internation Society of Surgery

4. Picture copied by Dr. Matas "Judgement of Philip II in disposing the ultimate fate of the Moorish and Jewish exiles following their expulsion from Spain with Cardinal Cisneros"

Tulane University Special Collections