Arrangement: The collection is arranged chronologically by topic. It consists of 38 manuscripts boxes, 79 bound manuscripts volumes, and 8 oversized folders. There are additional printed pamphlets and monographs in the collection representing the work and life of Joseph Jones. For access to printed material, please contact a LaRC staff member. The collection is 45 linear feet.

Date Acquired: 06/00/1966

Subjects: Andersonville Prison., Confederate States of America -- Armed Forces -- Medical care., Jones, Joseph, 1833-1896., Jones family., Medical education -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., Medicine -- Southern States -- History -- 19th century., Physicians -- Southern States -- History -- 19th century., Tulane University. School of Medicine., United Confederate Veterans., United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives, Confederate., United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865., University of Nashville. Medical Dept.

Forms of Material: Articles., Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence., Lectures., Lists (document genre), Medical records., Muster rolls., Notebooks., Pamphlets., Photographs., Publications., Reports., Rosters.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection consists chiefly of correspondence, manuscripts and personal papers of Joseph Jones, a physician and professor of medicine of Georgia and Louisiana. Many of the documents are from the Civil War period, including Jones' medical investigations. Jones conducted studies of the diseases and injuries in Confederate hospitals and prisons, particularly Andersonville. An important result of these investigations was an extensive number of medical reports, hospital records, and casualty statistics that he collected and compiled.

Biographical Note

Joseph Jones was born September 6, 1833, the second son of Charles Colcock Jones, Sr., a Presbyterian minister from Liberty County, Georgia. He attended the College of New Jersey at Princeton, and the University of Pennsylvania. Jones began teaching in 1856 at Savannah Medical College, and later at the University of Georgia as well as the Medical College of Georgia. In 1858 he married Caroline Smelt Davis of Augusta, Georgia. Jones served in the Confederate military forces as Surgeon Major throughout most of the war. He conducted studies of the diseases and injuries in Confederate hospitals and prisons, particularly Andersonville. Because of his activities at Andersonville, Jones was summoned as a witness at the trial of Henry Wirz.

After the Civil War, Jones joined the faculty of the University of Nashville Medical School. Two years later, he accepted a position at the University of Louisiana (later Tulane University). His wife died in 1868, and in 1870, he married Susan Raynor Polk, daughter of the Episcopal bishop of Louisiana. Joseph Jones' children were: Mary Cuthbert (from his first marriage), Frances Devereaux, Hamilton Polk, and Laura Maxwell. In 1872 Jones was appointed to the Chair of Chemistry and Clinical Medicine at the University of Louisiana, which he held until 1893 when he resigned due to ill health. He died in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 17, 1896.

Subject/Index Terms

Andersonville Prison.
Confederate States of America -- Armed Forces -- Medical care.
Jones, Joseph, 1833-1896.
Jones family.
Medical education -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
Medicine -- Southern States -- History -- 19th century.
Physicians -- Southern States -- History -- 19th century.
Tulane University. School of Medicine.
United Confederate Veterans.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives, Confederate.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
University of Nashville. Medical Dept.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Alternate Extent Statement: 45 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: Stanhope Bayne-Jones.

Acquisition Method: Gift.

Preferred Citation: Joseph Jones papers, Manuscripts Collection 172, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Finding Aid Revision History: Added subject headings 4/16/2010. Finding aid information entered in Archon by LAC Group in 2011. Revised by LAC Group 9/26/11.

Other Note:

To access the collection's correspondence index, please click on the "Digital Content" link for a PDF copy.

OCLC Number: 567805901

Box and Folder Listing

Box 49: Bound volumes, volumes 48-49

Volume 48: Outline of the results of an examination of the statistics and records of the Charlottesville General Hospital, Virginia; and of the treatment and experience of certain physicians formerly connected with the Confederate Army as surgeons and assistant surgeons / compiled by Joseph Jones, 1865
Volume 49: Medical investigations at Savannah, Georgia / compiled by Joseph Jones, 1862: Includes reports on sick soldiers, various afflictions.

Tulane University Special Collections