Arthur Ludwig, MD papers

Identity elements

Reference code

US AA054

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Collection

Title

Arthur Ludwig, MD papers

Date(s)

  • 1950-1999 (Creation)

Extent

1 box (2.5 inches)

Name of creator

(1918-1999)

Biographical history

Arthur W. Ludwig was born in Brooklyn on December 20, 1918. He attended Columbia College (Class of 1939) and received his M.D. degree from New York University College of Medicine in 1943, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. He did a brief internship at The Mount Sinai Hospital before entering active duty in the United States Navy. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant (Senior Grade). After a six month basic science course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, he returned to Mount Sinai to finish his residency, which he completed in April 1948. He then held a research fellowship in Pathology at the Hospital until June 1949. He continued research while developing his private practice. He published on the effects of testosterone and estrogen inhibition in animal models, as well as studies of the pathogenesis of exophthalmos and histogenesis of myxedema.

Dr. Ludwig held several clinical and teaching positions at The Mount Sinai Hospital and later the School of Medicine. He served in the Endocrinology clinic from 1949-55 and was Chief of the Diagnostic Clinic in the mid-1950s. He achieved the rank of Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine in 1978. He was also an Attending Physician at the Doctor's Hospital from 1952-89. Throughout his many years of service, Dr. Ludwig also maintained a very active private practice. Dr. Ludwig died on June 4, 1999.
As noted in a November 2000 letter from Barry Coller, MD, Chairman of Medicine; Arthur H. Aufses, Jr., MD, Professor of Health Policy and Surgery; and Mrs. Arthur W. Ludwig announcing the creation at Mount Sinai of the Arthur W. Ludwig Lectureship in Humanism in Medicine: "Not only did Arthur Ludwig practice the science of medicine, he practiced the art of medicine. He listened to his patients, and was a superb physician in the true sense of the word. A marvelous diagnostician, his judgment was uncanny, and he insisted on the very best for his patients."

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

These papers represent a small portion of the work Dr. Ludwig was involved in during his career, focusing primarily on research he undertook in the 1950s. There is nothing here about his private practice. The files include grant applications and reports of research on connective tissue, which was under the direction of Paul Klemperer, MD, Director of Mount Sinai's Department of Pathology. There is also a folder of material that includes a letter from Norman Boas, MD about a research project they had begun that seems not to have been published. Of note are two slim notebooks where Dr. Ludwig recorded research data, as well as reviews of articles he had read on the topic. He inserted hand drawn charts and tables. They are an interesting example of how a clinician did research at this time.
Six photographs are included in this collection. The originals were scanned to create digital copies and were returned to Mrs. Ludwig. The photographs include four in a series from 1966 that show Dr. Ludwig meeting with house staff in the Department of Medicine, and then going on rounds in the Klingenstein Clinical Center. There are also shots of the First Medical Service staff in 1947 and the Second Medical Service house staff in 1943. Printouts of the scans are also filed in the Photograph Collection.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

This material is available for use. Contact the Archives (MSArchives@mssm.edu) for access to these materials.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

    Language and script notes

    Finding aids

    Generated finding aid

    Acquisition and appraisal elements

    Custodial history

    • Rec'd 7/2010 from Mrs. Arthur Ludwig; rec'd 1 vol. 3/2011 added 5/2011; 5 folders rec'd 1/2014 added to files [note on catalog card]
    • These papers were received from Mrs. Arthur W. (Laura) Ludwig in July 2010. The original images were returned to her after scanning. In March 2011, Mrs. Ludwig sent one more research volume (f.9).

    Immediate source of acquisition

    Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

    Accruals

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    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

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    Notes element

    Specialized notes

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Legacy ID from CMS

    AA.000263

    OCLC Number

    882088681

    Description control element

    Rules or conventions

    Sources used

    Archivist's note

    Processed by Barbara Niss in 7/2010 and 5/2011.

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    Accession area