Matzinger Collection
Title
Matzinger Collection
Description
On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley was shot twice at close range by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Initially, doctors believed the surgery to remove the bullet was successful, but President McKinley’s health soon deteriorated. He died on September 14, 1901, becoming the third U.S. president to be assassinated. The government commissioned a detailed report to investigate the shooting, surgery, and any underlying infections to address concerns about the cause of McKinley’s death. Dr. Herman Matzinger, a respected medical professional and 1884 University at Buffalo graduate, collaborated with Dr. Harvey Gaylord, a professor of surgical pathology at the university, on the autopsy. Dr. Matzinger conducted a bacteriologic analysis of the bullet wound and surrounding tissues, to determine whether infection or poison played a role in President McKinley’s death. His findings, groundbreaking at the time, concluded that no pathogenic bacteria or poison contributed to the president’s condition. The Matzinger Collection includes a variety of primary documents related to the assassination investigation. Items include Dr. Matzinger’s 17-page notebook with lab notes, his final report on the autopsy, tickets to President McKinley’s funeral service, official death certificate acknowledgment, and personal letters and related ephemera.