Hello, I'd start with this
https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/download ... matrix.pdf all the ones I got used something along these lines. I keep meaning to dig them out and get it all working again. I've been moving houses repeatedly this past couple of years and the LED matrix stuff is all packed up patiently waiting for me to get a workshop space sorted again, and the time!
Good luck an post to this thread if you have any questions, I'll try and rack my brains to remember how it all worked, if you'd like I can dig out my code - it was very specific to an arduino teensy using the ARM/SAM chip IIRC
D