University of Maryland Baltimore Dental School - Mirror Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THE LIBRARY T ■ ■ ! - L! J i 1 ! 1 U ' k tm 1 » , The library of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, Dental School, University of Maryland, was probably the first institutional dental library in this country. Its origin is associated with men who were foremost in the collection of dental literature. Many of the works of Dr. Chapin A. Harris, one of the founders of the dental profes- sion, are in the library. However, soon after the merging of the B.C.D.S. and the Dental Department of the University of Maryland in 1923, Dr. J. Ben Robinson began a program of reorgani- zation. The present excellent status of the library is due largely to the splendid efforts of the man who, as our Dean, regards the library as a very important force in dental education. In 192 5 the Maryland State Dental Association estabHshed the Clarence J. Grieves Library Foundation as a memorial to one of its distinguished members. In 1926 the Foundation was merged with the library of the School under the name of the Clarence J. Grieves Foundation Library. The several hundred books in the private collection of Dr. Grieves, plus other volumes from the old Baltimore College of Dental Surgery and from the Dental Department of the University of Maryland, brought the total nuniber of volumes of dental interest to approximately 700. In later years, through generous endowments by the State Dental Society, the University of Maryland and The Carnegie Foundation, the collection has grown to 5,481 volumes. In addition the library contains one of the most complete files of dental journals to be found anywhere in this country. — 10-

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3n m mnrtam William M. Hilleseist On June 2, 1940, the students and faculty of the University of Maryland lost one of their most highly esteemed associates, Mr. Willard M. Hillegeist, Director of Admis- sions. Mr. Hillegeist, a native of Baltimore, received his high school education at the Polytechnic Institute. Following his graduation in 1912 from the old Maryland Agri- cultural College, he undertook practical agricultvu-al work for one year. He then re- turned to the College as secretary to Dr. H. J. Patterson, President. Two years later, he organized the Home Study Department and acted as its secre- tary. During the World War, Mr. Hillegeist left the University to do special detail work for the United States Department of Agriculture. After an absence of one year, he returned to College Park to reorganize the registrar ' s office and take charge of that department of the university. After the consolidation of the University of Maryland and the Maryland Agricultural College, he organized the Registrar ' s office for the Baltimore schools; and, in 1921, he moved to Baltimore to work with the professional schools. When Dr. H. C. Byrd created the office of Director of Admissions, in 1936, he called upon Mr. Hillegeist to organize and head this department. He held this position up to the time of his death. Mr. Hillegeist had many interests aside from his active work at the Universit) ' . He was a co-organizer and president of the Maryland branch of the American Asso- ciation of Collegiate Registrars. He was a charter member and the first secretary of the Lions Club International of Baltimore, an alumnus of Kappa Alpha fraternity, and an honorary member of Pi Delta Epsilon, journalistic fraternity. Mr. Hillegeist ' s sincerity and cheerful nature served him well in the position he held. As Director of Admissions, he was able to help overcome the feeling of strangeness and helplessness known to all incoming freshmen. His friendly greeting and helpful sug- gestions caused him to be affectionately known by the students as Hillie . All of the students who met him when they entered the school will remember the extent to which he added personahty to the strange environment of a building in downtown Baltimore.

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Ferdinand J. S. Gorsas, B. A., M.D., D. D. S., M.D. Dr. Ferdinand J. S. Gorgas was one of the most famous dental educators and authors of his time. He served as fifth dean of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery from 1865 to 1882, and as first dean of the Dental Department of the University of Maryland, from 1882 to 1911. Much of the development of these two schools, and, consequently, much of the progress of the profession of dentistry can be attributed to the untiring efforts of this brilliant man. Dr. Gorgas, son of John De Lancy Gorgas and Mary Ann Gorgas, was born in Winchester, Virginia, on July 28, 1834. He received his preliminary education at the Dickinson Grammar School and Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. One year after receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery by the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. Two years later, in 18 57, Dickinson College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. In the same year, he was appointed Demonstrator of Mechanical Dentistry in the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery; three years later, he was made Professor of the same subject. While active in dental education, he studied medicine at the University of Maryland and received his degree in 1863. Soon afterwards, he became a volunteer surgeon in the United States Army. In 1865, he became dean of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, which office he held until 1882. From 1882 to 1911, he served the Dental Department of the University of Maryland as dean and as Professor of Prosthetic Dentistry, Oral Surgery, and Dental Medicine. On April 8, 1914, he died in Baltimore, Maryland, as a result of apoplexy. Dr. Gorgas ranked high as a writer of dental subjects. While dean of the University of Maryland, he thoroughly revised Harris ' s Principles anil Practice of Dentistry and put it through the 11th, 12th, and 13th editions. In addition, he revised and enlarged Harris ' s Dental Dictionary several times. Dr. Gorgas wrote the first text on dental medicine in 1884. He was also author of State Board Questions and Answers, which he revised periodically. He was editor of The American Journal of Dental Surgery. In both lecturing and writing. Dr. Gorgas ' s style was characterized by grammatical perfection, orderly arrangement of detail, absence of ambiguity, and clearness and originality of thought. Undoubtedly, he was one of the most famous contributors to dental texts and periodicals. 11