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

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Donations nave been received from different parts of the world, from colleges, societies and individuals, with letters commending the committee for the good work already accom- plished. One much appreciated donation came from an American dentist living abroad who was some tim.e ago incapacitated by ill health from practising his profession. He wrote regretting his inability to be more generous to this much delaved project. The committee feels that donations which come from a real interest, such as this mem- ber of the profession has shown, are the kind that will build the memorial as Chap in A. Harris himself would have it built, from the hearts of those who wish to show their gratitude for what he has done for them and the profession that they desire to honor through him. The first donation for this memorial was made bv the Harris and Hayden Odontologi- cal Society of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, a fact of which they have cause to feel proud. It has not been finally decided as to the exact form of the memorial, but it will probably be a bronze figure upon a granite base. The life of Chapin A. Harris, the father of professional dentistry, is doubtless known to many of you, but for the benefit of the few who are unfamiliar with his history a brief out=- line may prove of interest. Chapin A. Harris was born at Pompey, New York, on May 6, 1S06. and died on Septem- ber 29, 1860. Dr. Thorpe, in a chapter on Chapin A. Harris, in his History of Dental Surgery, says: 15

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The Chapin A. Harris Memorial F ' MBERS of the dental profession desire that a suitable memorial to Chapin A. Harris be erected in Baltimore, the city in which his life work was accomplished. Various methods were tried for a number of years in the attempt to secure a sufficient amount of money to insure a memorial that members of the dental pro- fession could point to with pride, and which would also be an ornament to the city in which it stood. Such a result, however, can come only after a steady struggle by the few who have re- mained faithful to the project. Much work must be done as a foundation before the subject can even be presented in a general way. This has been done and the time has come for every one who is in sympathy with thi memorial to take his part in it by donating what he can, whether the sum be large or small. Among the earlier efforts for starting the memorial was a lengthy correspondence with the daughter of Chapin A. Harris, who resides in England, in an endeavor to learn whether she would be willing to have the remains of her father removed to a more desirable location. Although it was ascertained that she was willing there were complications which made it seem advisable to abandon this idea. However, the wish to see a suitable monument erected continued to grow in interest, and the committee having the matter in charge feel encouraged at the present prospect. 14

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When we consider the achievements and review the career of such a man as Chapin A. Har- ris, who was undoubtedly the most energetic of the galaxy of dental pioneers, we are reminded of Longfellow ' s words, ' Great men stand like solitary towers in the City of God. ' The ancestors of Chapin A. Harris were of English origin of rank and position, being, a branch of the Harris family of England, now represented by the Earl of Malmesbury. Cap- tain Joshua Harris, who fought bravely under Stark at Bunker Hill, was his grand uncle. At the age of seventeen he moved to Ohio and commenced the study of medicine. After pursuing the study as required by the laws of th ' e State he applied for a license to practise, and upon being examined by the Board of Medical Censors was granted a license to practise Med- icine and Surgery. Some years later his attention was called to the possibilities of dentistry, which he com- menced to practise in 1828. In 1835 he located in Baltimore and in 1838 began the preparation of his first book on dentistry, entitled The Dental Art, which was printed in Baltimore in 1839. This book in its second edition appeared as Principles and Practise of Dental Surgery, a book well known to all students of dentistry. He was a voluminous writer as well as a great reader, he made translations from the French works of Delabarre, Lefoulon, Duval, Desirabode and others. It is said that while practising dentistry in North Carolina and having no dental chair, that he would sit in a chair placing his foot on a stool, the patient sitting on the floor with head resting on the Doctor ' s knee. 16