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

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lgj [ MIR gcfe These two men seem to have formed a well-nigh perfect combination for the great task to which they set themselves. Dr. Harris found his inspiration in Dr. Hayden, student, teacher, sage and seer, while Dr. Hayden. already in the mellow years of life, found in Dr. Harris a veritable mental and physical dynamo of energy. This co-ordination of their qualities and attainments — the ripe judgment of age and the zeal and fire of young manhood — could not be thwarted by the judg- ment and the verdict of the faculty of the University of Maryland that the sub- ject of dentistry was of little consequence and thus justified their unfavorable action in refusing to add dental instruction to the medical course. These were the humble beginnings — a dream and a vision, hopes, ambitions, rebuffs, disappointments, faith, perseverance, the glory of achievement, and finally recognition that comes all too often at the end, and, like the epitaph, seeks in some measure to compensate for an earlier lack of sympathetic appreciation. Two days after the granting of the Articles of Incorporation, Dr. Hayden became the first President of the Faculty and Dr. Harris the first Dean of the College. The degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery had previously been decided upon and provisions for conferring it became a part of the Charter. How judi- cious the selection of the title was is attested by the fact that nearly every dental college established since that time has followed the lead of these wise men and conferred the same degree. The Faculty set out at once upon a campaign of publicity and secured five students for the first course, 1840-41. viz.: T- Washington Clewes of New York City, Thomas Payne of New York City, Robert Arthur of Baltimore, Joseph Lavier of Norfolk, Yirginia. and R. Covington Mackall of Baltimore. The first lecture was delivered by Dr. Chapin A. Harris on November 3, 1840. It is too long to record here, but it is interesting in giving expression to the high ideals which animated the founders to teach dentistry — not as a mechanical trade, to which level it has sunk in the hands of many men in every period since its begin- ning — but as a branch of the healing art worthy to rank with every other branch of that art. Dr. Harris in this first lecture complained of the low plane upon which many early practitioners conducted the profession and warned against it, expressing the hope that the day is not remote when it will be required of those to whom this Ti»enly-lv o

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MIRgQ Thus it is that Baltimore, this fine, conservative old City of Monuments, that needs no monument to herself save the love and loyalty enshrined in the hearts of those who have partaken of her hospitality and enjoyed her blessings ; the home of the Star-Spangled Banner, ' ' and the couch from which so many boons to humanity have seen the light of day. gave to the world this profession that has fought its way through adversity until it stands today, acclaimed by those compe- tent to judge, the most important specialty of the healing art. At the time of the founding of the College, Dr. Hay.den was seventy years of age and had practiced dentistry for forty years, having been inspired to its study by one Dr. John Greenwood of New York, who had rendered him profes- sional service. In his account of Dr. Hayden ' s entrance upon the study of den- tistry following this professional meeting of dentist and patient, Professor William Simon says : He at once procured such books and essays as were available for his purpose, and with the energy that was so characteristic of him commenced the study of dentistry. ' ' Contemplation of the disadvantages under which the fathers of the profes- sion labored and the obstacles they were forced to overcome leads to the observa- tion that the ease with which knowledge may be obtained is not always the measure in which it is actually assimilated and made to serve humanity, but is frequently in mverse ratio. For every Lincoln there are a thousand nonentities and idlers who cast opportunity to the winds. Idleness and its twin. Ignorance, are the curse and the crime of humanity, and Ease and Luxury are all too often participes criminis in their work of degradation. Adversities have their uses, and the conquering of them develops a moral and mental stamina that are incorporated into its fibre and become a very part of character. Following the difficulties of obtaining sufficient theoretical knowledge as a groundwork for his profession, Dr. Hayden was confronted with the prejudice of those who should have been wise enough to lend a helping hand. He spoke of the days when the name of dentist was a reproach and a byword, but he earned the just reward of seeing the day when men of learning, worth and genius had been added to its ranks. Dr. Chapin A. Harris, the other co-founder, whose name is inseparably linked with that of Dr. Hayden, was less than half his age, aggressive, ambitious, full of energy, and evidently of large mental attainments before his apprenticeship to Dr. Hayden, having the degree of A.M. and M.D. TiventX}-

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MIRpQ department of surgery shall be intrusted to be educated men and well instructed in its theoretical and practical principles. The first commencement was held on March 9. 1841. at which diplomas were awarded to two successful candidates, Robert Arthur and R. Covington Mackall. One of these diplomas and a fac-simile of the other are now the property of this College and preserved in its archives. There were three men graduated in the second class in 1842. One of these was Dr. W. W. H. Thackston of Virginia. Your historian cannot forego the pleasure of recording here his personal acquaintance with Dr. Thackston, a man of courtly manner, of delightful personality and large attainments, whom to know was a privilege and an inspiration. The pleasure of the acquaintance was twofold : First, it constituted a direct connecting link with the beginnings of dentistry as a profession, and second, it gave an insight into the character and quality of the men who became its very foundation, guaranteeing from the beginning the success which, notwithstanding many vicissitudes, has ultimately come to it. The earlier lectures were delivered in a small room, but in 1846 the College was established in a building on Lexington street near Calvert, where the first dental infirmary also was established. The first demonstrator of prosthetic den- tistry was employed in 1843 and the first demonstrator of operative dentistry in 1846. Classes were small in the early days, but showed a steady increase from year to year, and the students were attracted from an ever-widening territory. In 1843 there were six students from four States ; in 1846, with eleven students, seven States, Canada and England were represented, this being the first year that a diploma was granted to an applicant outside of the United States. In the inter- vening years no section of our country, and few, if any, civilized countries, are unrepresented in the long list of graduates, which numbers some three thousand two hundred (3200). From these ranks have gone men who have become leaders in every branch of the profession and prominent in many fields of activity outside of dentistry. From here have gone organizers, research workers, editors, writers, teachers, inventors and men of genius in every branch of operative and prosthetic work. And they have radiated, as it were, to every corner of the world and ren- dered service to men and women in every walk and every station of life — to crowned heads and cooks — to Queen Anne and to Mary Anne. Limited space forbids extended discussion of individuals and their achieve- ments. T entv-lhree