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

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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

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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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mirSo In the eighty years since its foundation the College has had eight deans, Dr. Chapin A. Harris being the first and Dr. William G. Foster the present incumbent. The longest term in the office was served by Dr. M. YVhilldin Foster, from 1894 to 1914. Dr. Foster ' s predecessor was Dr. Richard Bayley Winder, who served from 1882 until his death in 1894. Few men. perhaps, have brought maturer judgment Lo the office or taken a broader view of the profession with its possibili- ties and its needs than Dr. Winder. He was instrumental, among many other achievements, in organizing the National Association of Dental Faculties, which has been the means of establishing at least some degree of uniformity in dental instruction in all colleges. It was Dr. Winder also who was the means of the Census Bureau taking dentistry out of the list of trades a nd placing it among the professions. Dr. M. Whilldin Foster, who succeeded Dr. Winder, brought long experience and large reputation as a practitioner, as well as mature judgment, to the office of Dean. He served faithful!}- and successfully until very near the end of a long and useful life, when he resigned and was succeeded by his son, Dr. William G. Foster, the present Dean, whose qualities and qualifications fit him eminently for the office, and who is the first incumbent to give his entire time to its duties. One of the only two strictly dental fraternities — Psi Omega — was organized in this school in 1892. and has grown in numbers and importance until its chapters and its members are found in ever} - section of the country and are interested in ever}- activity pertaining to dentistry. One of its early members and its long-time head. Dr. H. E. Friesell. is the present President-elect of the -National Dental Association. The College for many years occupied the building at the southeast corner of Eutaw and Franklin streets, but in 1914 purchased and occupied its present building at 851 Xorth Howard street, where its equip- ment and facilities are greatly improved. This change to a more comfortable home reminds us of one of the very few bits of humor for which we can find place within the limits of this record. The College has felt justified always in seeking such legitimate advantage as priority should give, and with this in view has always used as its advertising slogan The Baltimore College of Dental Surgery — the oldest and for many years the only Dental College in the world. ' On a very cold day in the winter of 1902-3. when the old-fashioned stoves that stood out in the centre were scarcely equal to the task of furnishing 70 degrees for so spacious and draughty a room as the infirmary. Tizenlv-four