Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the University of Pennsylvania Dental Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0025
Creators:
Ziesel, William, Dr.
University of Pennsylvania
Darby, Edwin Tyler, Dr.
Dates:
1885-1935
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.66 Cubic feet
2 boxes
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Papers of two dentists: Ziesel, who developed a technique and instruments for treating pyorrhea, and Darby, a founder of the University of Pennsylvania Dental School.
Included are articles, speeches, lectures, correspondence, unidentified photographs; an autograph book of attendees at testimonial dinner for Darby, dinner menus and programs; copies of journal entitled The Dental Cosmos, with articles by Ziesel; notebook of an unidentified dentist with names of patients, including Mr. and Mrs. Henry Adams; notebook presumably belonging to Lt. Cmdr. G. R. Bevan.The papers are largely mementoes of several occasions on which Dr. Darby was honored. They also include a record of the practice of an unnamed dentist that began in May 1885. The collection contains speeches and articles in which Ziesel describes his surgical techniques and instruments used in pyorrhea treatment. The series begins in 1919 when he asked the National Dental Association to allow him to speak at its annual convention, but his proposal was late and he was refused. It encompasses his disagreements with entrenched traditionalists, correspondence with many dentists interested in copying technique, work with patients referred for surgery, and his attempts to have this surgery made part of dental school curriculum.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Divided into 2 series
Series 1: Dr. William Ziesel
Series 2: Dr. Edwin Tyler Darby

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Dr. William Ziesel, who developed a surgical technique to eliminate pyorrhea, practiced dentistry in Philadelphia. This collection contains Dr. Ziesel's speeches and articles. In these he describes his surgical techniques and the instruments he used in pyorrhea treatment. The collection begins in 1919 when Dr. Ziesel asked the National Dental Association to allow him to be on the program of its annual convention although he was late in so requesting and he was refused. It encompasses his disagreements with the entrenched traditionalists, his correspondence with many dentists interested in copying his technique, his work with patients referred to him for this surgery, and his attempts to have this surgery made part of dental school curriculum.
Dr. Edwin Tyler Darby was one of the founders of the dental school at the University of Pennsylvania where he was a professor of operative dentistry from 1878 to 1926. He was Emeritus Professor for five years. An attempt was made to set up a Chair of Operative Dentistry in his name. Dr. Ziesel referred to Dr. Darby as a supporter of his methods to eliminate pyorrhea. The papers are largely mementos of several occasions on which Dr. Darby was honored. They also include a record of the practice of an unnamed dentist that began in May 1885. Scope and Content

Administration

Author
Grace Angle
Custodial History
Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Medical Sciences (now Division of Medicine and Science)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Grace Angle, 1986

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
University of Pennsylvania Dental Collection, 1885-1935, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Related Materials
Materials in the Division of Medicine and Science
Collection contains 2871 specimens of dental instruments, furniture, equipment and other materials relating to the history of dentistry. See Accession # 218383.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Articles Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lectures Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dentistry -- Pennsylvania Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Notebooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dentists Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Dental Cosmos (monthly journal) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pennsylvania Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Periodontal disease Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dental schools -- 1880-1940 -- Pennsylvania Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dental instruments and apparatus -- 1880-1940 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 1930-1950 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Programs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Menus Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Philadelphia (Pa.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Adams, Henry, 1838-1918 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
University of Pennsylvania Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Dental Association Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Medical Sciences Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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