University of Pennsylvania Dental Collection
name: label: Author
content: Ziesel, William, Dr.
label: Collector
content: University of Pennsylvania
label: Author
content: Darby, Edwin Tyler, Dr.
label: Names
content: National Dental Association
label: Collector
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Medical Sciences
label: Names
content: University of Pennsylvania
label: Names
content: Adams, Henry, 1838-1918
place: label: Place
content: Pennsylvania
label: Place
content: Philadelphia (Pa.)
title: label: Topic
content: The Dental Cosmos (monthly journal)
topic: label: Occupation
content: Dentists
label: Topic
content: Dentistry -- Pennsylvania
label: Topic
content: Periodontal disease
label: Topic
content: Dental schools -- 1880-1940 -- Pennsylvania
label: Topic
content: Dental instruments and apparatus -- 1880-1940
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
creator: label: Author
content: Ziesel, William, Dr.
label: Collector
content: University of Pennsylvania
label: Author
content: Darby, Edwin Tyler, Dr.
setName: label: See more items in
content: University of Pennsylvania Dental Collection
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Dr.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
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.66 Cubic feet (2 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1885-1935
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Medical Sciences (now Division of Medicine and Science)
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0025
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Articles
label: Type
content: Lectures
label: Type
content: Notebooks
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Programs
label: Type
content: Menus
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Divided into 2 series

Series 1: Dr. William Ziesel

Series 2: Dr. Edwin Tyler Darby
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Grace Angle, 1986
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Articles
label: Genre/Form
content: Lectures
label: Genre/Form
content: Notebooks
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 1930-1950
label: Genre/Form
content: Programs
label: Genre/Form
content: Menus
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: 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.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: 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.