Inventory of the Records of the School of Dentistry AR.2015.4
Kelsi Evans
University of California, San Francisco Archives & Special Collections
530 Parnassus Ave
Room 524
San Francisco, CA 94143-0840
415-476-8112
libraryarchives@ucsf.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University of California, San Francisco Archives & Special Collections
Title: School of Dentistry records
Identifier/Call Number: AR.2015.4
Physical Description:
4 Linear Feet
(1 carton, 1 box, 2 oversize boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1855-1997
Abstract: Collection includes photographs, printed material, and ephemera related to the history of the UCSF School of Dentistry, dated
1855-1997. Of special note is the “Treasure Chest” material, including Dental Department/College of Dentistry exams, course
requirements, and other material.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], School of Dentistry records, AR 2015-4, Archives and Special Collections, University of California,
San Francisco.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management. All requests for permission to publish
material must be submitted in writing to the UCSF Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Library
and Center for Knowledge Management as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was transferred to the Archives by David Hand from the UCSF School of Dentistry Dean’s Office on July 21, 2015.
Some of the material was previously on display in the School of Dentistry.
School of Dentistry Historical Note
The University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry mission is to advance oral, craniofacial, and public health
through excellence in education, discovery, and patient-centered care. The Dental Department / College of Dentistry of the
Affiliated Colleges of the University of California was established in 1881. Founders included Samuel W. Dennis, C. L. Goddard,
and William Lewitt. The College grew into the School of Dentistry and includes the Departments of Cell and Tissue Biology,
Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Orofacial Sciences, and Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences. Former deans of the school
include Guy S. Millberry, Willard C. Fleming, Ben W. Pavone, John C. Greene, and Charles Bertolami.
"Treasure Chest" Historical Note
The Dental Department / College of Dentistry of the University of California was established in 1881. San Francisco practitioner
Samuel W. Dennis, MD, DDS, was instrumental in its founding; he gathered support from Medical Department faculty, corresponded
with other dental programs in the country to create a curriculum, and recruited dental instructors. He served as the first
dean of the school from 1881-1882 and was later reappointed, serving from 1883-1885. Disagreements concerning curriculum and
the school’s administration quickly developed between Dennis and his fellow dental faculty members. Tensions continued to
mount for the next fifteen years until a disgruntled Dennis left the college in 1896. When Dennis left, he took with him a
number of the school’s early records, including receipts, announcements, lecture notes, and examples of course requirements
and examinations. Apparently, he then buried the material in a lead box in South San Francisco. When Dennis died in 1906 (some
accounts say 1907) he had never revealed the exact location of the records. In 1929, as workers were excavating an area on
which the Bayshore Highway was to be constructed, they uncovered a heavy box. Inside they found old documents labeled “Dental
Department of the University of California.” One of the workers returned the material to the university. Dean Guy S. Millberry
began investigating the papers and came to the conclusion that they had to be the missing Dennis material. The box came to
be known as the “Treasure Chest.”
Scope and Contents
The collection includes photographs, printed material, and ephemera related to the history of the UCSF School of Dentistry,
dated 1855-1997. Of special note is the “Treasure Chest” material, including Dental Department / College of Dentistry exams,
course requirements, and other material. The collection also includes artifacts, rare books, and oversize diplomas and minority
student recruitment posters.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in four series. I: Printed material, ephemera, and artifacts, 1881-1997; II: Photographs, 1880-1997;
III: “Treasure Chest” material, 1882-1929 (bulk 1882-1896); IV: Rare books from the library of Nellie E. Chapman.
Separated Materials
School of Dentistry yearbooks were separated and added to HPUB special collections. Nellie Chapman rare books and other rare
books were separated and added to Archives history non-circulating book collection. Yearbooks and books are searchable through
the UCSF Library catalog. Biography files were added to Archives Bio Files and associated biography file photographs were
added to Archives photograph collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
University of California, San Francisco. School of Dentistry
University of California, San Francisco -- Alumni and alumnae
California -- San Francisco (county) -- San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco -- Students
box 1, oversized-box 2, carton 1
Printed material, ephemera, and artifacts
1881-1997
box 1, folder 1
Booklet, "Dentistry and the University of California: The Early Days"
1997
box 1, folder 2
Clippings regarding department founding and graduate lists
1881-1910
box 1, folder 4
Certificates and diplomas
1924-1941
oversized-box 2
Certificates and diplomas
1894, 1897, undated
oversized-box 2
Dentistry and Dental Hygiene minority recruitment posters
1971
carton 1
University of California School of Dentistry embosser
undated
box 1, oversized-box 1, oversized-box 2
box 1, folders 5-6
Portraits and classes
1880-1997
box 1, folder 7
Campus buildings and miscellaneous
1880-1990
oversized-box 1
Oversized photographs
1880-1950
box 1, oversized-box 1, oversized-box 2, carton 1
"Treasure Chest" material
1882-1929 (bulk 1882-1896)
Biographical / Historical
The “Treasure Chest” was the name later given to a lead box containing College of Dentistry exams, announcements, and other
printed material buried in approximately 1897 by Dental Department founder and faculty member Samuel W. Dennis. The material
was recovered in 1929. According to a School of Dentistry booklet ("The Early Days") Dennis buried the box and its contents
following disagreements with other dentistry faculty members. Dennis left the school around the same time. Workers discovered
the box in 1929 when they were excavating land in South San Francisco in preparation for the Bayshore Highway. They returned
the box and its contents to the School of Dentistry and Dean Guy S. Millberry.
box 1, folders 8-10, oversized-box 1, folders 1-3
"Treasure Chest" contents
1882-1929 (bulk 1882-1896)
Scope and Contents
Includes examinations, lectures, test questions, program requirements, receipts, correspondence, and related material regarding
the activities of the school in the late 19th century.
carton 1
"Treasure Chest" original lead box
undated
oversized-box 2
"Treasure Chest" exhibit panel
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes text by Guy S. Millberry.
Rare books from the library of Nellie E. Chapman
1855-1887
Biographical / Historical
From a School of Dentistry exhibit text panel: “Nellie E. Chapman (1847-1906) possibly the first woman dentist in California…she
married Dr. Allen Chapman, a dentist…In 1879, she was recorded (#79) on the first registry of dentists in California…she continued
to practice in Nevada City.”
Separated Materials
The seven rare books were separated from the collection and added to the Archives history non-circulating book collection.
They are searchable through the UCSF Library catalog and available to researchers in the reading room.
