Harris Dental Museum
Encyclopedia
The Harris Dental Museum is a small brick building in the village of Bainbridge
in Ross County
, Ohio
, United States
. Built as a residence in 1815, it once housed the first dental school
in the United States, and it is now operated as a museum.
A native of Pompey, New York
, Harris settled in the Ohio community of Madison in 1819; after practicing medicine with a specialty
in dental work, he moved to Bainbridge and soon embarked on training young doctors. Unlike most teachers of medicine at this time, Harris paid great attention to dentistry. In later years, his students continued his enthusiasm for the subject by establishing several more permanent dental schools; among these students was his brother Chapin
, who founded the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery
, the first formal dental college in the United States. Today, Harris is recognized as the pioneer of American dental education because of his emphasis on teaching dentistry, and his former dental school is a museum operated by the Ohio Dental Association. Purchased by the association in 1938, it opened as a museum in 1968 as the Dr. John Harris Dental Museum. As such, it has been restored to an almost original condition, and tours are given to members of the public.
The museum structure is a small brick building on Bainbridge's western side. One story
tall with an ell
on one side, it is covered with an asphalt roof. In recognition of its historic significance, the dental school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973 under the name of "Dr. John Harris Dental School." One of four places in or around Bainbridge to be included on the Register, it has been rated as being significant throughout Ohio's history
.
Bainbridge, Ross County, Ohio
Bainbridge is a village in Ross County, Ohio, United States, along Paint Creek. The population was 1,012 at the 2000 census.Bainbridge is the location of Pike Lake State Park...
in Ross County
Ross County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,345 people, 27,136 households, and 19,185 families residing in the county. The population density was 106 people per square mile . There were 29,461 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built as a residence in 1815, it once housed the first dental school
Dental school
A dental school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches dentistry. Upon successful completion, the graduate receives a degree in Dentistry, which, depending upon the jurisdiction, might be a bachelor's degree, master's degree, a professional degree, or a...
in the United States, and it is now operated as a museum.
A native of Pompey, New York
Pompey, New York
Pompey is a town in the southeast part of Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 6,159 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the Roman general and political leader Pompey by a late 18th-century clerk interested in the Classics in the new federal republic.- History :The...
, Harris settled in the Ohio community of Madison in 1819; after practicing medicine with a specialty
Specialty (medicine)
A specialty in medicine is a branch of medical science. After completing medical school, physicians or surgeons usually further their medical education in a specific specialty of medicine by completing a multiple year residency to become a medical specialist.-History of medical specialization:To...
in dental work, he moved to Bainbridge and soon embarked on training young doctors. Unlike most teachers of medicine at this time, Harris paid great attention to dentistry. In later years, his students continued his enthusiasm for the subject by establishing several more permanent dental schools; among these students was his brother Chapin
Chapin A. Harris
Chapin Aaron Harris A.M., M.D., D.D.S. was an American physician and dentist and dentistry school founder.-Education:...
, who founded the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery
Baltimore College of Dental Surgery
The Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, , is the birthplace of the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree , and is known as the first dental college in the world.- History :...
, the first formal dental college in the United States. Today, Harris is recognized as the pioneer of American dental education because of his emphasis on teaching dentistry, and his former dental school is a museum operated by the Ohio Dental Association. Purchased by the association in 1938, it opened as a museum in 1968 as the Dr. John Harris Dental Museum. As such, it has been restored to an almost original condition, and tours are given to members of the public.
The museum structure is a small brick building on Bainbridge's western side. One story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
tall with an ell
Ell (architecture)
In architecture, an ell is a wing of a building that lies perpendicular to the length of the main portion.In connected farm architecture, the ell is often extended to attach the main house to another building, usually a barn. It takes its name from the shape of the letter L.-External links:*...
on one side, it is covered with an asphalt roof. In recognition of its historic significance, the dental school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973 under the name of "Dr. John Harris Dental School." One of four places in or around Bainbridge to be included on the Register, it has been rated as being significant throughout Ohio's history
History of Ohio
The history of Ohio includes many thousands of years of human activity. What is now Ohio was probably first settled by Paleo-Indian peoples, who lived in the area as early as 13,000 BCE. Later ancestors of Native Americans were known as the Archaic peoples...
.