Open without restrictions. Columbia University does not possess the copyright to this material.
Correspondence, printed matter, photographs, memorabilia, ledgers, casebooks, certificates, diplomas, and other material documenting Jarvie's professional career as a dentist in Brooklyn, N.Y.
History and Biography
Born on July 14, 1841 in Manchester, England, William Jarvie immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1855. The family settled in Brooklyn and in 1856, at the age of 15, Jarvie was apprenticed to Dr. A.A. Wheeler, a local dentist. After three years, his apprenticeship was dissolved by mutual consent and Jarvie moved to Boston where he studied and worked with Dr. W.W. Codman, a prominent dentist, until 1863.
In March, 1863, he returned to Brooklyn, where he conducted a highly successful dental practice for the next 43 years. During this time he had several partners, including Charles B. Biddle, J.E. Schroeder, Lewis J. Elliott, Jr., J.E. Linstedt and C.B. Parker. In 1873 Jarvie received the degree of Master of Dental Surgery from the Dental Society of the State of New York.
Jarvie actively participated in professional affairs and served as president of the New York Odontological Society, the Brooklyn Dental Society, the Second District Dental Society, and the Dental Society of the State of New York. He was an Honorary Vice President of the International Dental Congress at Paris in 1889 and was President of the Operative Dentistry Section of the International Dental Congress at Chicago in 1893.
Throughout his career, Jarvie had a strong interest in improving the standards of dental education in the United States. In 1876 he became a member of the Board of Censors of the Dental Society of the State of New York and, after its functions were taken over by the New York State Board of Dental Examiners in 1896, continued on the new board for several years.
In 1916, he was named to a committee of distinguished dentists, physicians, and scientists that had been appointed to advise Columbia University on the desirability of establishing a dental school. Led by the biochemist William J. Gies, the committee strongly urged the founding of a "University-based" dental school in New York. In August 1916 Jarvie persuaded his brother, merchant and banker James N. Jarvie, to donate $100,000 towards an endowment for the school. It was the first large gift the school received and allowed the University to open the School of Dentistry in September, 1916 (it was renamed the School of Dental and Oral Surgery in 1923). The School's student research honor society, the William Jarvie Society, commemorates his role in the school's founding.
Jarvie married Amelia Carrollton McHenry in 1867. After his retirement, he moved to Montclair, NJ where he died November 16, 1921.
Organization
Correspondence, ledgers, daybooks, photographs, diplomas, certificates, printed matter, ephemera and artifacts documenting the professional career of Dr. William Jarvie who practiced dentistry in Brooklyn, NY from 1863 to 1906. There is no material relating to his personal life. The papers are arranged in three series:
Series I: Correspondence & Subject Files
The bulk of the series concerns Jarvie's involvement in professional organizations, particularly the Dental Society of the State of New York. Included is his presidential address (1905), annual meeting notices and programs, a 50th anniversary history (1918) and material relating to the Board of Censors and the activities of the First and Second Districts of the Society.
Correspondents include fellow dentists, largely from the New York City metropolitan area, as well as some letters from patients, including Brooklyn's famous minister, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. There are also correspondence and programs relating to retirement or complimentary dinners given to prominent dentists, and material relating to the dedication of the new Harvard University School of Dentistry buildings (1909).
Jarvie's own retirement banquet (1906) is extensively documented and includes an album of complimentary letters from fellow dentists, the invitation and menu, and an oversize photograph of the banquet scene.
There is relatively little relating to his brother's 1916 donation to the dental school, but the papers do have some newspaper clippings documenting the gift.
Of particular interest are two speeches given by Jarvie that recount his career in dentistry. In a response to a toast at the retirement dinner for William Carr, Jarvie described his long tenure on the Board of Censors and the New York State Board of Dental Examiners and the role the Boards played in developing higher standards for dental education in New York (Box 1:2). In 1913, he was asked to speak of his early days in dentistry to the Metropolitan District of the Massachusetts Dental Society. His speech, "Some Reminiscences and Experiences" recounts his apprenticeship in Brooklyn and Boston a half-century before, and presents a vivid picture of leading figures in Boston's dental profession in the 1860s. The papers contain both his corrected typescript of the speech and the published version which appeared in the Journal of the Allied Dental Societies, v. IX, n. 1 (March 1914) (Box 1:19).
Series II: Printed Material/Photographs/Certificates/Artifacts
The bulk of the series is comprised of printed material from various dental societies including the American Dental Association, the Brooklyn Dental Society, and the New York Odontological Society. Items include constitutions, by-laws, codes of ethics, and meeting notices. There are also two items from the New York College of Dentistry (now the New York University College of Dentistry): an announcement of courses, undated but probably late 1860s-early 1870s, and a 1867 commencement program and ticket.
Also included in this series is Jarvie's recipe for tooth powder. The small booklet lists both the ingredients that went into it and the dates on which he made new batches.
Photographs include images of the first meeting of the Dental Society of the State of New York (1868); an early meeting of the American Dental Association (Boston, 1866); Jarvie's retirement banquet (1906); the 15th anniversary dinner of the Knights of the Round Table, a Brooklyn social club (1917); and portraits of various dentists.
Certificates include Jarvie's Master of Dental Surgery diploma, awarded by the Dental Society of the State of New York in 1873, and several membership certificates.
Ephemera consists of a collection of calling, business, and announcement cards largely relating to Jarvie's business partnerships, c.1856 to 1912.
The only artifacts are two member's badges for the 50th anniversary meeting of the Dental Society of the State of New York (1918).
Series III: Bound Volumes
The volumes include six volumes of daybooks dating, with gaps, from 1864 to 1883. There are also seven volumes of ledgers, dating from 1864 to 1895, with gaps. The first dental ledger, March 1864 to May 1867, contains only patient accounts. The other six volumes are "Registering Dental Ledgers," each page of which includes pre-printed charts of the lower and upper teeth for two patients. The ledgers document the patients' dental history as well their accounts, and provide a remarkably detailed picture of a prosperous urban dental practice in the late 19th century United States. All of the daybooks and some of the ledgers show evidence of rodent infestation, but in no instance has information been lost.
The series also includes a pocket calendar with Jarvie's dental appointments for 1880.
| Box | Folder | Contents | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series I: Correspondence & Subject Files | |||
| 1 | 1 | Beecher, Henry Ward, 1880: correspondence re dental appts. | |
| 2 | Carr, William: banquet given by Dental Society of the State of New York: correspondence, invitation, program and Jarvie’s address on the New York State Dental Examining Board, 1917 | ||
| 3 | Correspondence, General, 1872-1913: in alpha order, usually from patients or dental colleagues | ||
| 4 | Dental Society of the State of New York: Annual Meeting notices and programs, 1876, 1880, 1885, 1905, 1910, 1918 | ||
| 5 | Dental Society of the State of New York: Correspondence, 1909-1913 | ||
| 6 | Dental Society of the State of New York: 50th Anniversary history & program, 1918 | ||
| 7 | Dental Society of the State of New York: Jarvie Presidential Address, 1905 | ||
| 8 | Dental Society of the State of New York: Board of Censors: forms and flyers, 1880s | ||
| 9 | Dental Society of the State of New York: First & Second Districts: meeting notices and programs, 1869-70, 1911 | ||
| 10 | Harvard University Dental School: program & invitation to dedication of the new building, 1909 | ||
| 11 | Jack, Louis: correspondence and invitation re complimentary dinner tendered him, 1909 | ||
| 12 | Jenkins, Newell Sill: correspondence and menu, 70th birthday banquet, 1910-1911 | ||
| 13 | Knights of the Round Table, Brooklyn, N.Y., 15th Anniversary Dinner: correspondence, menu, placecards, etc., 1916-1917 (photo house in Box 4) | ||
| 14 | Psi Omega Fraternity, Beta Chapter (NY College of Dentistry): Annual Dinner: menu & program inner, 1911, 1913; copy of The Frater, v.6, no.3 (March 1907) | ||
| 15 | Psi Omega Fraternity, Beta Chapter (NY College of Dentistry): Annual Dinner, 1912: correspondence, menu and program | ||
| 16 | Psi Omega Fraternity, Beta Chapter (NY College of Dentistry): Annual Dinner, 1916: correspondence, menu and program | ||
| 17 | Retirement Banquet tendered to Jarvie by the Second District Dental Society, Nov. 17, 1906: Copies of “regrets;” newsclippings [other materials housed in Box 4 and Map Case 1:3] | ||
| 18 | School of Dental & Oral Surgery, Columbia University: news clippings re: its founding and gift of James N. Jarvie, 1916 | ||
| 19 | “Some Reminiscences and Experiences”: Jarvie speech on his dental career delivered before the Metropolitan District of the Massachusetts Dental Society, 1913. Includes typescript, published article, and correspondence. | ||
| 20 | University of the State of New York: correspondence and reports on requirements for dental education, 1901-1904 | ||
| Series II: Printed Material and Artifacts | |||
| 2 | 1 | Business, calling and announcement cards: Jarvie’s and others, c.1855- 1905 | |
| 2 | Printed material, miscellaneous | ||
| American Academy of Dental Sciences, Officers and Fellows, 1908-09 | |||
| American Dental Association, Amended Constitution, Aug. 1869 | |||
| Brooklyn Dental Society, Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, By-Laws, and Code of Ethics, 1869 | |||
| Brooklyn Dental Society, Officers & Committees, 1872-73 | |||
| Colton Dental Association. Hurd vs. Colton, 1866 | |||
| Congrès Internationale Dentaire, Invitation, 1889 | |||
| New England Association of Dental Examiners, Menu, Boston, April 22, 1902 | |||
| New York College of Dentistry, Announcement, n.d. | |||
| New York College of Dentistry, Commencement program& ticket, 1867 | |||
| New York Odontological Society, Constitution, By-Laws, and Code of Ethics, 1879 | |||
| Society of Dental Surgeons of the City of New York, meeting notice, April 22, 1867 | |||
| White, J.W. The Teeth: Natural and Artificial (Philadelphia: Trustees of Samuel S. White, 1880) | |||
| 3 | “Tooth Powder” booklet of Jarvie’s containing his recipe for toothpaste, its ingredients, and its cost, 1869-1902 | ||
| 4 | Jenkins, Newell Sill: photograph, inscribed to Jarvie, 1910 | ||
| 5 | “A correct likeness of Horace Bancroft, Esq….” Flyer advertising the skill of Dr. Dudley of Boston, n.d. [encased in glass – caution] | ||
| Loose in box: Member’s badge for the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the Dental Society of the State of New York, Saratoga Springs, June, 1918 (2 items) | |||
| Series III: Bound Volumes | |||
| 3 | Loose in box: Daybooks | ||
| v.1 March 30, 1864-Jan. 5, 1869 | |||
| v.2 May 1, 1867-Jan. 1, 1870 | |||
| v.3 Nov. 1, 1873-Oct. 1, 1875 | |||
| v.4 Aug. 30, 1877-June 2, 1879 | |||
| v.5 June 2, 1879-Dec. 31, 1881 | |||
| v.6 Oct. 2, 1882-Feb. 26, 1883 | |||
| Loose in box: Pocket Appointment Calendar, 1880 | |||
| Loose in box: Ledgers | |||
| v.1 March 28, 1864-May 1, 1867 (small ledger) | |||
| Shelved Separately: “Registering Dental Ledgers” | |||
| v.2 March 30, 1864-April 21, 1866 | |||
| v.3 May 4, 1864-Jan. 1, 1870 | |||
| v.4 May 2, 1867- Feb. 1, 1878 | |||
| v.5 Jan. 1, 1874-Jan. 1, 1877 | |||
| v.6 Jan. 1, 1877-Jan. 1, 1878 | |||
| v.7 Jan. 5, 1878-March 30, 1895 | |||
| Ledger pages have charts of lower and upper teeth for two patients | |||
| Album presented to Jarvie by the members of the Second District Dental Society on the occasion of a complimentary banquet to mark his retirement, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Nov. 17, 1906. The album consists of letters from dentists expressing their esteem for Jarvie. | |||
| Series IV: Oversize Materials | |||
| 4 | 1 | Photographs: | Delegates to the American Dental Association, Boston, August 1, 1866, on steps of Massachusetts State House. |
| Dental Society of the State of New York, Albany, NY, 1868: the first meeting of the Society with members shown on the steps of the old state capitol building. | |||
| Knights of the Round Table, 15th Anniversary Dinner, Feb. 17, 1917, Hamilton Club, Brooklyn, NY. | |||
| 2 | Retirement Banquet tendered to Jarvie by Second District Dental Society, Nov. 17, 1906: | Illuminated vellum testimonial from the dentists of Chicago containing signatures of 25 distinguished dentists of the city, Nov. 14, 1906 | |
| “Chums,” poem written for the occasion | |||
| Menu, including lists of toasts and names of members of the organizing committee | |||
| Invitation, listing names of the officers of the Second District Dental Society and of the Honorary Committee | |||
| 3 | Diplomas & Certificates: | Diploma, Master of Surgery, awarded by the Dental Society of the State of New York, June 26, 1873 | |
| Certificate of Honorary Membership, New York Odontological Society, Dec. 18, 1906 | |||
| Certificate of Life Membership, American Institute of New York, [undated, but after Feb. 6, 1908 when Jarvie was first elected a member] | |||
| Certificate of Honorary Membership, American Academy of Dental Surgery of New Jersey, April 1, 1911 | |||
| Certificate of Registration for 1920-21, New York State Board of Dental Examiners, Sept. 1, 1920 | |||
| 4 | Retirement Banquet tendered to Jarvie by Second District Dental Society, Nov. 17, 1906: | Pages from Brooklyn Daily Eagle, with articles about the banquet, Oct. 31, Nov. 18, 1906. | |
| Loose in box: Certificate, County Clerk’s Office, Kings County, NY, certifying that Jarvie had registered as a dentist under the provision of An Act to Regulate the Practice of Dentistry, July 7, 1879 | |||
| Loose in box: Membership Certificate, Dental Protective Association of the United States of America, Nov. 1, 1900 | |||
| Loose in box: Certificate of Membership, National Dental Association, 1915, 1916 | |||
| Loose in box: Paper roll with dental cartoons, undated | |||
| Housed in Map Case 1-3: | |||
| Photograph of Complimentary Banquet Tendered to Dr. William Jarvie by the members of the Second District Dental Society, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, Nov. 17, 1906 |
Subject Headings and Related Records
Administrative Information
Gift of Selina F. Little, Jarvie's great-granddaughter, August, 2000 (accession no. 00.08.17).