Ann Arbor, MI — June 13, 2010 —A pictorial history of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, displayed in nearly 200 dental and dental hygiene class photos, is now available for viewing online.

Launched in collaboration with the Bentley Historical Library, the School’s Class Photo Project displays 133 dental class photos, beginning in 1876, along with 69 dental hygiene class photos beginning in 1934.

The School’s Sindecuse Museum began the project last year by digitizing all the class photos. Copies of the digital photographs were sent from the Sindecuse Museum to the Bentley Historical Library. The School’s Webpage at the Bentley Historical Library includes dental class photographs from 1876 to 2009 and dental hygiene class photos from 1934, 1942, and 1947 to 2009.

However, there is no composite photo for 1904 as the School’s dental program transitioned from three years to four. No composite photo for the Dental Class of 1947 has been found, nor is there a digitized 1998 class composite. If these images are located, they will be added to the digital series. Dental hygiene class photos were not consistently taken until the late 1940s.

Most dental class photos are at http://bentley.umich.edu/exhibits/dental/ddsclassp.php. Many dental hygiene class photos are at http://bentley.umich.edu/exhibits/dental/dhsclassp.php. Information about ordering prints is available at both sites. The photos may also be viewed online at http://ww.dent.umich.edu/sindecuse/classphotos.

Another link offers individuals an opportunity to search the Bentley’s School of Dentistry student database by name and year of graduation: http://141.211.39.65/dentgrad/dsearch.htm

The Michigan legislature authorized creation of a “College of Dental Surgery,” as it was called at the time, at the University of Michigan in 1875. Governor John Bagley signed House Bill 518 into law on May 1. U-M Regents formally approved the measure on May 12. Three faculty members taught the first dental class of 20 students. The dental hygiene program was established in 1921. Eight students enrolled and graduated the following year.

Contact: Sharon Grayden, Communications Director (734) 615-2600, dentistry.communications@umich.edu, or Jerry Mastey, Editor, School of Dentistry (734) 615-1971, jmastey@umich.edu.