"Treasure Chest" material, 1882-1929 (bulk 1882-1896)
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.
Dates
- Creation: 1882-1929 (bulk 1882-1896)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
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.
Extent
From the Collection: 4 Linear Feet (1 carton, 1 box, 2 oversize boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the UCSF Archives and Special Collections Repository
UCSF Kalmanovitz Library
530 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco CA 94143-0840 USA
https://www.library.ucsf.edu/archives/ask-an-archivist/