PROCEDE SED SEMPRE SANO ANIMO
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About UsHistory of the Odontographic Society of Chicago
It was 1887 and a group of senior dental students of the Chicago College of Dental Surgery implemented the suggestion of one of their classmates, Charles Edwin Bently and formed a study club. The main purpose was the study of new dental developments, professionalism and ethics. They met during their senior year and upon graduation named their club The Odontographic Society of Chicago. The mission stated in the constitution was: “The object shall be for the purpose of study, intellectual improvement and the awakening of an interest in literature, science and art of the profession of dentistry.” |
Our History |
Meetings took place once a month with the exception of July and August. At least one paper was presented at each meeting. An annual dinner was usually held in the winter, when the topic was not strictly on dental science. By 1897 the membership grew to 200 and the first woman member, Mary Thomas Bacon was welcomed. In 1902 the 15th anniversary meeting attracted 2300 dentists and 1000 students for a period of several days for clinics, presentations, papers and discussions. The function was called the largest dental meeting ever held.
In May of 1905 the Odontographic Society merged with the Chicago Dental Society to create the Chicago- Odontographic Society. The group met at the Chicago Public Library on the corner of Michigan and Randolph on the 3rd Tuesday of each month excluding July and August. By 1908 membership grew to 1000 and the Society became the largest local dental society in the world. In 1910 the ADA went through a major reorganization which required the renaming of the Chicago-Odontographic Society to the Chicago Dental Society. Some of the original members, from the class of 1887, of the Odontographic Society launched an effort to bring back the Society as it was originally planned. In 1924 the Odontographic Society obtained from the state of Illinois a new certificate of organization. A second reorganization occurred in 1937 when the Society became an affiliate of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago. In 1951 Dr. Walter Dundon was elected secretary of the Society. A position he held for 17 years. This gave stability to the group and undoubtedly helped its survival. On April 1, 1957 the first student awards were given to one student from each of the schools in the Chicago area. Jerome G. Murphy received the award for Loyola, Richard E. Reiser for Northwestern and Franklin M. Weine for the University of Illinois. Today the Odontographic Society is very viable. We meet three times a year in the months of October, December and April. At our April meeting we continue the tradition of presenting student awards. We present the Walter E. Dundon, DDS Award to a senior dental student from University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University and Midwestern University who has shown exceptional leadership, professionalism and ethics. A student researcher from each school is also presented Dr. Irwin Robinson Research award at this meeting. Each student is also recognized with a financial award. Finally a William P. Schoen DDS teaching award is presented to a dental faculty member to recognize dedication and innovation in educating dental students. With a rich 130 year history the Odontographic Society of Chicago is filled with talented clinical dentists, dental researchers and dental educators dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of dentistry for those who will follow. Diversity in the society allows us to grow. We are eager to welcome new members. |