Nathan Cooley Keep
Encyclopedia
Dr. Nathan Cooley Keep was a pioneer in the field of dentistry
, and the founding Dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine
.
, on December 23, 1800. Adept with his hands, he became interested in dentistry following an apprenticeship with a local jeweler. In 1821, he moved to Boston and graduated from Harvard Medical School
with an M.D.
in 1827. He practiced dentistry for 40 years, was hailed for his proficiency, and in 1843 was awarded an honorary D.D.S.
by the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery
. Keep invented and manufactured many dental tools and is credited with being one of the first to manufacture porcelain
teeth. Also a practicing physician, Dean Keep was the first to use anesthesia
for childbirth
, administering ether
to Fanny Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
's wife, on the occasion of her daughter's birth on April 7, 1847.
He was a critical participant in the Parkman murder trial, the first time that dental work was introduced as forensic evidence. Keep's testimony capped off a sensational trial in March 1850. Ultimately, John White Webster, a professor of chemistry
at the Medical School, was convicted and hanged for the murder of George Parkman, prominent physician and member of the Boston Brahmin
elite.
Dean Keep's lifelong interest was in elevating dentistry's status as a liberal profession. In his presidential address to the Massachusetts Dental Society in 1865, he remarked:
Two years later, in 1867, the first announcement of the Dental School of Harvard University was published, listing Keep as dean of a distinguished faculty. Dean Keep's dream had come true; Harvard was to have the world's first university-based dental school.
Dean Keep's administrative decisions exemplify his fair and moral character. One of these decisions is documented in Richard L. Hapgood's history of Harvard's dental school:
Robert T. Freeman, the son of former slaves, was accepted to Harvard's dental school at the age of 22 and graduated in 1869. He was the first African-American dental college graduate. Dean Keep's administrative insistence upon "right and justice above expediency" in the Freeman case exemplified inherent leadership qualities that helped to establish an aura of fairness and morality that up to today has reflected with favor upon the university. The tower, or "keep
", that appears on the shield of the Dental School honors Keep's pivotal role in the establishment of the school.
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
, and the founding Dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Harvard School of Dental Medicine is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. It is an American dental school located in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to the DMD degree, HSDM offers specialty training programs, advanced training programs, a Ph.D...
.
Biography
Dean Keep was born in Longmeadow, MassachusettsLongmeadow, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,633 people, 5,734 households, and 4,432 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 5,879 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 95.42% White, 0.69% African American, 0.05% Native American, 2.90%...
, on December 23, 1800. Adept with his hands, he became interested in dentistry following an apprenticeship with a local jeweler. In 1821, he moved to Boston and graduated from Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
with an M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1827. He practiced dentistry for 40 years, was hailed for his proficiency, and in 1843 was awarded an honorary D.D.S.
Doctor of Dental Surgery
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
by 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 :...
. Keep invented and manufactured many dental tools and is credited with being one of the first to manufacture porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
teeth. Also a practicing physician, Dean Keep was the first to use anesthesia
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
for childbirth
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
, administering ether
Ether
Ethers are a class of organic compounds that contain an ether group — an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups — of general formula R–O–R'. A typical example is the solvent and anesthetic diethyl ether, commonly referred to simply as "ether"...
to Fanny Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
's wife, on the occasion of her daughter's birth on April 7, 1847.
He was a critical participant in the Parkman murder trial, the first time that dental work was introduced as forensic evidence. Keep's testimony capped off a sensational trial in March 1850. Ultimately, John White Webster, a professor of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the Medical School, was convicted and hanged for the murder of George Parkman, prominent physician and member of the Boston Brahmin
Boston Brahmin
Boston Brahmins are wealthy Yankee families characterized by a highly discreet and inconspicuous life style. Based in and around Boston, they form an integral part of the historic core of the East Coast establishment...
elite.
Dean Keep's lifelong interest was in elevating dentistry's status as a liberal profession. In his presidential address to the Massachusetts Dental Society in 1865, he remarked:
- My own predilections would favor a thorough and united dental and medical education. I should hope in such a case that the degree of M.D. would be the lawful and merited appendage to the names of those young men who enter our speciality. If this, however, is not yet attainable, it may not be entirely out of place to inquire whether Harvard University might not appoint professors of dentistry, and confer upon proper candidates the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery.
Two years later, in 1867, the first announcement of the Dental School of Harvard University was published, listing Keep as dean of a distinguished faculty. Dean Keep's dream had come true; Harvard was to have the world's first university-based dental school.
Dean Keep's administrative decisions exemplify his fair and moral character. One of these decisions is documented in Richard L. Hapgood's history of Harvard's dental school:
- A colored dentist who had applied unsuccessfully to several dental schools for instruction, came to Boston, called upon Dean Nathan Cooley Keep, MD, DDS, and asked to be received. Upon Keep's recommendation the School Faculty decided that Harvard University should consider right and justice above expediency and should know no distinction of nativity or color in admitting students.
Robert T. Freeman, the son of former slaves, was accepted to Harvard's dental school at the age of 22 and graduated in 1869. He was the first African-American dental college graduate. Dean Keep's administrative insistence upon "right and justice above expediency" in the Freeman case exemplified inherent leadership qualities that helped to establish an aura of fairness and morality that up to today has reflected with favor upon the university. The tower, or "keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
", that appears on the shield of the Dental School honors Keep's pivotal role in the establishment of the school.