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Solyman Brown collection

2007-30-0

 Collection
Identifier: 2007-30-0

Scope and Contents

The research materials related to Dr. Solyman Brown compiled by Dr. Leonard Elkins, who was working on an uncompleted biography of Dr. Brown.The papers include letters and other documents written by Dr. Brown and materials collected and/or written by members of the Brown family. There are two daguerreotypes of Elizabeth Butler Brown and Dr. Brown. Dr. Elkins's papers include his partial draft of a Solyman Brown biography, research notes, articles and news clippings, and original source materials from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Dates

  • created: 1841-2006
  • Other: Date acquired: 01/05/2007

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright has been transferred to the Litchfield Historical Society for materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical or Historical Information

Solyman Brown (AM, DD, MD, DDS), known as "the poet laureate of dentistry," was born in Litchfield, Conn., on November 17, 1790. He graduated from Yale College in 1812 and took up teaching (including one year at the Litchfield Female Academy) and preaching. In 1822 he went to New York City and embraced the doctrines of Emanuel Swedenborg, becoming a regular preacher of the New Jerusalem Church. In 1832 he met Dr. Eleazer Parmly and began studying dentistry. In 1834, he and Elizabeth Butler Brown were married. He was a writer and poet of some note.  One of his poems, Dentologia, written in 1833 on diseases of the teeth and their remedies, attracted wide attention. He was instrumental in the formation of the first dental journal, the first dental society, and the first dental school. Dr. Brown practiced dentistry, was involved in the manufacture and sale of false teeth, and preached, residing in cities in New York State, including Binghamton, Danby, Ithaca, and New York City. He died in 1876 in Dodge Center, Minn.

Note written by

Extent

2.00 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement Note

The materials are unarranged.

Source of Acquisition

Leonard Elkins

Method of Acquisition

Gift

Existence and Location of Originals

multi-part note content

Related Materials

multi-part note content

Other Descriptive Information

This collection was processed with support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Title
Solyman Brown collection
Author
Leith Johnson
Date
04/10/2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Litchfield Historical Society Repository

Contact:
7 South Street
P.O. Box 385
Litchfield CT 06759
860-567-4501
860-567-3565 (Fax)