Phebe Knapp (ca. 1850) dental problems revealed and discussed on October 30, 2019

I have a feeling Phebe Knapp would have been mortified to learn that her letter. written to her brother and describing her complaints about her toothaches and other ailments in 1850 is now being shared and will soon be discussed by a wide variety of readers. Phebe had been traveling from Ohio to Iowa with her brand new husband, Marquis Knapp, as they migrated soon after they married in Ohio. This letter, written by Phebe, is the inspiration for an open discussion on contemporary issues in dental health and both pages can be read at this link: https://files.constantcontact.com/dab5d8ce001/fdaddd59-c3b9-4543-a5f4-e3d4a14eb299.pdf

The U-M Clements Library partnered with The Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry and the U-M Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies, to create this lunchtime program. Everyone including the local community, students, area scholars, archivists, curators, faculty, students, etc. who register and have read Phebe’s letter, may come and comment and share their thoughts and revelations about the letter. U-M Clements Library hopes to encourage and broaden interest in their collections.

I will be there along with Dr. Robert Eber, DDS and Dr. Carlos Gonzalez-Cabezas, DDS two faculty who lead clinical teaching programs in the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Those of us who come from the dental school know as much about Phebe’s story and the letter as the audience! It will be interesting to learn how others respond to Phebe’s letter. One need not have an education in dentistry to attend and comment on the letter, but naturally it would be fun to hear from dental and dental hygiene students. There are no expectations.

Please come! Affiliation with the University of Michigan is not necessary. Registration is required however. Please register by Oct. 28, 2019. Lunch is provided.

Register online at myumi.ch/Lqoje

Shannon O’Dell, Curator