College of Dentistry

In 1877, two years before the Nashville Medical College affiliated with the university (but remained financially separate and profitable for its owners, with the role of the university little greater than issuing the degrees under the signature of its president), some members of the faculty of the medical college organized a dental department which also affiliated with the university in 1879. The dental school was the first in the South and the third in the nation. Dr. Robert Russell, one of the organizers of the department, served as its first dean. In 1896 new quarters were obtained, and the corps of professors and demonstrators was increased. By 1899 a new building was finished and had all modern equipment and facilities. The Dental Department was, in the early-twentieth century, moved to a house on Spruce Street. In 1911 the decision was made to move the Dental Department to Memphis, at which time Memphis’ College of Dental Surgery merged with the department, which became known as the College of Dentistry of the University of Tennessee.