The British Dental Association (BDA) Museum is celebrating the life of Victorian dental pioneer Sir John Tomes with an exhibition focusing on his work and achievements. The exhibition features a number of Tomes’s inventions including his patients' chair and hand instruments, including forceps, the design of which is acknowledged as the forerunner of those used today. Other unique items featured include his work room book containing drawings of sections of teeth and bone seen under a microscope, the letter from the Royal Society awarding him his Fellowship and his cuttings book, which includes the telegraph informing him that the 1878 Dentist’s Act – the legislation that confined the use of the term ‘dentist’ to qualified or experienced people – had been passed.
Tomes was a clinical, technical and political pioneer in dentistry. As well as being the first registered dentist and the first President of the BDA, he also holds the distinction of being the first dentist to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on the basis of his dental research.
Peter Ward, Chief Executive of the BDA, said:
“It is the BDA’s 130th birthday this year, so it is particularly fitting that we are celebrating the life of Sir John Tomes, our first President, with this exhibition. His achievements and innovations have had a profound influence on the way dentistry is organised, regulated and practised today, and every dentist owes him a huge debt of thanks. This exhibition highlights his achievements with some remarkable exhibits and we are proud to be hosting it.”
Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society said:
“In its anniversary year, the Royal Society is delighted to be working with the BDA Museum to celebrate Royal Society Fellow Sir John Tomes. Our past Fellows share a remarkable role in history, advancing our understanding of the world around us in extraordinary ways. They truly are the giants on whose shoulders we have stood and we hope that this exhibition will inspire renewed interest in science and help us all to see further.”
The exhibition can be viewed at the British Dental Association until 4 March. It is open during normal museum opening hours (Tuesdays and Thursdays 1pm – 4pm), but visitors are welcome at other times by appointment. Admission is free. The exhibition will then travel to East Surrey Museum, Caterham, from 13 March – 5 June, and to the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, London from 22 June – 25 September.
The exhibition is being supported by the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science, of which Sir John Tomes was a Fellow. Between November 2009 and November 2010, the Royal Society is celebrating its 350th anniversary, with a series of events, exhibitions and publications to increase the profile of science and engagement with science among the public. This exhibition is part of the Society’s Local Heroes programme, a nation-wide celebration of Royal Society Fellows at 50 museums and galleries.
Ends
Notes for Editors:
For further information, please visit the BDA Dental Museum’s website: www.bda.org/museum.
The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. Founded in 1660, the Society has three roles, as the UK academy of science, as a learned Society, and as a funding agency. It responds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. The Society is working to achieve five strategic priorities to: Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation; Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice; Invigorate science and mathematics education; Increase access to the best science internationally; and Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery. For further details of the Royal Society and the Local Heroes programme visit www.royalsociety.org.
Between November 2009 and November 2010, the Royal Society will be celebrating its 350th anniversary, promoting a spirit of enquiry, excitement and engagement with science. The Society will be working with organisations, across the country to raise the profile of science and bring scientific activities to a new audience. For further information about the 350th anniversary celebrations, visit www.seefurther.org.
