Summary Information
- Date [inclusive]
- 1936-1978
- Extent
- 6.0 Cubic feet
PROVENANCE
Accessioned at University Archives, 1986. Additional material was donated to the School of Dental Medicine in 2001 by relatives of Burket. Transferred to the University Archives in 2001.
ARRANGEMENT
This collection has not been fully processed. The following brief guide and preliminary inventory are available. A detailed list of items in the 2001 accession can be viewed at the Archives.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Born in Bozeman, Montana, the son of William B. and Mary Roe Burket, in 1907, Burket received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1929. In 1932, he received the degree Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University’s School of Dentistry. In the same year, he became a Rockefeller Fellow and attended Yale Medical School, where he received an M.D. in 1936.
After taking his medical degree, Burket became a Sterling Fellow in pathology and an instructor in dental pathology at Yale. In 1937, he returned to the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught from 1937 to 1977, serving as Dean of the School of Dental Medicine from 1951 to 1972. Considered an important participant in the revolution in dentistry that took place in the middle of the 20th century, Burket also was well known for improving dental education and consulting with federal and international policymakers on dental issues. During his lifetime Burket received numerous honorary degrees and professional honors, including a Doctor of Science degree awarded to him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1978.
Burket also was greatly interested in amateur radio and telephony, belonging to several amateur radio societies. During the Second World War, he used his skills to put servicemen overseas in touch with their families at home. After breaking a leg in a car accident in the early 1950s, Burket taught his classes for one semester by telephone.
He died in 1991.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The original material in the collection mainly consists of honorary degrees, award plaques, and membership certificates. The later accession is more comprehensive, including letters, articles and speeches, memorabilia, clippings, scrapbooks relating primarily to Burket’s professional life.
Inventory
|
Inventory |
Box |
Folder |
|
|
Blue scroll holder containing three diplomas for a Honorary Doctor of Dentistry degree from the University of Athens 14 March 1969 |
1 |
|
|
|
Photo – 30th Reunion of the Dental Class of 1924 1954 |
1 |
|
|
|
Diploma for Honorary Doctor of Science degree, Georgetown University 20 May 1972 |
1 |
|
|
|
Membership Certificate, Sigma Xi, Yale Chapter 14 March 1936 |
1 |
|
|
|
Framed Plaque, Honorary Membership in the American Academy of Dental Medicine 15 May 1954 |
1 |
|
|
|
Certificate of Honorary Lectureship, Alpha Omega Fraternity,Greater Miami Alumni Chapter 29 January 1956 |
1 |
|
|
|
Certificate of Past President, Academy of Stomatology,Philadelphia 18 December 1950 |
1 |
|
|
|
Honorary Membership Certificate, La Juventud Odontologica de Guatemala 17 September 1957 |
1 |
|
|
|
The Dental Federation of Central America and Panama, Diploma of Honor 14 September 1957 |
1 |
|
|
|
Honorary Membership Certificate, Academy of Stomatology,Philadelphia 15 December 1958 |
1 |
|
|
|
Edmund Noyes Memorial Lecturer Certificate, Northwestern University 17 April 1968 |
1 |
|
|
|
Pierre Fauchard Medal Certificate 1 January 1956 |
1 |
|
|
|
Alpha Omega Fraternity Award Plaque 30 December 1959 |
1 |
|
|
|
Sigma Epsilon Delta Fraternity Annual Award Plaque 1959 |
1 |
|
|
|
Diploma of Honorary Lectureship, Tokyo Dental College 18 August 1959 |
2 |
|
|
|
Certificate of Honorary Professorship of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala September 1957 |
2 |
|
|
|
Honorary Membership Certificate of the Dental Alumni Society of the National University of Colombia |
2 |
|
|
|
Diploma, Honorary Doctor of Science degree, University of Pennsylvania 5 May 1978 |
3 |
|
|