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Lester W. Burket Papers

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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center [Contact Us]3401 Market Street, Suite 210, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

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.

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.

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.

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.

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University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center
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Collection Inventory

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Blue scroll holder containing three diplomas for a Honorary Doctor of Dentistry degree from the University of Athens, 14 March 1969.
Box 1
Photo - 30th Reunion of the Dental Class of 1924, 1954.
Box 1
Diploma for Honorary Doctor of Science degree, Georgetown University, 20 May 1972.
Box 1
Membership Certificate, Sigma Xi, Yale Chapter, 14 March 1936.
Box 1
Framed Plaque, Honorary Membership in the American Academy of Dental Medicine, 15 May 1954.
Box 1
Certificate of Honorary Lectureship, Alpha Omega Fraternity,Greater Miami Alumni Chapter, 29 January 1956.
Box 1
Certificate of Past President, Academy of Stomatology,Philadelphia, 18 December 1950.
Box 1
Honorary Membership Certificate, La Juventud Odontologica de Guatemala, 17 September 1957.
Box 1
The Dental Federation of Central America and Panama, Diploma of Honor, 14 September 1957.
Box 1
Honorary Membership Certificate, Academy of Stomatology,Philadelphia, 15 December 1958.
Box 1
Edmund Noyes Memorial Lecturer Certificate, Northwestern University, 17 April 1968.
Box 1
Pierre Fauchard Medal Certificate, 1 January 1956.
Box 1
Alpha Omega Fraternity Award Plaque, 30 December 1959.
Box 1
Sigma Epsilon Delta Fraternity Annual Award Plaque, 1959.
Box 1
Diploma of Honorary Lectureship, Tokyo Dental College, 18 August 1959.
Box 2
Certificate of Honorary Professorship of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, September 1957.
Box 2
Honorary Membership Certificate of the Dental Alumni Society of the National University of Colombia.
Box 2
Diploma, Honorary Doctor of Science degree, University of Pennsylvania, 5 May 1978.
Box 3
Cartoon by Sanoing, 1950.
Box OS 1
Dental Alumni Society Membership, 1959 May 1.
Box OS 1
General Alumni Society Membership, 1977 May 20.
Box OS 1
University of Pennsylvania Diploma, B.A., 1929.
Box OS 1

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