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Preferred Citation

Harry Lyons Photographs and Papers, Collection # 2024.02.004, Special Collections and Archives, Health Sciences Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Acquisition information

Gift from E. Paige Weston, January 2024 and August 2024

Biographical / Historical

Harry Lyons was born in Washington D.C. and attended Washington and Lee University for one year before entering the Medical College of Virginia (MCV). After receiving his dental degree in 1923, Lyons joined the school's faculty and progressed through the ranks ultimately serving as chair of the department of oral pathology. Following the death of Dr. Harry Bear, Lyons became dean of the School of Dentistry, where he oversaw the construction of the Wood Memorial Building and the planning for a dental facility ultimately named for him, the Lyons Building. An active professional, Lyons served as president   of the American Dental Association, the American Association of Dental Schools, and the American College of Dentists. The emeritus dean established several endowments at VCU, including one for the VCU Libraries. There is a professorship, scholarship, and dental award all named in his honor.

Content Description

Eleven photographs of Dr. Harry Lyons, DDS, primarily during the 1950s when he was Dean of Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry (now MCV). All but two of the images are in black and white. Most are portrait images or photographs of Lyons at the dental school. One image is of Lyons and his sister, Dr. Tillie Lyons Weinstein (MCV 1922 Dentistry).

Also includes corresponces: a letter to family about his portrait (1970), letter concerning a gift to Washington and Lee University (1972), copy of a letter from Harry F. Byrd, Jr. to Lyons regarding a trip to Israel (1973), and a letter (1979) that includes a copy of Lyons's 1946 president's report to Congregation Beth Ahabah regarding the 39th Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

Related Material

See also the Harry Lyons papers Acc. 23 also located at VCU Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• College teachers -- Virginia -- Richmond
• Dental schools -- Faculty -- Virginia -- Richmond
• Lyons, Harry, 1900-
• Medical College of Virginia. School of Dentistry -- Faculty
• Periodontists -- Virginia -- Richmond
• Personal correspondence
• Photographs
• Virginia Commonwealth University. School of Dentistry -- Faculty
• Weinstein, Tillie Lyons, 1901-1987
• Weston, E. Paige