Frederick C. Elliott, DDS, Interview, Part 1 of 5, U-matic Tape, Master. 1893-1932. Interviewed by Don Macon. Video tape recorded 7/19/1973. Approximately 30min. MDAH Master # 35-1-73. Produced for Texas Medical Center Historical Resources Project. Part 1 of this five part series introduces Dr. Fred Elliott and covers his early years in Pittsburg, Kansas. Son of a small town pharmacist, young Fred Elliott worked in his father's drug store while going to school. He set forth on his own at the age of 15 years, worked in drug stores in Oklahoma and Western Kansas, acquired his license in the dental profession and learned about the Kansas City Dental College. Dr. Elliott graduated from this school in 1918, immediately joined its faculty, and later combined dental practice with his teaching. Shortly after his marriage in 1928, Dr. Elliott joined the faculty of the University of Tennessee Dental College at Memphis. In 1932, Dr. Elliott accepted the Deanship of the Texas Dental College at Houston.
Frederick C. Elliott, DDS, Interview, Part 2 of 5, U-matic Tape, Master. 1932-1943. Interviewed by Don Macon. Video recorded 7/23/1973. Produced for the Texas Medical Center Historical Resources Project. Part 2 of this series covers Dr. Elliott's activities from 1932, when he became Dean of the Texas Dental College, until 1943 when the school was brought into the University of Texas System as the Dental Branch in Houston. The Texas Dental College faced financial problems. The faculty was primarily composed of part time staff. Dr. Elliott went to work to improve teaching methods, recruit student and patients for the clinic. Dr. Elliott served on numerous health committees such as the Houston Board of Health and the Public health Commission of the Houston Chamber of Commerce. The image of the Texas Dental College changed from a place that only trained dentists to a health education and awareness institution. During these years Dr. Elliott met Col. William B. Bates who was Chairman of the School Board and Dr. E. W. Bertner who also served on the Houston Board of Health. Efforts to make the Texas Dental College a state school were revived in 1939. House Bill #278 was passed in 1943, and the University of Texas Dental Branch came into being on September 1st. of that year.
Frederick C. Elliott, DDS, Interview, Part 3 of 5, U-matic Tape, Master. 1943-1953. Interviewed by Don Macon. Video Tape Recorded 7/25/1973. Approximately 30min. MDAH Master # 38-1-73. Produced for Texas Medical Center Historical Resources Project. Part 3 begins with a review of material that has gone before. Dr. Elliott discusses the study made by a committee appointed by the University of Texas Board of Regents to recommend locations of the Univeristy of Texas Health Units. He describes the planning and construction of a new building to house the Dental Branch at Houston. Dr. Elliott discusses this association during these years with Dr. E.W. Bertner, Col. William B. Bates, Mr. John Freeman and Dr. R. Lee Clark. He gives insight to the man, Dr. E. W. Bertner, and touches briefly on his tragic illness and death. In 1954 Dr. Elliott was asked to become Executive Director of the Texas Medical Center, Inc. Dr. Elliot tells of his decision to leave the dental school to head a busy medical center that was in the midst of active development.
