Robert Tanner Freeman was the first African-American to graduate from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Harvard School of Dental Medicine is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. It is an American dental school located in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to the DMD degree, HSDM offers specialty training programs, advanced training programs, a Ph.D...

 and may have been the first African-American awarded a dental degree in the United States.

Biography

Freeman was born in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

, and was the son of former slaves from North Carolina. He attended classes at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Harvard School of Dental Medicine is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. It is an American dental school located in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to the DMD degree, HSDM offers specialty training programs, advanced training programs, a Ph.D...

, and in 1869, he was the first African-American to graduate from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Harvard School of Dental Medicine is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. It is an American dental school located in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to the DMD degree, HSDM offers specialty training programs, advanced training programs, a Ph.D...

and may be the first African-American awarded a dental degree in the United States.