R. N. Kesterson Ledgers
This collection consists of two ledgers belonging to dentist R. N. Kesterson of Knoxville, Tennessee, covering the years 1894 to 1896. They contain the names of customers, the dates they came in, and the dental work they had done.
Dates
- 1894-1896
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection consists of two ledgers belonging to dentist R. N. Kesterson of Knoxville, Tennessee, covering the years 1894 to 1896. They contain the names of customers, the dates they came in, and the dental work they had done.
Biographical/Historical Note
Reuben Neil Kesterson was born on July 12, 1858 in New Tazewell, Tennessee to Reuben and Adeline (Henderson) Kesterson. He graduated from University of Louisville Medical School Dental Department with his DDS in 1883 and set up a practice in Tazewell, Tennessee. He married Frances Fanny Otey (1861-1959) in 1885, and the couple moved to Knoxville in 1887. Here, Kesterson (said to be Knoxville's first dentist) practiced dentistry in the East Tennessee National Bank Building.
The Kestersons had two sons: Robert Neil (born November 4, 1887) and Tom Otey (born January 11, 1890). After Robert died on August 8, 1890, Reuben Kesterson became obsessed with creating a suitable resting place for his son. He and his wife studied cemetery layout and operation around the country and established Greenwood Cemetery on Tazewell Pike in 1900. They moved their son's coffin there from Old Gray Cemetery, and in 1928 erected a 45-foot marble obelisk (second only to John D. Rockefeller's 65-foot monument) at his grave. When Reuben Kesterson died on December 4, 1931, he was buried in Greenwood Cemetery near his son.
Arrangement
Collection consists of a single box.
Acquisition Note
Collection was purchased by Special Collections on January 29, 2007.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository