Gillette Hayden was born to Horace William and Kate Bemis
Hayden on a plantation near Greenville, Florida, March 2, 1880.
She was valedictorian from East High School in Columbus, Ohio.
She went on to become the third women graduated from the dental
department of Ohio Medical University in 1902.
After taking some post-graduate work at Northwestern Dental School, she
began a general practice of dentistry in Columbus in 1903.
In 1905 she traveled to Europe to introduce methods and treatment of
periodontal diseases developed by the late Dr. D. D.
Smith of Philadelphia. In
1908 she returned to Columbus, devoting her practice exclusively to periodontia.
In co-operation with Dr. Grace Rogers Spalding of Detroit, Michigan, Dr.
Hayden helped form the American Academy of Periodontology in 1914.
Dr. Hayden was president of the group in 1916, was later elected fellow,
and served almost continuously on the executive council until her passing.
She also served as president of the Federation of American Women Dentists
in 1923 and was elected secretary of the periodontia section of the
International Dental Congress in 1925. In
addition to being a member of the National Dental Association, she was also a
member of the Ohio State and Columbus Dental Societies, the Northern Ohio Dental
Association and the Central Ohio Dental Association.
Dr. Hayden
also worked in the equal rights movement and helped found the Columbus branch of
the National Altrusa Club. In 1925
she was elected president of the National Association.
She was a vibrant member of the community and was actively involved in
many more groups and organizations.
Dr. Gillette Hayden passed away at the height of her career on March 27, 1929, in
Columbus Ohio. She was laid to rest
in the family lot in the cemetery at McConnelsville, Ohio, the native town of
her mother.
Sources: Biographical sketch,
File 1, Box 1, Gillette Hayden Archives