553. Dr. Thomas⁸ Fillebrown M.D., D.M.D. (James Bowdoin⁷, Hon. Thomas⁶, John⁵, John⁴, Thomas³, Humpfrey² Phillibrowne, Robert¹ ffilebrowne)⁽⁶⁵⁸²⁾ was born in Winthrop, Kennebec County, Maine January 13, 1836.⁽⁶⁵⁸³⁾ Thomas died January 22, 1908 in Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, at 72 years of age.⁽⁶⁵⁸⁴⁾ "Dr. Fillebrown suffered, in the spring of 1907, an acute attack of shingles, which was like a path of fire across his side night and day for months, leaving him slender in weight, with no comfort, less rest, and little sleep. This malady was scarcely on the road to healing when he was brought suddenly low with a severe attack of diarrhoea. On Thursday morning, January 16, he made his way alone, declining proffered aid, to the Boothby Hospital in Worcester Square, and put himself in care of his friend, Dr. Lund. The disease, ordinarily considered harmless, proved obstinate, and was too much for his depleted condition. He survived less than a week." His body was interred January 26, 1908 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine.⁽⁶⁵⁸⁵⁾ Burial was at the Evergreen Cemetery on the Sunday (or Saturday) after his death. A chapel service had been arranged by his old Portland friends.

Thomas married Helen Orilla Dolton September 2, 1861 in Winthrop, Kennebec County, Maine.⁽⁶⁵⁸⁶⁾ Helen was born January 22, 1841 in Kent's Hill, Kennebec County, Maine.⁽⁶⁵⁸⁷⁾ Helen⁽⁶⁵⁸⁸⁾ was the daughter of Capt. Nathan Stearns Dolton and Sally Norton Bean. Helen died July 16, 1922 in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, at 81 years of age.⁽⁶⁵⁸⁹⁾ She died of a carcinoma of the stomach.

Her body was interred circa 1922 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine.⁽⁶⁵⁹⁰⁾ She was a student at Maine Wesleyan Seminary in Kent's Hill, Kennebec County, Maine date unknown.⁽⁶⁵⁹¹⁾ Helen was employed at a family school as a teacher in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky circa 1859.⁽⁶⁵⁹²⁾ She taught for one year.

When Helen was age 22 and Dr. Thomas Fillebrown M.D., D.M.D. was age 27 they became the parents of Harriette Anna Fillebrown January 28, 1863 in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine.⁽⁶⁵⁹³⁾ When Helen was age 23 and Dr. Thomas Fillebrown M.D., D.M.D. was age 28 they became the parents of Dr. Charles Dalton Fillebrown M.D. June 4, 1864 in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine.⁽⁶⁵⁹⁴⁾ When Helen was age 28 and Dr. Thomas Fillebrown M.D., D.M.D. was age 33 they became the parents of Edith Little Fillebrown October 4, 1869.⁽⁶⁵⁹⁵⁾ When Helen was age 32 and Dr. Thomas Fillebrown M.D., D.M.D. was age 37 they became the parents of Harry Winthrop Fillebrown May 3, 1873 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts.⁽⁶⁵⁹⁶⁾ Helen, as Thomas's wife, resided with him in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine circa 1875.⁽⁶⁵⁹⁷⁾ The address was 99 High Street and was their residence for many years.

When Helen was age 44 and Dr. Thomas Fillebrown M.D., D.M.D. was age 50 they became the parents of Helen Thomas Fillebrown January 15, 1886 in Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts.⁽⁶⁵⁹⁸⁾ Date unknown, Helen, a Congregationalist, was a member of the church unknown.⁽⁶⁵⁹⁹⁾ Helen, as Thomas's wife, resided with him in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts circa 1891.⁽⁶⁶⁰⁰⁾ The address was 254 Warren Street.

Helen, as Thomas's wife, resided with him in Aberdeen, Suffolk County, Massachusetts circa 1894.⁽⁶⁶⁰¹⁾ Dr. Fillebrown had the house at 148 Strathmore Road built. Thomas and Helen lived there until 1904. "On account of the prolonged illness of his wife, following a severe attack of typhoid fever, he rented this house and moved to a country house in Plympton."

Helen, as Thomas's wife, resided with him in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts circa 1904.⁽⁶⁶⁰²⁾ The house had previously been occupied by Thomas and Helen's son Winthrop. "Through her paternal grandfather, John Dalton of CHester, N.H., she was descended from the 'D'Altons who trace their origins to Louis VII of France and Eleanora his Queen,' and were also of English connection. An eminent member of his family, Tristan Dalton, was made the first Senator to Congress from Massachusetts after the adoption of the Federal Constitution. A romantic history of this family may be found in a volume entitled 'Reminiscences Historical and Genealogical of King Jame's Army List,' by John Dalton, Barrister, of England. This book, which may be regarded as authentic, is to be found (in 1910) in the Boston Public Library. By her paternal grandmother, Rebecca Stearns, Mrs. Fillebrown's descent is from Isaac Stearns who came from England to Salem with Governor Winthrop and Sir Richard Saltonstall in ship Arbella. The family bore the same coat of arms as that of Archbishop Sterne, as the name was spelled in England. Through her maternal grandfather her descent was from John Bean of Scotland and Exeter, N.H. She was a great-granddaughter of Joshua and Mary Bean, Quakers of Brentwood, N.H. and later of Winthrop and Readfield, Me. Her maternal grandmother, Sally Norton, was of the New England Nortons ans settled in Readfield, Me."

Thomas, James Bowdoin Fillebrown's child, resided with James in Winthrop, Kennebec County, Maine circa 1845.⁽⁶⁶⁰³⁾ The record isn't clear but it seems that James lived continuously on the family farm, although he and his wife did purchase his father's old home in Hallowell. By 1845 it is clear that James and the family are living on the farm and that it was their home until 1864 when they moved into Winthrop. James Bowdoin Fillebrown wrote in his journal after opening a dental office in Winthrop Village "Dec. 1848 I continued living still on the farm and carrying it on by help of my two boys, Thomas and Charles B., and hired hand, riding up in the morning and back at night, taking my dinner at the hotel."

Thomas was listed on the Winthrop Public School roll as a student in Winthrop, Kennebec County, Maine date unknown.⁽⁶⁶⁰⁴⁾ Date unknown, Thomas, a Universalist, was a member of the the Universalist Society.⁽⁶⁶⁰⁵⁾ He was "brought up in the Universalist Church."

Thomas was employed at a hardware store as a clerk in Franklin, Unknown County, Ohio circa 1852/53.⁽⁶⁶⁰⁶⁾ "He spent one year with his uncle, Charles Butler."

Thomas was employed at organization unknown as occupation unknown after 1853.⁽⁶⁶⁰⁷⁾ "He next learned the trade of bottoming men's pegged boots, and afterward the making of ladies' sewed boots. Being dissatisfied with these accomplishments he returned to school at the Towle Academy."

Thomas was listed on the Towle Academy roll as a student in Winthrop, Kennebec County, Maine date unknown.⁽⁶⁶⁰⁸⁾ Thomas was employed as a school teacher about 1858.⁽⁶⁶⁰⁹⁾ While attending Wesleyan Seminary he "taught winter schools at Dresden, East Machias and Augusta, Me."

Thomas graduated from Maine Wesleyan Seminary in Kent's Hill, Kennebec County, Maine June 1859.⁽⁶⁶¹⁰⁾ "He was for a time teacher of higher mathematics and was graduated in June, 1859."

Thomas was employed at Winthrop Public School as a school teacher in Winthrop, Kennebec County, Maine circa 1860.⁽⁶⁶¹¹⁾ Thomas was employed at his father's business as a dentist in Winthrop, Kennebec County, Maine circa 1860.⁽⁶⁶¹²⁾ "In 1860 he entered his father's office in Winthrop to learn dentistry."

Thomas was employed at his own business as a dentist in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine circa 1861.⁽⁶⁶¹³⁾ Thomas was employed at Strout & Fillebrown as a dentist in Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine circa 1862.⁽⁶⁶¹⁴⁾ He joined Dr. D.B. Strout and succeeded to the practice in 1867.

When Thomas was age 27 and Helen Orilla Dolton was age 22 they became the parents of Harriette Anna Fillebrown January 28, 1863 in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine.⁽⁶⁶¹⁵⁾ When Thomas was age 28 and Helen Orilla Dolton was age 23 they became the parents of Dr. Charles Dalton Fillebrown M.D. June 4, 1864 in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine.⁽⁶⁶¹⁶⁾ Thomas was employed at an independent practice as a dentist in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine circa 1864.⁽⁶⁶¹⁷⁾ He practiced there until about 1884.

Thomas was listed as a leader of the Maine Dental Society circa 1866.⁽⁶⁶¹⁸⁾ "Dr. Fillebrown's professional career for almost fifty years was full of interest. He was the last survivor of the ten signers of the call for the formation at Brunswick in 1866 of the Maine Dental Society of which he was the fifth president.

Dr. Thomas Fillebrown M.D., D.M.D. received a degree in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts circa 1869.⁽⁶⁶¹⁹⁾ "He was a member of the first class that graduated in the (Harvard) Dental School, the class of 1869" and earned a D.M.D.

Thomas was employed at Harvard Medical School as an instructor in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts about 1869.⁽⁶⁶²⁰⁾ He was there until 1883.

Thomas was employed at for his own establishment as a dentist in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts circa 1869.⁽⁶⁶²¹⁾ "He became one of the leading authorities of his day on the use of cohesive gold-foil for filling teeth. He was also known as a skillful oral surgeon. Beginning in 1873, he contributed a number of articles to dental journals on operative dentistry, oral surgery, hypnosis as an anesthetic, and the physiology of vocalism." He continued there until shortly before his death.

When Thomas was age 33 and Helen Orilla Dolton was age 28 they became the parents of Edith Little Fillebrown October 4, 1869.⁽⁶⁶²²⁾ Thomas was employed at his own business as a Dentist in Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine circa 1870.⁽⁶⁶²³⁾ On July 8, 1870 Dr, Thomas Fillebrown, D.M.D. at 16 Lisbon Street had the following advertisement in the Lewiston Evening Journal. "Pays particular attention to inserting mallet contour fillings, the cure of Alveolar Abscess (ulcerated teeth), and the preservation of exposed nerves. ALL STYLES OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH INSERTED on the new patent plate, and especial pains taken in carving teeth to suit individual cases."

Thomas was listed as a leader of the Harvard Dental Alumni Assn. in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts circa 1871.⁽⁶⁶²⁴⁾ He was the president until 1874

When Thomas was age 37 and Helen Orilla Dolton was age 32 they became the parents of Harry Winthrop Fillebrown May 3, 1873 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts.⁽⁶⁶²⁵⁾ He wrote a book titled A Textbook of Operative Surgery, circa 1873.⁽⁶⁶²⁶⁾ "It was a standard work on the subject for many years."

Thomas was employed at his own business as a dentist in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine circa 1875.⁽⁶⁶²⁷⁾ Thomas resided in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine circa 1875.⁽⁶⁶²⁸⁾ The address was 99 High Street and was their residence for many years.

Dr. Thomas Fillebrown M.D., D.M.D. received a degree in Brunswick, Cumberland County, Maine circa 1883.⁽⁶⁶²⁹⁾ He earned a Doctorate of Medicine from Bowdoin College.

Thomas was employed at Harvard Dental College as a Professor in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts circa 1883.⁽⁶⁶³⁰⁾ The Dental Practitioner reported "Dr. Thomas Fillebrown, of Portland, Me., has been appointed Professor of Operative Dentistry, in the Harvard Dental College. We congratulate our old-time friend upon his preferment, and the institution with which he is connected, upon its good fortune in securing such an able, progressive, and energetic member of the profession to occupy the chair made vacant by the resignation of Dr. Shepard. Through his active work in the societies, and his writings, Prof. Fillebrown has become well known to the dental profession, in which he has hosts of friends who heartily wish him success in his new field of labor."

When Thomas was age 50 and Helen Orilla Dolton was age 44 they became the parents of Helen Thomas Fillebrown January 15, 1886 in Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts.⁽⁶⁶³¹⁾ Date unknown, Thomas, a Congregationalist, was a member of the church unknown.⁽⁶⁶³²⁾ He wrote a book titled A Text-Book of Operative Dentist, circa 1889.⁽⁶⁶³³⁾ He wrote the book at the invitation of the National Association of Dental Faculties. It had 330 illustrations. It was published in Philadelphia by P. Blakiston, Son & Company.

Thomas resided in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts circa 1891.⁽⁶⁶³⁴⁾ The address was 254 Warren Street.

Thomas resided in Aberdeen, Suffolk County, Massachusetts circa 1894.⁽⁶⁶³⁵⁾ Dr. Fillebrown had the house at 148 Strathmore Road built. Thomas and Helen lived there until 1904. "On account of the prolonged illness of his wife, following a severe attack of typhoid fever, he rented this house and moved to a country house in Plympton."

Thomas was listed as a leader of the National Dental Asociation circa 1897-1898.⁽⁶⁶³⁶⁾ "Upon reuniting of the National Dental Association, Northern and Southern, which was due largely to Dr. Fillebrown's persistent efforts, he was selected as its first president."

He wrote a book titled Resonance in Singing and Speaking, after 1903 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.⁽⁶⁶³⁷⁾ A Third Edition (1911) copy of this Book is in the possession of Charles Jerry Fillebrown in 2011. It is also available at Project Gutenberg at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19138.

PREFACE

Efforts to develop my own voice, and the voices of my patients after operations for cleft palate, aided by anatomical study, resulted in a plan for the focusing and development of the human voice quite different from any other yet pub- lished, or, so far as I know, yet proposed. This plan has proved so successful in my later life that I feel emboldened to offer it for the consideration of speakers and singers.

While twenty-five years ago few of the principles here described were acknowledged or even recognized, within the last decade almost all have been advocated separately by dif- ferent teachers or writers. At the present time, therefore, originality consists only in the classification of the principles into a systematic, progressive whole, and in arranging a simpler and more practical method of applying them, thus making the desired results much more quickly attainable.

It is attempted in this volume only to describe the value of each element in the production of the perfect tone and to demonstrate the principles which, if properly and faithfully applied, will develop the best that is possible in each individual voice and prepare the pupil to enter upon the more advanced arts of speaking and- singing.

In 1903 I prepared a series of papers on The AH of Vocalism, which were published in The Etude in May, June, and July of that year. These articles are incorporated in this work. In connection with different organs and conditions, important principles are stated and restated. This repetition is thought desirable in order that the fundamentals may be kept prominently before the mind and impressed upon the attention.

I believe that a careful study of this volume will prove of essential service to teachers and advanced pupils of singing

Thomas Fillebrown

viu PREFACE

and oratory, especially to young teachers just entering upon their duties. Its method will be found adapted to the instruc- tion of pupils of all grades, from the kindergarten to the Conservatory of Music and the School of Oratory.

I shall be gratified if this outcome of years of experience, constant study, and tested methods shall prove helpful to those who seek mastery of the art of beautiful speaking and singing.

Thomas was employed at Harvard Medical School as a Professor in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts circa 1904.⁽⁶⁶³⁸⁾ "Dr. Thomas Fillebrown was connected with the Harvard Dental School for twenty-one years, first as Professor of Operative Dentistry (1883-1897), and then as Professor of Operative Dentistry and Oral Surgery (1897-1904)."

Thomas resided in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts circa 1904.⁽⁶⁶³⁹⁾ The house had previously been occupied by Thomas and Helen's son Winthrop.

Thomas was employed at his farm as a farmer in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts after 1904.⁽⁶⁶⁴⁰⁾ "His enterprise exhibited itself in the purchase and rehabilitation of a cranberry bog that yielded him diversion and became profit-bearing in 1907."

Thomas was employed at his own business as a dentist in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts circa 1906.⁽⁶⁶⁴¹⁾ " Forced by failing eyesight to relinquish dentistry, he sold out his practice to Dr. Percival R. Howe, and from that time until his death devoted himself entirely to surgery of the mouth and face."

This is a bit of history.⁽⁶⁶⁴²⁾ "During a long professional career, Dr. Fillebrown was constantly in pursuit of new and untried things. He originated a device used for regulating teeth, which was employed by the leading dentists of his time. Among his chief accomplishments was a new operation for removing the nerves of the lower jaw, in cases of facial neuralgia. He performed no less than fifty operations of this kind. He was the first to employ hypnotic suggestion to diminish sensibility to pain during dental operations, and this accomplished very satisfactory results, especially with patients of favorable temperament. With Dr. Truman Brophy of Chicago, he revived the operation for cleft palate, and made many improvements in method and technique. He performed this operation in about four hundred cases, three-quarters of which were infants or young children, and the remainder young adults. Perhaps one-half of these operations were without compensation. He improved upon the customary operation for hare-lip, by certain incisions and methods of stitching which resulted in proper fulness and length of the lip, a condition rarely obtained previously. In 1891, he predicted the present (1910) attitude of the surgical profession toward radical antisepticism. His studies of vocal physiology led to special investigation concerning the position of the larynx in singing. Contrary to the prevailing opinion that the larynx was always elevated or depressed as the pitch of the voice was raised or lowered, he offered evidence to show that in proper vocalization it remained practically stationary, and that change in its position was due to fault of method. In support of his contention he obtained the views of many of the most prominent singers and teachers. He demonstrated the connecting passage or canal between the air spaces of the face and those of the forehead, a matter not previously recognized by anatomists, --- his investigations confirming those of Dr. M.H. Cryer, who was first to bring it to the attention of the dental profession. The discovery led to the understanding of many heretofore obscure conditions of the face and mouth and enabled surgeons to cure by operation extensive and obstinate disease of the upper jaw, due primarily to trouble in the cavities of the nose and forehead. He was one of the first, if not the first, in his own State of Maine to introduce artificial plates of gold bridge work. He was an early advocate of supplanting the mallet in gold filling with the hard pressure of smooth points, relying upon cohesion, instead of impact, for solidity. He also devised the first practical apparatus for the continuous administration of ether or chloroform during operations upon the mouth and face. Perhaps the thing that Dr. Fillebrown would like best to be remembered for is his work in the special field of oral surgery --- surgery of the mouth. Two operations in which he excelled, and in which his procedures were wholly or largely original, are worthy of more than passing notice. The operation for the removal of the nerve of the lower jaw from the inside was original with Dr. Fillebrown. His speciality of greatest importance was of course the operation for cleft palate which he performed in upwards of three hundred and fifty cases with satisfactory success. In the surgical operations for hare-lip, Dr. Fillebrown introduced several new and important features. The customary operation, as performed by Nelaton and others, usually resulted in a flat, tense upper lip, especially noticeable in profile. His method of making incisions and inserting stitches provided for more normal fulness and contour of the lip, which greatly improved the appearance of the patient.

His funeral was held January 24, 1908 at his brother's home in Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.⁽⁶⁶⁴³⁾ Thomas was honored for services in a society resolution March 30, 1909 in Birmingham, either Jefferson or Shelby County, Alabama.⁽⁶⁶⁴⁴⁾ "The National Dental Association adopted at its annual meeting at Birmingham, Alabama, March 30, 1909 the following resolution in his memory: Whereas death has closed the distinguished and useful career of Dr. Thomas Fillebrown, RESOLVED, That the National Dental Association, of which he was as honored ex-president and valued and faithful fellow member, bears testimony to his exalted worth as a man, and to the value of his services as teacher, author and practitioner. RESOLVED, That by his death this association has lost a devoted fellow member and the dental profession one whose life was an inspiration and an example, and the fruits of whose labors will long remain as a legacy to his professional co-workers in this and coming times. RESOLVED, That these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the association, and that a copy be transmitted to his family with assurance of our sympathy with them in their great bereavement. Wilbur F. Litch, Chairman V.C. Turner, President Charles S. Butler" The Dictionary of American Biography Volume III, page 379 stated "He was a teacher of ability and a fluent public speaker, who took a prominent part in dental association work, and he was an active member of several medical societies, including the American Medical Association. He was instrumental in bringing about the consolidation of the American Dental Association and the Southern Dental Association which merged in 1897 as the National (later the American) Dental Association, with Fillebrown as its first president."

Dr. Thomas Fillebrown M.D., D.M.D. and Helen Orilla Dolton had the following children:

994 i. Harriette Anna⁹ Fillebrown⁽⁶⁶⁴⁵⁾ was born in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine January 28, 1863.⁽⁶⁶⁴⁶⁾ Date unknown, Harriette Anna Fillebrown, a Congregationalist, was a member of the church unknown.⁽⁶⁶⁴⁷⁾

+ 995 ii. Dr. Charles Dalton Fillebrown M.D. was born June 4, 1864.

996 iii. Edith Little Fillebrown⁽⁶⁶⁴⁸⁾ was born October 4, 1869.⁽⁶⁶⁴⁹⁾ Edith died July 11, 1870 in Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine, at less than one year of age.⁽⁶⁶⁵⁰⁾

+ 997 iv. Harry Winthrop Fillebrown was born May 3, 1873.

998 v. Helen Thomas Fillebrown⁽⁶⁶⁵¹⁾ was born in Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts January 15, 1886.⁽⁶⁶⁵²⁾ Date unknown, Helen, a Congregationalist, was a member of the church unknown.⁽⁶⁶⁵³⁾ Helen graduated from Brookline High School in Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts circa 1902.⁽⁶⁶⁵⁴⁾ Helen graduated from Smith College circa 1906.⁽⁶⁶⁵⁵⁾ Helen was employed at Goodyear-Burlingame School as a teacher in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York circa 1906.⁽⁶⁶⁵⁶⁾ She taught at the school for three years.

Helen was listed on the school unknown roll as a student in Paris, Île-de-France Region, France circa 1910.⁽⁶⁶⁵⁷⁾

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