URMC / Libraries / Basil G. Bibby Library / History / Eastman Dental: The Bird Cages
Birdcages & Nursery Rhymes
The Children's Waiting Area in the Eastman Dental Clinics
During the 1920s and 1930s, in addition to the Rochester Dental Dispensary, George Eastman established five dental clinics throughout Europe. The clinics were designed with children in mind, in hopes that anxiety over dental care would be reduced. This concern for young patients was reflected in the architecture of these buildings. Each clinic had its own birdcage in the waiting area and artists were employed to paint murals on the walls illustrating nursery rhymes and childhood themes.
Brussels Waiting Room
![Waiting room wall of the Brussels dental clinic](/getmedia/20eea22c-4a09-4eaa-b4f2-5b78d53eaf37/Brussels_Wall.aspx?width=225&height=175)
Children Gathered around Birdcage in Brussels Waiting Room
![Children Gathered around Birdcage in Brussels Waiting Room](/getmedia/dc680f38-0610-4427-9de4-db443f379f1a/Brussels_Kids.aspx?width=225&height=150)
Birdcage in London Waiting Room
![Birdcage in the London Waiting Room](/getmedia/d9cc0eb8-82f3-41ef-8086-3e0775dd80dc/London_Birdcage.aspx)
Walls in London Waiting Room.
![Walls in the London Waiting Room](/getmedia/c5a2610c-411c-457b-a725-3dcc4331ea71/London_Waiting_Room_Wall.aspx?width=225&height=172)
Birdcage in Paris Waiting Room.
![Birdcage in the Paris Waiting Room](/getmedia/be2f39f4-dac2-48eb-9fcd-6d4627c81ba5/Paris_Birdcage.aspx)
Walls in Rochester Waiting Room.
![Walls in Rochester Waiting Room](/getmedia/55c94d3a-180c-4d05-a027-25fca511fbf9/Rochester_Waiting_Room.aspx?width=225&height=211)
Birdcage in Rochester Waiting Room.
![Birdcage in Rochester Waiting Room](/getmedia/676a02e5-6168-4bb9-a9c5-20aaa40257cb/Rochester_Birdcage.aspx?width=225&height=228)
Birdcage in Rome Waiting Room. Floor tiles also silhouettes of animals.
![Birdcage in Rome Waiting Room. Floor tiles also silhouettes of animals.](/getmedia/a2942755-b44d-4436-bd51-1175c11531f3/Rome_Birdcage.aspx?width=225&height=237)
Walls in Rome Waiting Room.
![Walls in the Rome Waiting Room](/getmedia/971ee57f-43a6-486e-95b6-ba0186467ac9/Rome_Waiting_Room_Wall.aspx?width=225&height=262)
Birdcage in Stockholm Waiting Room
![Birdcage in Stockholm Waiting Room](/getmedia/51f6c5bb-a23b-4816-add8-757c149c36f1/Stockholm_Birdcage.aspx?width=225&height=211)
Walls in Stockholm Waiting Room.
![Walls in Stockholm Waiting Room](/getmedia/c65fb357-a104-4ce8-8d91-29c35e885c86/Stockholm_Waiting_Room.aspx?width=225&height=177)