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Secretaries and chief executives of the British Dental Association (1879-2020) - part 1: the early years

British Dental Journal volume 230, pages 46–49 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Part 1 examines the early rise of the British Dental Association from its origins in 1879. With its gradual expansion came a need for secretaries to carry forward its aims and objectives. In these early days, the work was carried out by non-paid members of the association on a part-time basis. Only in 1920 was a paid dental secretary appointed. The dental lives of all the people who served the association in that era are examined.

Key points

  • Shows how the BDA arose from humble beginnings to become the leading dental organisation in the UK.

  • Demonstrates how, over the years, the dental secretaries changed from part-time amateurs to full-time professionals to keep up with the increased numbers of members and complexity of the work.

  • Reminds us of the changing homes for the association.

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References

  1. Gelbier S. James Smith Turner (1832-1904) and the British Dental Association. Br Dent J 2019; 222: 396-399.

  2. McAuley J A. The homes of the BDA. In Cohen R A (ed) The Advance of the Dental Profession: A Centenary History of the British Dental Association. pp 187-198. London: British Dental Association, 1979.

  3. Cohen R A (ed). The Advance of the Dental Profession: A Centenary History of the British Dental Association. p 265. London: British Dental Association, 1979.

  4. Bennett N G. School dentistry. Br Dent J 1905; 26: 548-563.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Professor and Head of the Unit for the History of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, UK

    Stanley Gelbier

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  1. Stanley Gelbier
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Correspondence to Stanley Gelbier.

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Gelbier, S. Secretaries and chief executives of the British Dental Association (1879-2020) - part 1: the early years. Br Dent J 230, 46–49 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2501-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2501-y

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