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Florence Messer: a BDJ story

British Dental Journal volume 233, pages 681–685 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

This article explores the life of Florence Kathleen Messer, erstwhile British Dental Journal (BDJ) advertising manager. An employee of the British Dental Association between 1934 and 1973, she also wrote a definitive history of the BDJ from its beginnings up to 1979. Florence's life is put into the context of the BDJ as it was when she worked there and follows the journal's changes and developments over that time.

Key points

  • Provides an appreciation of the history of the British Dental Journal.

  • Highlights the importance of a woman to the organisation and management of a business.

  • Gives a wider knowledge of the history of the British Dental Association and its staff.

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References

  1. Anonymous. Miss Messer. Br Dent J 1973; 134: 312.

  2. Pope A. Epistle to Mr Addison. In The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. 3rd ed. Leicestershire: Guild Publishing, 1985.

  3. Ancestry. Messer, Henry Bracher: Marriage Register of St Mary Magdalene, Peckham, Southwark, England, 4 June 1913. Available at https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/3804466:1623?tid=& pid=&queryId=0c2d9351b416e81a4622f271e3eeaced &_phsrc=Eic2&_phstart=successSource (accessed March 2022).

  4. Find My Past. Messer, Henry Bracher: Census, England, 1921. Available at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/1921-census (accessed March 2022).

  5. 1900s.org. Pawnbrokers in the early 20th century. Available at https://www.1900s.org.uk/1900s-edmonton-pawnbroker.htm (accessed March 2022).

  6. Unpublished letter from Florence Messer to Muriel Cohen. April 1986.

  7. Unpublished letter from Lilian Lindsay to Florence Messer. 26 September 1941.

  8. Messer F K. The British Dental Journal and those who guided it. In The Advance of the Dental Profession - a Centenary History 1880-1980. London: British Dental Association, 1979.

  9. Ancestry. Messer, Florence: 1939 England and Wales Register. Available at https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/36979960:61596?_phsr c=cAI1&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=florence&gsln =messer&ml_rpos=1&queryId=798d6ad589cfcdaa 98e9f9f1b402dc9d (accessed March 2022).

  10. BBC. When the Bombers Came Over. 2004. Available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/27/a2883927.shtml (accessed March 2022).

  11. British Dental Journal. George Cunningham, MA Cantab, LDS Eng, DMD Harv. Br Dent J 1919; 40: 217-223.

  12. Unpublished letter from Lilian Lindsay to Florence Messer. 22 June 1951.

  13. Unpublished letter from Lilian Lindsay to Florence Messer. 19 May 1949.

  14. Forbes E G. The professionalization of dentistry in the United Kingdom. Med Hist 1985; 29: 169-181.

  15. UK Parliament. Dentists Act 1921. London: Stationery Office, 1921.

  16. Unpublished letter from Lilian Lindsay to Florence Messer. 27 March 1959.

  17. Unpublished letter from Lilian Lindsay to Florence Messer. 29 October 1959.

  18. British Dental Journal. Leslie James Godden, OBE, FDS. Br Dent J 1977; 143: 101-102.

  19. British Dental Journal. Presentation to Miss F K Messer. Br Dent J 1959; 107: 312.

  20. McAuley J E. The homes of the Association. In The Advance of the Dental Profession - a Centenary History 1880-1980. London: British Dental Association, 1979.

  21. The London Gazette. Notices. 9 May 1967. Available at https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44308/page/5288/data.pdf (accessed March 2022).

  22. British Dental Journal. Proceedings of the Representative Board. Br Dent J 1969; 16: 1-2.

  23. Morley I. Florence Messer. Br Dent J 2013; 215: 311.

  24. Unpublished letter from Lilian Lindsay to Florence Messer. 28 August 1941.

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Acknowledgements

To the late Muriel Cohen without whom we would not have the first-hand memories of Florence Messer. Also, to my mum, Mrs Carolyn Nield for providing me with the 1921 census record and help improving the image of Florence. Finally, to my colleague, Mr Peter Folly for going out of his way to photograph 119 Silver Street.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Head of Library and Knowledge Services, British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 8YS, UK

    Helen Nield

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  1. Helen Nield
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Correspondence to Helen Nield.

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Nield, H. Florence Messer: a BDJ story. Br Dent J 233, 681–685 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-5083-z

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