History
The Glasgow Odontological Society owes its origins to a meeting of eight
dentists in March 1902 at the Bath Hotel in Glasgow. After “heated discussion”
the name, Odontoblasts Club, was adopted. The membership was initially
limited to fifteen, all of whom were to be Licentiates in Dental Surgery of the
Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Only those qualified after the
first of January 1900 were eligible to join. Meetings were to be monthly on the
third Tuesday of each month from September to April (later changed to
March). By September 1903 the Club agreed to widen the membership. A
special meeting was held on 27th October 1903 at the Dental Hospital , 15
Dalhousie Street, Garnethill to consider the advisability of having, in Glasgow,
a Society devoted to the interests of the Dental profession. As a consequence
of this meeting, membership was widened to those who held a Licentiate in
Dental Surgery regardless of where they qualified and the name of the group
was changed to the Odontoblasts Society. The name was further changed in
November 1903 to the Glasgow Odontological Society. A golf section was
formed in 1908. The Odontological Prize was created in 1910. By this date
there were 73 members and an average attendance of 24. In 1911 a library
was inaugurated with £20 worth of books purchased in the first year. In 1952
the council decided to asssemble a collection of photographs of each member
who had served as president and to ask future presidents to provide a
photograph for this collection. The album for mounting these photographs was
made by a grateful patient. Today the membership of the society fluctuates
between 150 and 200, with an average attendance at meetings of from 30 to
40 members.
Last updated September 2011