The Charleston Dental Association was first organized in December 1867 at the office of Dr. J. B. Patrick, Sr. on Society Street in Charleston “for the advancement of our Profession and to engender ...good fellowship.” The first dental association in the state, the group met monthly to demonstrate new techniques, discuss current practices and socialize. Between 1874 and 1881, the society languished for lack of interest until some of the original members decided to revive the association. The reorganized Association continued to function until 1901, when it again went on hiatus.
In 1907, several of the members of the previous Charleston Dental Association chose to organize under a new name with a new purpose. The Dental Protective Association of Charleston maintained a "black list" of people who refused to pay for services rendered. Dentists were supposed to submit names for the most egregious offenders, to help other dentists to avoid those bad risks. While the "black list" concept was short-lived, this group continued to function as the Dental Protective Association for several years, reverting back to their original name about 1912.
Although many men were members and officers of both the Charleston Dental Association and the South Carolina Dental Association, the Charleston Dental Association operated independently until the SCDA reorganized in 1928 into four component district societies. The Charleston Dental Association merged with the Coastal District Society of the SCDA.
The collection contains one folder of correspondence, one folder with multiple installments of the history of the association as written by Dr. Robert Atmar Smith, one folder of rough minutes and financial reports, and one folder of draft resolutions. The collection also includes five volumes of bound minutes, covering 1867 to 1924 (with gaps).
Charleston Dental Association Records 
