Are you doing a talk or research into the history of dentistry? The BDA library can help you with a wide variety of resources. This page describes some of the books, journals and other resources held in the library’s collection. Most of these are available to borrow.
For our complete history of dentistry collection please browse the library catalogue or contact a member of staff for more information on 020 7563 4545.
To complement the library's book and package loans why not borrow a box of historic artefacts from the BDA Dental Museum.
Dr Lilian Lindsay honoured
On 17 April 2013, Dr Lilian Lindsay CBE was honoured by English Heritage with a Blue Plaque at the address in Holloway where she lived.
The plaque was unveiled by Dr Lindsay's niece, Margaret Murray and Dame Margaret Seward (photo courtesy of English Heritage).
Lilian Lindsay was a pivotal figure in the history of the BDA and of British dentistry since she was the first woman to qualify as a dentist in Britain. She founded the Association’s library in 1920 and became its first honorary librarian.
She went on to be the BDA’s first woman President in 1946 and later President of the Odontological Section and History of Medicine Section of the Royal Society of Medicine. She also wrote the first English translation of Pierre Fauchard’s Chirurgien Dentiste (The Surgeon Dentist, 1746) which was published in 1946. She was appointed sub-editor to the British Dental Journal in 1931, a post she held for just over 20 years.
In October 1962 The Lindsay Club (later Lindsay Society) for the History of Dentistry was established to commemorate her life and work.
Lilian Lindsay, died on January 31, 1960, at the age of 80.
The BDA Library’s official title is the Robert and Lilian Lindsay Library in recognition of both her and her husband Robert, a former Secretary of the Association.
Books in focus
Here we focus on a few of the more recent titles that are available for loan.
 | Christine Hillam (Editor)
Dental practice in Europe at the end of the 18th century
Rodopi, 2003
If you would like to request this book for loan please email us. Read a review of this book that appeared in the BDJ |
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Bringing together resources and information about dental practice in France, the British Isles, the Netherlands, Hungary and Germany, this book provides important insights into the role of European dentistry in the latter part of the 1700s. This is a period when dentistry as a specialty began to emerge and for the first time the research focuses on sources such as newspaper advertisements and commercial directories to place the role of the dental practitioner within a wider social and political context during of an era of great change. |
Why not try other books by Christine Hillam:
 | E J Grant
The Toothwrights' Tale: A history of dentistry in the Royal Navy 1964-1995
Chaplin Books, 2012 If you would like to request this book for loan please email us. |
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A history of the RNDS following the amalgamation of the three armed forces ministries into the Ministry of Defence, later leading to the rationalisation of the military dental branches into the Defence Dental Services. The book covers the Falklands Conflict, the Cold War and its end and the invasion of Kuwait. Many personal reflections and stories from dental officers about their experiences serving in the Royal Navy are included throughout. It is a sequel to A History of Dentistry in the Royal Navy 1905-1964 by N G Daws and J V Holland. If you would like to borrow this earlier book please email us. |
 | Alan E H Emery and Marcia L H Emery
Foreword by Sir John Hanson
Surgical and Medical Treatment in Art
RSM Press, 2006 If you would like to request this book for loan please email us. |
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A collection of sixty six plates featuring artwork depicting medical scenes from Ancient Egypt to the late twentieth century with an accompanying short essay about each piece of art and the artist. The majority of the artworks show contemporary medical and surgical treatments including bloodletting, mediaeval cautery and antiseptic surgery, providing a compelling illustrated journey through the history of medicine. There are two dental related paintings included; The Tooth Puller (early 17th century) by Flemish artist Theodor Rombouts and Dr Louis Viau (1936-1937) by Édouard Vuillard. The latter depicts a wealthy dentist in his sophisticated modern surgery and provides an interesting contrast with the earlier picture, showing an unfortunate man having his tooth yanked out before a crowd of onlookers. Other works include paintings by artists such as Hans Holbein, Toulouse-Lautrec, Leonardo da Vinci and Barbara Hepworth and there is a useful list of selected other surgical, dental and medical treatments depicted in works of art through the centuries at the back of the book. For more dental art have a look at the Dentistry in Art library display page or visit the Museum art pages. |
For further insights into dental history visit the
BDA Dental Museum.
