Archive of the Manchester Odontological Society

The documents relate only to the earlier history of the Society, and no minutes survive. There is a copy of the Society's laws (MOS/1) and an incomplete collection of the Transactions. There is also a small body of material relating to the Society's Library and to various social events. MOS/6 contains correspondence and papers concerning the transfer of MOS materials to the University of Manchester Library in 1934 through the offices of Ernest Bosdin Leech.

Manchester Odontological Society was founded in 1885 with Dr G. W. Smith as first president (Smith had become the MRI's first honorary dental surgeon in 1873). Its objects were: 'The diffusion of knowledge and the promotion of intercourse among Dentists, and the advancement of the general interests of the Dental Profession'.

The Society was established at the same period as the Victoria Dental Hospital was developing the academic teaching of dentistry. The Hospital which opened in 1883, was soon providing dental training for students at Owens College Medical School. The original Society became part of the East Lancashire and East Cheshire branch of the British Dental Association in 1920. The Society obviously was obviously well supported as it was able to publish its transactions.

The Society was governed by a Council, consisting of a president, two vice-presidents, a honorary treasurer, two honorary secretaries, a librarian, the editor of the Society's Transactions and six other members.

In 1946, however MOS was refounded by a group of local dentists, and in 1950 merged with MMS, becoming the Society's Section of Odontology

The collection is arranged into the following series:

• MOS/1 Laws
• MOS/2 Transactions
• MOS/3 Circulars
• MOS/4 Library documents
• MOS/5 Social events
• MOS/6 Miscellaneous

The collection is open to any accredited reader.

This finding aid may contain personal or sensitive personal data about living individuals. Under Section 33 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), The University of Manchester Library (UML) has the right to process such personal data for research purposes. The Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2000 enables the UML to process sensitive personal data for research purposes. In accordance with the DPA, the UML has made every attempt to ensure that all personal and sensitive personal data has been processed fairly, lawfully and accurately, according to the Data Protection Principles.

Individuals have the right to make a request to see data relating to them held by the JRUL which falls under the provisions of the DPA. Access requests must be made formally in accordance with the provisions set out in the DPA and all enquiries should be directed to the University's Data Protection Officer.

Photocopies and photographic copies can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.

A number of items within the archive remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study.

Prior written permission must be obtained from the Library for publication or reproduction of any material within the archive. Please contact the Head of Special Collections, John Rylands Library, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PP.

The custodial history of the archive is not known. It is probable that it was acquired directly by Ernest Bosdin Leech for the Manchester Medical Collection (see MOS/6). The collection was formerly part of the MMC (ref. H 2 z), but a decision has been taken to withdraw it from this Collection and treat it as a discrete archive.

See the archive of the Manchester Medical Society (MMS) for records of the Section of Odontology (1950 onwards), together with a file on the MOS, (MMS/1/8/21).