Oregon Dental Association records, 1896-2006

The "Governing documents" series, which dates from 1912 to 1971, includes articles of incorporation, constitutions, and bylaws, outlining the rules and expectations of the ODA. Additionally, there are maps of the regional districts of the ODA and documentation certifying the incorporation of new regional districts.

The "Meeting minutes" series, which dates from 1937 to 1952, consists largely of minutes of the ODA's executive council, but also includes two years (1948 and 1949) of minutes of the house of delegates. The minutes discuss the collection of dues, dissemination of relief funds to dentists in need, education programs, ODA elections, and association positions on legislation, amongst other topics.

The "Membership materials" series, which dates from 1908 to1969, is mostly made up of event programs for the Oregon Dental Association's annual meetings. These programs include schedules of the meetings, presidential addresses, information on social gatherings, and clinics on specific dental techniques. The programs also include advertisements for dentistry- related businesses, such as insurance companies and supply depots. This series includes a membership roster and a selection of membership applications from the 1920s and 1930s.

The "Correspondence" series, dating from 1925 to 1964, includes letters to and from members of the ODA. These letters concern the distribution of relief funds, the chartering of new districts, discussion on which amendments should be introduced to the constitution and bylaws, correspondence with the larger organization, and letters concerning strategies for passing fluoridation legislation in Oregon in the early 1970s. This series also contains the secretarial records of Dr. Willard H. Harley and Dr. F. W. Hollister, two ODA secretaries between 1938 and 1946.

The "Published materials" series, which dates from 1953 to 1973, contains newspaper clippings, pamphlets published or distributed by the ODA, and public statements by the ODA. Notably, this series includes a large amount of material concerning a statewide campaign to pass a bill requiring tap water to be fluoridated in the 1970s, which was ultimately unsuccessful. A selection of newspaper clippings related to Oregon dentists and a copy of the Oregon State Dental Journal from December 1953 are also a part of this collection.

The "Portland District records" series, which dates from 1896 to 1960, consists of meeting minutes, constitutions, and published materials relating specifically to the Portland District Dental Society, a regional district of the larger Oregon Dental Association. In the initial years, the Portland District Dental Society was known as the Portland Stomatological Club.