Souvenir Edition Journal. National Dental Association Twenty-Sixth Annual Convention.

[New York City?]: National Dental Association, 1939. 12-1/4 x 9-1/4 inches. 88pp. Blue and red wrappers with white, blue and red lettering. B&w illustrations. Spine rubbed and chipped, with loss to ends and an old tape repair; front joint creased, with split to foot and what appears to be glue residue; light bumping to corners; paste-action to hinges; age-toning to leaves. Good.

A scarce souvenir program from the 26th annual convention of the National Dental Association, held on August 14-18, 1939 in New York City. Originating in 1900 and still in existence today, the National Dental Association is an organization created by and for Black dentists in the U.S. Per its website, its aim is to promote "oral health equity among people of color by harnessing the collective power of its members, advocating for the needs of and monitoring dental students of color, and raising the profile of the profession in our communities.... For over 100 years, the NDA has been a national forum for minority dentists and a leader in advancing their rights within the dental profession, the armed services, the government, and the private sector."

The program includes many articles, all contributed by NDA members, on topics such as the history of the NDA ("The Robert T. Freeman Society" -- an early name for the organization), "A Brief History of Organized Dental Activities in North Carolina," "The Dentist as Pioneer," and even "National Dental Association Day at the New York World's Fair" (held that year). Interspersed are numerous advertisements for dental supplies and laboratories, often illustrated.

OCLC locates two holdings of this year's program, at the American Dental Association Library and the University of Maryland; only a handful of holdings exist for other years.