Robert T. Freeman was a dental apprentice that worked for a Caucasian dentist, Dr. Henry Noble of Washington, D.C.  Dr. Noble encouraged Freeman to study dentistry. Freeman was accepted and graduated from Harvard Dental School. He returned to Washington, D.C. to set up a dental practice. Dr. Freeman died in 1879. On November 14, 1900, The Washington Society of Colored Dentists of the District of Columbia was established. It was the first African American Dental society formed for African American dentists.  In 1907, The Washington Society of Colored Dentists of the District of Columbia agreed to change the name of this organization to Robert T. Freeman Dental Society.