Chiropractic History: A trip to the Fountainhead

Chiropractic History: A trip to the Fountainhead

By: Dr Kenneth Young DC, DACBR, MAppSc (Medical Imaging)

A few years ago I needed to do some research at Palmer College of Chiropractic, in their Special Collections and Archives, part of the David D. Palmer Health Sciences Library at the Fountainhead of chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

The middle of the USA is often referred to as ‘flyover country.’ This is a term ofdenigration, meaning that no civilised person would want to go there, you justfly over it on the way from coast to coast. There is a lot of open space in themiddle of America, a lot of farmland. But that has its own, desolate beauty, ifyou slow down to appreciate it. In addition, like ore from that earth, if you put ina bit of effort to look, you might find some gems. Palmer in Davenport is one.Of course, being a chiropractor, I’m biased, but even TripAdvisor thinks so,listing it on the Davenport page of their website just under Northpark Mall andabove Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra.

Not every chiropractor has the opportunity to go to Palmer, hence, thismini photo essay. One of my favourite areas is where they have theBig Heads. (Fig. 1) It is a suitably substantial tribute to the first threegenerations of chiropractic rulers. It is a male dynasty, but if you would likemore information on women throughout the history of chiropractic, starthere: https://library.palmer.edu/c.php?g=751041&p=5379552, or search‘women in chiropractic.’

Epigrams! (Fig. 2) The walls inside the school have some of BJ’sepigrams, as well as those of other notable figures in chiropractic history.They are printed in a font that BJ liked. I like it, too; it evokes the Art Decostyle of early-mid 20th century America.

Commemorative plaque from the Iowa State Historical Society and theChiropractic Centennial Foundation, 1995. (Fig 3) It tells a little of thehistory of the campus.

Little Bit o’ Heaven. (Fig 4) BJ’s retreat from the pressures of inventing newdirections for chiropractic, running a school, writing, travel, and collecting

all manner of items has only partially survived. Some artefacts and an enlarged photo only hint at what it must have been like.

AB-so-LUTE-ly! (Fig 5) One of BJ’s favourite words, so much so that he had it printed on a button and mounted on a rock. I believe that it was formerly in Little Bit o’ Heaven.

The courtyard of the mansion still holds some of the art and artefacts that BJ collected, along with modern benches for contemplation. (Figs 6 and 7)

Carved vertebrae. (Fig 8) Everyone has heard of BJ’s collection of spines, but I had never known about the soap carvings of vertebrae. I wonder if we should bring this into the modern curricula? I’ll have to have a chat with our anatomist…

These photos only represent a small number of the interesting things to discover at Palmer Davenport. I recommend a visit here to anyone. Don’t just fly over; stop by.

A note about the title. DD Palmer would be very angry at me for the title of this article. In the modern chiropractic lexicon, ‘Fountainhead’ has come to mean the site of the original Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport. But this meaning was a point of contention between DD and BJ. DD claimed that BJ purloined the term that DD had originated, and that ‘Fountainhead’ meant DD’s actual head, not a school. ‘I am the Fountain Head of Chiropractic; it originated with me; it was my ingenious brain which discovered its first principle; I was its source; I gave it birth; to me all Chiropractors trace their Chiropractic lineage.’ (The Chiropractor’s Adjuster, p.819) Aside from the overuse of semi-colons, wow, huh?

Kenneth Young is the curator for the Chiropractic History Special Collection at Murdoch University. It can be seen here: https://www.murdoch.edu. au/library/resources-collections/special-collections/chiropractic-historycollection, or search ‘special collections’ on the main university website, www.murdoch.edu.au. If you would like to comment on this article, or for further information on the Special Collection, or to discuss making a donation of money or items, please contact Ken at k.young@murdoch. edu.au or on (08) 9360 7370.

(Fig 1) The Big Heads of chiropractic: Dave on the left, DD in the middle, and BJ on the right, with Mabel separated further right. The inscription under the men reads: ‘The Foundation of Chiropractic.’ Under Mabel it reads: ‘First Lady of Chiropractic.’

(Fig 2) Epigram in a corridor lined with lockers and classrooms.

(Fig 3) Commemorative plaque: ‘First Chiropractic School’ also showing some of the Palmer classroom and office buildings.

(Fig 4) Wooden sign reading ‘Little Bit o’ Heaven’, part of the wall with small windows, and a large photo of the waterfall from BJ’s garden.

(Fig 5) ‘Absolutely’ button with BJ’s characteristic initials as he signed them.

(Fig 6) In BJ’s world, Asian art mixed with native American and many other origins. The photos also show a partial stone wall, modern benches and rubbish receptacles, and a wooden pergola in the courtyard behind the Palmer mansion.

(Fig 7) Courtyard continued.

(Fig 8) Vertebrae carved out of soap. The sign reads: ‘These were carved by students in Spinal Anatomy in conjunction with Craven’s Orthopedy as part of the curriculum for three decades. The assignment was discontinued in the 1970s when a group of enterprising students developed a mold.’