Bartlett Joshua (B.J.) Palmer (September 9, 1882 - May 21, 1961) was a pioneer of chiropractic.

Early life

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B.J. was son of Daniel David Palmer (or "D.D."), the "Founder" of chiropractic. The Palmer family of six resided in the back of a grocery store that D.D. operated. In 1885 D.D.'s wife became sick and died, after which D.D. remarried numerous times. When D.D. had settled with a new wife, he moved the family to Letts, Iowa, and he worked as a schoolteacher and a magnetic healer, developing chiropractic medicine. B.J. developed an interest in chiropractic medicine, and eventually assumed control of the school that his father had founded in Davenport, Iowa. As a result of his development and promotion of the profession, he became known as the "Developer" of chiropractic.

Later life

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On May 30, 1904, Palmer married Mabel Heath, and they both worked as chiropractors and professors at Palmer College. On December 12, 1906 David Daniel Palmer was born, and would be the couple's only child. In keeping with his educational efforts for the profession, he became known as "The Educator."^*

Palmer also became involved in a number of technological advances in his region of Iowa. He owned the first automobile in the area, and he would use it when he made house calls. In 1922, Palmer purchased a local radio station, WOC (Wonders Of Chiropractic), and began using it to market chiropractic, as well as to broadcast farm and weather reports. A second station in Des Moines, WHO, was purchased in 1930.

Chiropractic | 1882 births | 1961 deaths | American chiropractors | Mass media owners