The women featured here are just a few of the notable women in chiropractic who have helped to advance the profession and opportunities for other women. See the Resources tab for articles and books that provide information on additional women and their contributions to chiropractic.
Dr. Arnold was a woman pioneer of chiropractic. She graduated from the first class of Langsworthy’s American School of Chiropractic & Nature Cure in Iowa in 1903 and began practicing in Washington, D.C. Her patients included members of Congress and Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. In 1911 Dr. Arnold was one of the first women to be arrested for practicing chiropractic. In 1918 she published Triangle of Health, one of the first books on health for patients written by a chiropractor.
Dr. Paxson was the third woman to study under D. D. Palmer and graduated from Palmer's Chiropractic School and Cure in 1903. In 1904 she became the first chiropractor to obtain a license under the Illinois Medical Practice Act.
Dr. Palmer was the wife of B.J. Palmer and is often referred to as the First Lady of Chiropractic. She graduated second in her class from Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1905 and attended Rush Medical College in Chicago. Dr. Palmer's education enabled her to practice chiropractic and teach at Palmer for more than 40 years, including anatomy and dissection.
Dr. Rooney was a professor at National University of Health Sciences, possibly the first female professor in the basic sciences division, and became Dean of Women in 1917. She had also lectured on hygiene and public health for the Cincinnati Board of health.
Dr. Scallon was inspired by chiropractic after treatments helped her tuberculosis and she joined the profession in 1924. After 25 years of practice she and her chiropractic husband were jailed in 1949 for "practicing medicine without a license" in New York. Dr. Scallon served a 6 month sentence while her husband served a year. Upon release, she resumed her chiropractic practice.
Dr. Claque became the first Black woman to graduate from National University of Health Sciences in 1926. She had also served as a field nurse in the U.S. Army and a physiotherapist in the United States Public Health Service for almost 14 years.
Dr. Anderson was the first female chiropractic radiologist. After working as a radiographer in Colorado for the Women's Auxiliary of the Army Medical Corps, she obtained her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Western States Chiropractic College in 1949. She taught at Western States for 40 years and created a radiology residency program. She was the only female chiropractic radiologist until 1980.
Alma Arnold: Alma Arnold, Chiropractic's Woman Pioneer: The Search Continued. Steven Parker, D.C. and Alana Callender, Ed.D. Chiropractic History, v. 40, no. 1, Summer 2020, p. 12-26.
Minora Paxson: Minora C. Paxson, C.P.: The Profession's Venerated Persona Meets the Historical Facts. Timothy J. Faulkner, D.C. and Joseph M. Foley, D.C. Chiropractic History, v. 38, no. 1, Summer 2018, 66- 78.
Mabel Health Palmer: Mabel Palmer on Thin Ice: A History of Chiropractic That Almost Wasn't. Todd R. Waters, B.A. Chiropractic History, v. 34, no. 1, p. 56 - 63.Chiropractic History v. 34, no 1. Summer 2014, p. 56 - 63.
Rosemary Rooney, Kathryn "Kitty" Scallon, Louise (Bousen) Claque, Appa Anderson: Celebrating Women’s History Month: 5 women who helped shape chiropractic medicine. National University of Health Sciences. NUHS Blog, March 21, 2023. https://www.nuhs.edu/celebrating-womens-history-month-5-women-who-helped-shape-chiropractic-medicine/