Palmer College of Chiropractic

Chiropractic History

Exhibits on Campus
 

Lyceum Hall

First Floor

The Giant Clam Shell
The clam shell was part of the Palmer collection willed to the Putnam Museum upon B.J.’s death. For many years, the shell was on display in Little Bit O’Heaven, and small children were photographed nestled in it. On loan from the Putnam Museum.

From Iowa to the World
Students have come to Davenport from all over the world. Some have stayed and others have pioneered chiropractic in new areas. This traveling exhibit was created to reflect that cultural exchange.

The Fellows Room
A rotating exhibit honors Fellows of the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic, selected for their philanthropy, service and leadership.

Second Floor

Lyceum Exhibit (Temporary)
Hats off to B.J. and Mabel. This exhibit was designed by Dr. Myron Brown and Dr. and Mrs. Gene Zdrazil.

Graduation Awards
Three times a year, Palmer students become Palmer doctors amidst pomp and ceremony. The awards given at commencement are on display in this exhibit.

Palmer Broadcasting
B.J. Palmer and Dave Palmer were titans in the broadcasting industry, as well as in chiropractic. Some artifacts from WHO and WOC radio are exhibited.

Friendship Court

Virgil V. Strang, D.C., Memorial
In the area overlooking Friendship Court is a memorial to the seventh president of the College, Dr. Virgil Strang.

Galen Price, D.C., Memorial
At the west end of the upper level of Friendship Court is a memorial to the fourth president of the College, Dr. Galen Price.

Campus Center

Iowa State Historical Site - The Fountainhead
A plaque at the doorway of the campus center recognizes The Fountainhead’s role in Iowa history.

Mansion Courtyard

Little Bit O’Heaven
The Mansion Courtyard holds many of the items from the original Little Bit O’Heaven, including the Wishing Buddha and the Hindu idols from Bali. Tours of the Mansion are offered during College celebrations.

Mabel Heath Palmer Laboratory

A wall exhibit commemorates Dr. Mabel Palmer’s role in chiropractic education.

David D. Palmer Library Building

A wall exhibit commemorates the third president of Palmer, Dr. David Palmer, and his role in chiropractic education.

First Floor

The Osteological Collection
The cases on the first floor hold part of B.J.’s self-proclaimed "largest and finest collection of traumatic, pathological and anomalous osteological specimens in the world." Additional specimens are on display in the Main Clinic and in Lyceum Hall, with the remainder of the collection in storage but available for research.

Second Floor

The Hall of Authors
This exhibit recognizes the contribution of Palmer alumni and staff to chiropractic literature.

Third Floor

Palm Court is a study area on the third floor that is reminiscent of the Palm Court that spanned the Brady Street entrance to the Palmer School of Chiropractic from the 1920s to the 1940s.

B.J. Palmer Classroom Building

A wall exhibit commemorates the second president of Palmer, Dr. B.J. Palmer, and his role in chiropractic education.

Roycroft Furniture
The Roycroft chairs found here and elsewhere on campus commemorate early supporters
of the Palmer School of Chiropractic.

Second Floor

Women in Chiropractic, Stepping Into Education. A life-size statue of Dr. Mabel Heath Palmer stands between the Main Clinic and Library buildings, next to an exhibit honoring women chiropractors.

D.D. Palmer Memorial Building

A wall exhibit commemorates the first president of Palmer, Dr. D.D. Palmer, and his role in chiropractic education.

A wall exhibit commemorates Dr. Russell Erhardt’s role in Palmer education at the entrance to the Russell Erhardt X-ray Department.

West Hall

Second Floor

The Hall of Palmer Philosophers commemorates those Palmer graduates and faculty who have been instrumental in propagating Palmer chiropractic philosophy.

Hall of Presidents
This exhibit presents the many Palmer graduates who have become presidents of chiropractic colleges, showing the strong Palmer influence in chiropractic education. This exhibit is, in part, a project of the Archives of the David D. Palmer Health Sciences Library.

Third Floor

Wall of Pioneers
A series of photographs and biographies honors Palmer graduates who have helped advance the chiropractic profession.

B.J. Clinic Exhibit
A case file is used to demonstrate the exhaustive research done by the B.J. Palmer Research Clinic for three decades.