by Susan J. Vossberg, MLIS, Northwestern Health Sciences University
History of Chiropractic in Minnesota
by Susan J. Vossberg, MLIS, Northwestern Health Sciences University
Think Like a Historian
Observe a Primary Source Item and Record Your Thoughts
- What is happening in the photograph or letter, diary, etc.? What just happened, or what is about to happen?
- Describe the people you see in the image. How do they relate to each other and to the photographer? If there are no people in the image, what is the subject of the photograph?
- Look for details that show when the photo was taken – time of day, season, and year. Do the people in the photograph look different than people today? How are their clothing, shoes, and hair styles different? Also look for differences in things like transportation, housing, equipment, and general infrastructure.
Think about the Creator, Audience, Context, Relationships
- What is the author/creator's point of view? What was the author's purpose?
- Who is the intended audience for this primary source material?
- Explain how the source tells its story.
- What was happening locally, regionally, or nationally when this primary source material was created?
- How does this item relate to other content in this Primary Source Set and/or the rest of the Minnesota Digital Library collection? Compare and contrast two resources.
Finally, using the clues you have observed, try to figure out why the source was created. By asking these questions, you have begun to understand the what, who, where, when and why of the primary source material – and ultimately, the story it tells.
Additional Tools
- Document Analysis Worksheets from the National Archives
- Using Primary Sources from the Library of Congress
Discussion Questions & Activities
1. How is the practice of chiropractic different from the practice of mainstream medicine?
2. What were the major points and outcome of the lawsuit between the American Medical Association and Chester Wilk?
3. What are some of the steps that the chiropractic profession took to legitimize their practice?
4. Why were some chiropractors fined or jailed for treating patients?
5. Have students work in small groups and discover/discuss what the main differences are between medical doctors and chiropractors. Discuss the differences, especially the chiropractic idea of no needles, no drugs.Determine if anybody in your group has been treated, or is being treated by a chiropractor, massage therapist, or acupuncturist, or if any of them have taken their pets to a chiropractor, and ask them to share their experiences.
eLibrary Minnesota Resources (for Minnesota residents)
1. "Chiropractic." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 1 Nov. 2010. Accessed 24 July 2019.
2. "Chiropractic: Natural Wellness for Life." Prevention, Nov. 1999, p. 3S1. Professional Collection, Accessed 24 July 2019.
3. Davis, Jeffrey M. "Understanding chiropractic natural alternative care." The Exceptional Parent, Aug. 2013, p. 34+. Professional Collection, Accessed 24 July 2019.
Additional Resources for Research
1. “Chiropractic.” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 30 Apr. 2019, Accessed 25 July 2019.
2. “Chiropractic Controversy and Criticism.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Accessed 25 July 2019.
3. “Chiropractors Go To Jail - Nanaimo Chiropractor.” www.facebook.com/NanaimoChiropractor. Pure Chiropractic in Nanaimo, BC, 27 Mar. 2014. Accessed 25 July 2019.
4. “Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic.” American Chiropractic Association, Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed 25 July 2019.
5. “Going to Jail for Chiropractic: the Untold Story of the Medical War Against Chiropractors.” Accessed 25 July 2019.
6. “History of Minnesota Animal Chiropractic Care.” Minnesota Animal Chiropractic Care, 26 Jan. 2013. Accessed 25 July 2019.
7. Howell, Monica R. “Teaching Chiropractic in the North Star State.” Teachingchiroinmn. Accessed 25 July 2019.
8. Smith-Cunnien, Susan. “Without Drugs or Knives: the Early Years of Chiropractic.” Minnesota History Magazine, Minnesota Historical Society, Spring, 2005. Accessed 25 July 2019.
9. “What Is Chiropractic?” Minnesota Animal Chiropractic Care, 23 Jan. 2013. Accessed 25 July 2019.