Evan Call Family

Historical Context

This letter, dated December 14, 1931, was written by Evan's uncle, Dr. Horace Arthur Call, Thomas's full brother.

1. The Great Depression (1931)

Written in December 1931, the letter dates to the height of the Great Depression. Horace mentions they have "prospered temporally," which was rare for the era. However, his note that many patients are "charity" cases reflects the economic hardship of the time—medical professionals often treated patients for free or for bartered goods when cash was scarce.

2. Early Chiropractic History

Horace identifies as a "3 Year Palmer Graduate." This is significant as the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, was the founding institution of the profession.
The Neurocalometer: The letterhead mentions "Neurocalometer Service." This device, introduced in 1924, was used to detect temperature differences along the spine. It was highly controversial and caused a schism within the chiropractic field.
Rivalry with MDs: Horace’s claim that a chiropractor can do more in minutes than an M.D. can do in a month reflects the intense rivalry and professional struggle for legitimacy that chiropractors faced against the American Medical Association (AMA) in the early 20th century.

[Letterhead]

PHONE 337
OFFICE; 509 N. 4TH AVE.
TUCSON, ARIZONA

THERE IS HOPE IN CHIROPRACTIC
MAMA—CALL A CHIROPRACTOR

X-RAY AND NEUROCALOMETER SERVICE

H. A. Call, D. C., Ph. C.
3 YEAR PALMER GRADUATE
CHIROPRACTOR

Dec. 14, 1931.

Elder Evan Call.
Brockton, Mass.

Dear Evan:

We got your address from your mother a short time ago and Leona has requested that I write you a few lines, for she is quite busy and I can write so much faster on this machine, although it spells wrong quite often. I am always in a hurry about everything so I make many mistakes.

We were surprised to learn that you had gone on a mission, but we were glad for your sake. I do wish that I had have had that opportunity, I might be a different man now. We have prospered temporally and I trust we are building up spiritually. Your mission is something that will make a man of you and do what nothing in the world would have done to build you up in every respect. A great educator once said that our two year mission experience is worth more to a young man than any university education.

Work hard Evan and keep your trust in the Lord, don’t never forget the hardships your parents are going through at home to make it possible for you to be there, and letters to your mother as often can keep her path bright where nothing else would. Keep her incouraged and all will be well.

We are getting along fine, and having very good results in our work. Leona is kept quite busy with her beauty shoppe, and have quite a lot of patients to take care of. Twenty six last Saturday, and usually more than twenty now. Many of the are charity but I am glad to help them to regain, their health. Should you ever get sick, and need some temporal help, don’t forget that a good Chiropractor can do more for you in a few minutes than all the M.D.’s can do in a month. No this is not bosting, it is just what I am doing for sick people every day. It is a common occurance. Just to prive a little of that I will enclose one of my pamphlets that you may enjoy reading when you have nothing else to do.

The weather here is usually sunny and warm, but we are having some unusual weather, and it quite cold, in fact it has frozen a little. We never get any snow, or really cold weather, that is the reason we notice it so much when it does freeze.

Well Evan be good to your self and let us hear from you once in a while.

From Horace & Leona [Handwritten signature]

P.S. We are enclosing a little Xmas present for you. [Handwritten] Send us your card.

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