Person:Walter Wardwell (9)

Arrived in New York aboard the Pilsudski from Gdynia, Poland 20 August 1936

Dynamic Chiropractic January 12, 2000, Volume 18, Issue 02 What Chiropractors Should Do by Walter Wardwell,PhD,Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of Connecticut

"Dr. Wardwell's interest in chiropractic was peeked as a child when his father, a draftsman, suffered from eye strain and headaches. His father was persuaded to see a chiropractor. After receiving a cervical adjustment his headaches were relieved. A short while later, Walter accidentally knocked the glasses off his father's face. It was at that moment that his father had an amazing revelation. He could now see perfectly well without the aid of his glasses. As a PhD candidate at Harvard in 1951, Walter proposed writing his doctoral dissertation on the state of chiropractic in Massachusetts. His proposal was approved, which, as Wardwell says, "permitted me to utilize my background knowledge of chiropractic and to work on a topic that had fascinated me." The dissertation, Social Strain and Social Adjustment in the Marginal Role of the Chiropractor, was later published, in part, in journals of sociology and used for a brief historical paper. For nearly 15 years thereafter, however, neither chiropractic nor allopathic doctors would accept his articles for publication, receiving criticism from both professions. In 1968 Dr. Wardwell was invited to serve on the U.S. Public Health Service's expert review committee to study whether the federal government should reimburse chiropractors and naturopaths under the Medicare program. It was at this point that the chiropractic profession began to take notice of his work. In 1992, his pivotal work on chiropractic was published: Chiropractic: History and Evolution of a New Profession. The work is a marvelous resource of information that the editors of Dynamic Chiropractic have often consulted over the years. He wrote in the preface to the book: "Indeed, it is precisely the evolution of the profession and its success in change from very dubious status to the position it holds today that constitutes the central drama of the chiropractic story and demands description and analysis." Dr. Wardwell also noted in the preface: "Although I always tend to sympathize with the underdog chiropractors, I was trained as a sociologist to examine evidence impartially and to look at all sides of controversial issues." On submitting his article to us, he noted: "I enclose what I expect will be my final publication on chiropractic, and I think DC is the appropriate place for it. I shall be honored if you choose to publish it. I well know it will be controversial and that it will probably receive many critical objection, but I sincerely believe in what I have written and hope that it will have an impact. I want what will be best for chiropractic. "I could have rehearsed the many arguments pro and con for my thesis; I could have cited the many authorities who have already spoken in favor of it, but I calculated that neither is necessary. So I have kept the paper short and sweet for what I hope will be a greater impact and will do some good." In this, my final publication, I take the opportunity to strongly recommend to the chiropractic profession in America that it do what has been proposed over most of its history by many others, including most of the leaders of the profession. The disparate segments of the profession should give up their minor differences and merge into one strong national association."

"WARDWELL, Walter Irving Walter Irving Wardwell, 86, of Storrs, passed away Monday, (March 14, 2005) following a long illness. He was born August 23, 1918 in Dorchester, MA, son of Fred Putnam and Hattie (Prior) Wardwell.

He grew up in Greenwood, MA, graduated valedictorian of his Wakefield High School class of 1936 and graduated cum laude of his Harvard class of 1940 majoring in philosophy. In 1940 he began active service in the Army serving in North Africa and Italy during World War II. After many years in the Army Reserves he retired from the military as a Colonel. After returning from the war he completed a PhD in Sociology at Harvard and in 1949 took a position on the faculty of the University of Connecticut. He retired as professor of Sociology in 1985.

He is noted for his many years of medical sociological research, study and publications. He is particularly celebrated for his long interest and research in Chiropractic, writing a definitive history of the profession. He received many awards for his work including the Medal de Chevalier for Arts and Letters from the Republic of France. Walter had a keen interest in downhill skiing, a member of Plumbly House in Northfield, VT; in languages, joining several campus clubs; and a life long interest in music, playing violin and piano. He served on the first advisory board of the Edwin O. Smith High School, and the Council on Aging for the Town of Mansfield. He was active in the University of Connecticut senate for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (True), of 60 years; three children, Betsy (Wardwell) True and her husband Danny Aerts, of Middleton, Wisconsin, Susan (Wardwell) Borst and her husband David of Bloomington, IL, Steven and his wife Carole of Ft. Pierce, FL, eight grandchildren, Ebbin Trew Martin, Toby Trew Martin, Stacy Lee (Fribourg) Beaudry and her husband, Kenneth, Douglas True Borst, Allison True Borst, Jessica Hoshko and her husband Thomas, Katherine True Wardwell, Michelle True Wardwell; and two great grandchildren, Devin and Austin Beaudry. He was predeceased by his son, William, brother, David and sister, Helen. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 19, at 11 a.m. at the Storrs Congregational Church. Burial will be private in the Storrs Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, 100 Warren Circle, Storrs, Connecticut 06268. The Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic assisted with arrangements." -Hartford Courant 17 March 2005

"Walter I. Wardwell was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on 23 August 1918. He attended Harvard University (A.B., 1940; M.A., 1947; Ph.D., 1951). During World War II, Wardwell served as Assistant Professor of Military Science at M.I.T. and Tufts College Medical School. He also served as Commandant of the Army Specialized Training Unit (ASTU) at Tufts.

In 1949, Wardwell was appointed instructor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Connecticut. He was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1952 and to Professor in 1966. He retired in 1984 after a 35 year teaching career at the University.

During Wardwell's years with the Department of Sociology, he served on numerous University committees, including the Growth and Development Committee of the University Senate, the Environmental Studies Task Force, and the Housing Policy Committee, of which he was chairman. He has been an active member of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) since 1952 and was president of the University of Connecticut Chapter from 1954 to 1955. He has also served as chairman of the Contract Committee for the University chapter.

Wardwell's fields of specialization are socal organizations and institutions, medical sociology, and sociology of the professions. He has authored numerous journal articles and his essays have appeared in several books on the sociology of helath and of the professions. Wardwell has served as a consultant to the Heart Disease Control Programs and the Division of Medical Care Administration of the U.S. Public Health Service." -http://www.lib.uconn.edu/online/research/speclib/ASC/findaids/Wardwell/MSS19900018.html

1. ↑ Social Security Death Index.
2. ↑ Hartford Courant 17 March 2005.