Posture Queen Contest
Title
Posture Queen Contest
Description
This photographic collection follows the World Posture Contest, developed by Dr. Clair O'Dell. Dr. O'Dell and his wife, Martha, oversaw the pageant during its highest public visibility.
The pageant served as a way to promote chiropractic and differed from a traditional beauty pageant in that a spinal x-ray was as important as the contestant herself. Fifty percent of judging was based on correct spinal posture and 50 percent went toward evaluating the personality of the contestant.
In its heyday, the contest was so popular that its winners went on to visit presidents and interview on television shows. They were also featured in well-known publications such as "Time".
The pageants slowly faded away in the early 1970s. This collection covers the World Posture Contest in photographs from 1955 - 1967, thus covering a large portion of the years that this particular contest was held.
(Information about the history of the pageants comes from Hynes, R.J.R. (2002) The most beautiful spines in America: The history of the posture queens. Chiropractic History 22 (2), 65-71.)
The pageant served as a way to promote chiropractic and differed from a traditional beauty pageant in that a spinal x-ray was as important as the contestant herself. Fifty percent of judging was based on correct spinal posture and 50 percent went toward evaluating the personality of the contestant.
In its heyday, the contest was so popular that its winners went on to visit presidents and interview on television shows. They were also featured in well-known publications such as "Time".
The pageants slowly faded away in the early 1970s. This collection covers the World Posture Contest in photographs from 1955 - 1967, thus covering a large portion of the years that this particular contest was held.
(Information about the history of the pageants comes from Hynes, R.J.R. (2002) The most beautiful spines in America: The history of the posture queens. Chiropractic History 22 (2), 65-71.)
Collection Items
Posture Queen Parade
The winners of Logan's Posture Queen contest ride in a parade. Driving the car is Dr. Violet (Vi) Nickson, a 1939 Logan College graduate.
Posture Queen in the parade
Photo of the Posture Queen car, driven by Dr. Violet (Vi) Nickson. In it are the two winners of the Posture Queen contest, along with an unidentified man.
The Posture Queen Car
Photo of the Posture Queen car, driven by Dr. Violet (Vi) Nickson. In it are the two unidentified winners of the Posture Queen contest, along with an unidentified man. Two other unidentified men pose by the car.
Posture Queen Winner
The unidentified winner of the Posture Queen contest is crowned. Several unidentified men are on stage to present her with the awards.
The Contestants
Several of the unidentified contestants, and several men, including Dr. Clair O'Dell (bottom left)
Posture Contestants and Judges Look at Spine X-rays
Three contestants pose while three chiropractors look at an x-ray. From left to right -- Mary Watson (Miss Alabama), Marcia Wilson (Miss Utah & 3rd place winner), Sandra Smith (Miss Minnesota), Dr. Paul Hook of Ohio, Dr. C.R. Titus of Wisconsin, and…
2nd Place Posture Queen(Miss Georgia) is Crowned
Dr. Clair O'Dell, Dr. V. F. Logan, and an unknown man, crown the 2nd place winner, Carolyn Kirby (Miss Georgia)
Miss Texas
Dorothy Tidwell (Miss Texas), the winner, poses with Dr. Clair O'Dell, Vinton Logan, and an unidentified man.
A Round of Applause
Two unidentified men, one unidentified woman, and Dorothy Tidwell (The winner of the pageant) clap.
