Dr. Charlotte Weaver in Europe.
"The Books"
Her Life Work in Her Own Words
Dr. Weaver dedicated her life to helping individuals and uplifting society. She utilized her inimitable erudition in conjunction with her deep insights into the interconnectedness of science, philosophies and cultural wisdom to achieve these goals. After graduation from the American School of Osteopathy (1912) where she was guided by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, her professional career became one of research, private practice, teaching and writing. She balanced her life with personal interests such as symphony orchestras, poetry, walking nature trails, travel and fashion (Check out her couture in the photo!) Her research on cranial anatomy, neural and mental development was novel. In fact, her work on the "Basio Cranium" has been touted as the "greatest single original addition to the science of osteopathy since Dr. Still's own work" (Women of Ohio; ATS Museum Bulletin). She determined the "Basio "Cranium" as being malleable in newborn children and therefore contended that any associated problems could be corrected in young children. Working from this premise, she produced significant ameliorations for those problems. Reprints of her 3 original research articles are described along with a biographical summary in Dr. Sorrell's book, Charlotte Weaver: Pioneer in Cranial Osteopathy. (See J.M. Jones' review for a more complete description).
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Although frequently cited for her "Basio Cranium" work, Dr. Weaver's research extended into other, previously unexplored functions of the human central nervous system (CNS). In fact, until her death at age 80, she explored the pineal gland (a small endocrine gland centrally located in the brain) relating its anatomy and functionality with the energy that sustains human life (the "metaphysical"). Her interest in the pineal gland originated from the family teachings passed on to her by her mother (Sarah E. Weaver, nee Winger), which were grounded in the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.
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Dr. Weaver traveled extensively to study and share her knowledge. She lectured widely and published several articles in national and international journals. Her knowledge was vast and deep, not only of medicine, but also of a range of sciences (e.g., archaeology, anthropology, physics), religions, philosophies, linguistics, and mythologies. Most impressive were her astute abilities to merge these studies into formative concepts of the interconnectedness of life which she articulated in three handwritten volumes --"The Books".
HISTORY OF THE CHARLOTTE WEAVER FOUNDATION & "THE BOOKS"
In 1927, Dr. Weaver established the original Dr. Charlotte Weaver Foundation. The goals of which were to preserve and disseminate "osteopathic, diagnostic, and therapeutic advances in nervous and mental diseases" founded on extensive, original research into unexplained functions of the human central cerebrospinal nervous system. Dr. Weaver contributed approximately $60,000 to promote the Foundation's work which included convening several US and international conferences which related scientific research and human mind, body and spirit.
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Pursuant with her overarching goals, by the time of her death (December 28, 1964), Dr. Weaver had produced handwritten voluminous treatises along with hand-drawn illustrations that integrated her life work and teachings. These writings were organized into 3 volumes: Book 1: After Those Days; Book 2: Biography of Unas; Book 3: The Piedmont Epic. Her intention was, of course, to publish these works. As fate would have it, one of her young patients, Georgann Cullen, would become integral to this mission. To nourish Georgann's burgeoning interest in science, Dr. Weaver tasked the 13-year-old to begin typing, word-for-word, her original handwritten book chapters.
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As a young girl in Akron, Ohio, Georgann was treated by Dr. Weaver for a vertebral injury sustained in a swimming accident. Georgann's father knew Dr. Weaver, as he was the manager of the Mayflower Hotel in Akron where Dr. Weaver had an office (suite 839). Not only did Dr. Weaver treat Georgann's injury, but she introduced her to science, which would ultimately become her profession. Dr. Weaver became a family friend and served as a lifetime mentor to Georgann. After graduating from the Univ. of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Georgann established a career at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. The now Professor Cullen focused her research on anatomical studies of the pineal gland while continuing to prepare Dr. Weaver's hand-written books for publication. Prof. Cullen's training, research, and personal familiarity with and devotion to Dr. Weaver's work provided her the unique acumen to ensure the unaltered integrity of Dr. Weaver's Books throughout the publication process, even after Dr. Weaver's death.
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Professor Georgann Cullen, working on pineal research in her lab, West Chester University, circa 2000.
"The Book" project is a massive undertaking and it required Prof. Cullen to work with a graphic artist, Laurie Webelhuth, a host of contracted consultants and biology students. The fact that many of those involved were located in different US cities, made the book progress slow-going. As fate would have it, Dr. Weaver's nephew, William (Bill) Martin, who was president of Hexagon Press (incorporated in 1973 in St. Louis, MO) had experience as a corporate pioneer in automating data handling and he lent this expertise to "The Book" project under the umbrella of Hexagon Press. This computerized approach allowed Prof. Cullen and the contracted experts to work together remotely via computer. Years of meticulous editing and artistic work progressed "Book 1" toward potential publication. With the 2012 death of Mr. Martin, Prof. Cullen became the sole legal controller of Hexagon Press, Inc. As a university professor and researcher, Prof. Cullen's interests were not in business administration. However, as always, she was devoted to protecting, preserving, and disseminating Dr. Weaver's original research and Books 1-3. So, she legally terminated Hexagon Press and in 2019 formed and funded the contemporary version of The Dr. Charlotte Weaver Foundation; a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of Dr. Weaver's research data and notes, the distribution of the "Books," and the support of associated scholarly learning. Professor Cullen died May 14, 2023 at the age of 90, but the Dr. Charlotte Weaver Foundation will continue its mission.