Los Angeles
County
Biographies
EDITH and LAWRENCE KELLY
Edith and Lawrence Kelly, whose establishment, Kelly’s Physical
Therapy, is a very important and valuable service to the community of Alhambra. Located at the same address since 1934, their
business is the oldest independent physical therapy office in the San Gabriel
Valley.
Many
people have benefited and regained good health by physical therapy, which means
treating the entire body – joints, muscles, nerves and circulatory systems
through the therapeutic use of the natural elements, such as light, water,
heat, electricity and by manual manipulation and regulated exercise.
Lawrence
Clyde Kelly, the only child of Allison Clyde and Maud May (Delaplain)
Kelly, was born on March 2, 1901, in Concordia, Kansas. In the early 1920’s the senior Mr. Kelly was
in the real estate business in Alhambra and at one time, was a candidate for
City Commissioner of Alhambra, but was defeated by only 50 votes. The family were
members of the First Presbyterian Church of Alhambra.
Mr.
Lawrence Kelly was educated in Wichita, Kansas, prior to moving to Long Beach,
California, in 1920. One year later he
moved to Alhambra, where he purchased his home at 503 North Garfield Avenue in
1922. He became a student of physical
therapy at the Los Angeles College of Physical Therapy, from which he received
his diploma as a qualified Physical Therapist.
Edith
Adelbert Lesley Kelly was also an only child.
She is the daughter of Royden Valentine and
Cora May (Ertel) Lesley, and was born on March 24,
1902, in Indianapolis, Indiana. After
attending elementary schools in Indianapolis, she moved with her family to
California in 1912, where she attended Berkeley High School and was a student
of nursing at Merritt Hospital in Oakland.
She practiced nursing from 1919 until 1935. Later she became a student at the Los Angeles
College of Physical Therapy, from which she received her diploma as a qualified
Physical Therapist.
Edith
and Lawrence Kelly were married on December 24, 1932, in the home they now
occupy and where they have been located for twenty-nine years. The Kelly’s are affiliated with the Bethany
Church of Alhambra. Both are members of
the California Physical Therapists, Inc., of which they are charter members and
in which they take an active part.
Mrs.
Kelly has written a number of articles on physical therapy
which have been published in the California Journal of Physical Therapy.
Early
in 1950 Mr. Kelly was closely instrumental in procuring a legislative bill
through the California State Assembly to grant licenses to physical
therapists. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly were
instrumental also in forming the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the California
Physical Therapists Association, Inc.
The
method which Mr. and Mrs. Kelly use was started by an eminent physician and
surgeon and scientist. Much of the
success in the advancement of their work has been attributed to the principles
and practice of Manipulative Technique, known as Thalamotherapy. This technique stimulates the neuron energy
with the Diencephalon, particularly the Thalamus, which is distributed through
the Cerebrospinal and Sympathetic nervous systems affecting all the functions
of the body, thus assuring their normal function.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 528-531, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES