Paul Bragg
Encyclopedia
Paul Bragg nutritionist
, was a pioneer in America’s wellness movement.
, but genealogical research indicates he was born on February 6, 1895 in Batesville, Indiana
. He was probably named after his father's younger brother, Paul L. Bragg (who died in childhood and was enumerated at age 1 in the U.S. 1870 Census for Wayne County, Indiana).
Bragg grew up in Washington, D.C. with his parents, Robert Elton Bragg (1866-1944) and Caroline (Chappius) Bragg (1859-1934). He had two brothers, James Elton and John Harrison Bragg. His father was employed by the U.S. Printing Office. After graduating from high school Bragg enlisted in the Washington, D.C.
, National Guard for three years, as is shown on his World War I
draft registration card).
In 1915 Bragg married Neva Parnin at the Chapel of St. Barnabas in New York City . They moved to Indianapolis
, where Bragg became an agent with The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
.
Several years later, Bragg returned to the East Coast and was employed by various YMCA
s & school districts in physical or athletic director capacities.
In 1921 Bragg and his family, now also including two young daughters, Neva Pauline/Polly and Lorraine Agnes Bragg (both born in Washington, D.C. on 10/14/1917 & 10/3/1919, respectively), came to California, where Paul was again employed by the YMCA (Los Angeles Times, 9/28/1921). Son, Robert Elton, was born in Los Angeles County on March 25, 1922. It is unknown how long Bragg stayed with the Los Angeles "Y", but in 1924 he was a physical education teacher at Redondo Union High School, Redondo Beach, CA.
Circa 1926, Paul Bragg apparently left paid employment and became an entrepreneur in the health field, first by opening an establishment on N. 7th Street, Los Angeles, called "Health Center of Los Angeles" and then, in 1928, "Bragg Health Center" on South Hill Street, Los Angeles. Likely to publicize these businesses, he also wrote a weekly health column (in the early days they were "advertorials") in The Los Angeles Times from 1926 to 1928 which he sometimes called "Newslets" and other times "Health Notes". The health services that business endeavors offered are described in the advertorials and columns.
1929 was the beginning of Paul Bragg's health lecture tours where he went to various American cities (for instance, Oakland, CA and San Antonio & Dallas, TX in 1929), rented a facility, advertised heavily, then gave a series of lectures—usually over a period of five or six consecutive evenings. His lectures were free, but he did charge a fee for post-lecture private consultation. ($20 circa 1935 according to testimony in a Maryland court case against him).
1929 was also the copyright
year of the first health book attributed to Paul Bragg as author, "Cure Yourself". Since book stores or book departments in retail stores in that era were usually only accessible in the more highly populated areas, another purpose of Bragg's lecture tours was most likely to promote and sell his books.
During the Braggs' first decade in California, Paul & Neva Bragg divorced , and in the 1930 U.S. Census (which is the last census currently of public record until the 1940 one becomes available in 2012), Neva & her new husband, August Busch, were shown living with the three Bragg children in Los Angeles, CA.
The Florida Marriage Index documents the marriage of Paul Bragg and Betty Brownlee (born Gertrude Elizabeth Brownlee 6 July 1902, Eau Claire, WI) on 17 Feb. 1930 in Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida. However, the following year, Gertrude Elizabeth Bragg filed for divorce against Paul C. Bragg in Los Angeles County Superior Court , which Divorce Decree was granted in January 1932 . There is currently no indication that Paul Bragg ever remarried.
There is no record of Paul Bragg being counted in the 1930 U.S. Census, although Burbank, CA city directories of the time reflect his residence in that city from 1935 to 1954, and that his food manufacturing company, Live Food Products, Inc., was also located there during that period. Subsequently he relocated to Desert Hot Springs, CA, and later in the 1960s, at least part-time, to Hawaii.
, water fasts
, organic food
s, drinking distilled water
, juicing
, exercise and listening to one's body as methods of prolonging life span. Until he died at a claimed age of 95, but believed to be actually 81, he claimed that every human being could live to 120 by following his regimen.
Patricia Bragg
, who claims to be Paul's daughter has since taken over Bragg's health empire. According to official records, she was actually his former daughter-in-law, having previously married Bragg's son, Robert Elton Bragg, on 04/19/1952 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ, and divorced him on 03/29/1957 in Los Angeles County, CA. She has stated that she was legally adopted by Paul.
stars from 3-time swimming Gold Medalist Murray Rose to 4-time track Gold Medalist Betty Cuthbert
of Australia, his relative (pole-vaulting
Gold Medalist), Don Bragg and countless others. Jack LaLanne
, the original TV Fitness King said, “Bragg saved my life at age 15 when I attended the Bragg Crusade in Oakland, California.
Paul Bragg also wrote many successful books, such as "The Miracle of Fasting", as well as the "Live Food Cook Book and Menus" (Hollywood, California: Live Food Products, Inc., 1930).
Nutritionist
A nutritionist is a person who advises on matters of food and nutrition impacts on health. Different professional terms are used in different countries, employment settings and contexts — some examples include: nutrition scientist, public health nutritionist, dietitian-nutritionist, clinical...
, was a pioneer in America’s wellness movement.
Early life
Born as Paul Chappius Bragg, Bragg claimed he was born in 1881 in Fairfax County, VirginiaFairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
, but genealogical research indicates he was born on February 6, 1895 in Batesville, Indiana
Batesville, Indiana
Batesville is a city in Franklin and Ripley counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 6,520 at the 2010 census. Both the Batesville Casket Company and the Hill-Rom hospital bed manufacturer are headquartered in this town...
. He was probably named after his father's younger brother, Paul L. Bragg (who died in childhood and was enumerated at age 1 in the U.S. 1870 Census for Wayne County, Indiana).
Bragg grew up in Washington, D.C. with his parents, Robert Elton Bragg (1866-1944) and Caroline (Chappius) Bragg (1859-1934). He had two brothers, James Elton and John Harrison Bragg. His father was employed by the U.S. Printing Office. After graduating from high school Bragg enlisted in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, National Guard for three years, as is shown on his World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
draft registration card).
In 1915 Bragg married Neva Parnin at the Chapel of St. Barnabas in New York City . They moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, where Bragg became an agent with The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
MetLife, Inc. is the holding corporation for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, or MetLife, for short, and its affiliates. MetLife is among the largest global providers of insurance, annuities, and employee benefit programs, with 90 million customers in over 60 countries...
.
Several years later, Bragg returned to the East Coast and was employed by various YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
s & school districts in physical or athletic director capacities.
In 1921 Bragg and his family, now also including two young daughters, Neva Pauline/Polly and Lorraine Agnes Bragg (both born in Washington, D.C. on 10/14/1917 & 10/3/1919, respectively), came to California, where Paul was again employed by the YMCA (Los Angeles Times, 9/28/1921). Son, Robert Elton, was born in Los Angeles County on March 25, 1922. It is unknown how long Bragg stayed with the Los Angeles "Y", but in 1924 he was a physical education teacher at Redondo Union High School, Redondo Beach, CA.
Circa 1926, Paul Bragg apparently left paid employment and became an entrepreneur in the health field, first by opening an establishment on N. 7th Street, Los Angeles, called "Health Center of Los Angeles" and then, in 1928, "Bragg Health Center" on South Hill Street, Los Angeles. Likely to publicize these businesses, he also wrote a weekly health column (in the early days they were "advertorials") in The Los Angeles Times from 1926 to 1928 which he sometimes called "Newslets" and other times "Health Notes". The health services that business endeavors offered are described in the advertorials and columns.
1929 was the beginning of Paul Bragg's health lecture tours where he went to various American cities (for instance, Oakland, CA and San Antonio & Dallas, TX in 1929), rented a facility, advertised heavily, then gave a series of lectures—usually over a period of five or six consecutive evenings. His lectures were free, but he did charge a fee for post-lecture private consultation. ($20 circa 1935 according to testimony in a Maryland court case against him).
1929 was also the copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
year of the first health book attributed to Paul Bragg as author, "Cure Yourself". Since book stores or book departments in retail stores in that era were usually only accessible in the more highly populated areas, another purpose of Bragg's lecture tours was most likely to promote and sell his books.
During the Braggs' first decade in California, Paul & Neva Bragg divorced , and in the 1930 U.S. Census (which is the last census currently of public record until the 1940 one becomes available in 2012), Neva & her new husband, August Busch, were shown living with the three Bragg children in Los Angeles, CA.
The Florida Marriage Index documents the marriage of Paul Bragg and Betty Brownlee (born Gertrude Elizabeth Brownlee 6 July 1902, Eau Claire, WI) on 17 Feb. 1930 in Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida. However, the following year, Gertrude Elizabeth Bragg filed for divorce against Paul C. Bragg in Los Angeles County Superior Court , which Divorce Decree was granted in January 1932 . There is currently no indication that Paul Bragg ever remarried.
There is no record of Paul Bragg being counted in the 1930 U.S. Census, although Burbank, CA city directories of the time reflect his residence in that city from 1935 to 1954, and that his food manufacturing company, Live Food Products, Inc., was also located there during that period. Subsequently he relocated to Desert Hot Springs, CA, and later in the 1960s, at least part-time, to Hawaii.
Healthy Lifestyle Legacy
Bragg advocated using deep breathingDiaphragmatic breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, belly breathing or deep breathing is breathing that is done by contracting the diaphragm, a muscle located horizontally between the chest cavity and stomach cavity...
, water fasts
Fasting
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
, organic food
Organic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
s, drinking distilled water
Distilled water
Distilled water is water that has many of its impurities removed through distillation. Distillation involves boiling the water and then condensing the steam into a clean container.-History:...
, juicing
Juicing
Juicing is the process of extracting juice from plant tissues such as fruit or vegetables. There are many methods of juicing, from squeezing fruit by hand to widescale extraction via industrial equipment...
, exercise and listening to one's body as methods of prolonging life span. Until he died at a claimed age of 95, but believed to be actually 81, he claimed that every human being could live to 120 by following his regimen.
Patricia Bragg
Patricia Bragg
Patricia Bragg is an American businesswoman, author and health consultant who is the nominal head of Bragg Health Products and Books.- References :...
, who claims to be Paul's daughter has since taken over Bragg's health empire. According to official records, she was actually his former daughter-in-law, having previously married Bragg's son, Robert Elton Bragg, on 04/19/1952 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ, and divorced him on 03/29/1957 in Los Angeles County, CA. She has stated that she was legally adopted by Paul.
Some of his achievements
Bragg was the inspiration and personal health and fitness advisor to top OlympicOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
stars from 3-time swimming Gold Medalist Murray Rose to 4-time track Gold Medalist Betty Cuthbert
Betty Cuthbert
Elizabeth Cuthbert AM, MBE is an Australian athlete, and a fourfold Olympic champion....
of Australia, his relative (pole-vaulting
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
Gold Medalist), Don Bragg and countless others. Jack LaLanne
Jack LaLanne
Francois Henri "Jack" LaLanne was an American fitness, exercise, and nutritional expert and motivational speaker who is sometimes called "the godfather of fitness" and the "first fitness superhero." He described himself as being a "sugarholic" and a "junk food junkie" until he was 15...
, the original TV Fitness King said, “Bragg saved my life at age 15 when I attended the Bragg Crusade in Oakland, California.
Paul Bragg also wrote many successful books, such as "The Miracle of Fasting", as well as the "Live Food Cook Book and Menus" (Hollywood, California: Live Food Products, Inc., 1930).
External links
- Bragg.com, Paul and Patricia BraggPatricia BraggPatricia Bragg is an American businesswoman, author and health consultant who is the nominal head of Bragg Health Products and Books.- References :...
's website - People Magazine, 1975 article about Paul Bragg