Mrs. L. Dow Balliett

Sarah Joanna Dennis Balliett (pen name, Mrs. L. Dow Balliett; March 1, 1847 – December 11, 1929) was an American writer who created the modern style of numerology. An avid clubwoman, since her school days, she devoted herself to philosophic and civic affairs. In DuBois, Pennsylvania, Balliett was the first president of The Round Table Club. In Atlantic City, New Jersey, she was the founder and first president of the Women's Research Club; first president of the Atlantic County Historical Society; and president of the Women's Homeopathic Club of Atlantic City. She also served as principal of the School of Psychology and Physical Culture of Private Pupils of Atlantic City. Balliett was the author of several books as well as the co-editor of Early History of Atlantic County, New Jersey: Record of the First Year's work of Atlantic County's Historical Society. Drayer referred to Balliett as "The First Mother of Numerology".

Early life and education Sarah Joanna Dennis was born near Mays Landing, New Jersey, on March 1, 1847. Her parents were Joel Dennis (1799–1856) and Sarah Ann (Risley) (1810–1892). Her Quaker mother's motto, to "Leave the place where you stop the better for your having been there", has been the motto of Balliett's career. Balliett was a descendant of the early settlers in New Jersey, and the names of Hancock, Ballinge, Dole, Somers, Lake, Frambes, and Dennis figure in her line.

She was educated in public and private schools. as well as occultism. Among her books were The Body Beautiful: According to the Delsartian Philosophy (1901); How to attain success through the strength of vibration; a System of Numbers as Taught by Pythagoras (1904); The philosophy of numbers; their tone and colors (1908); Nature's Symphony, Or, Lessons in Number Vibration (1911); The day of wisdom according to number vibration (1917); M.D. son of Levi and Elizabeth (Follmer) Balliett, of Milton, Pennsylvania.

Selected works Author The Body Beautiful: According to the Delsartian Philosophy (1901) (text) How to attain success through the strength of vibration; a System of Numbers as Taught by Pythagoras (1904) (text) The philosophy of numbers; their tone and colors (1908) (text) Nature's Symphony, Or, Lessons in Number Vibration (1911) (text) The day of wisdom according to number vibration (1917) (text) The Balliett Philosophy of Number Vibration in Questions and Answers: A Text Book (1930) (text)

Co-editor Early History of Atlantic County, New Jersey: Record of the First Year's work of Atlantic County's Historical Society (with Laura Lavinia Thomas Willis and Mrs. M. R. M. Fish; 1915) (text)