Theos-Talk Archives (September 2004 Message tt00156)

Hi Paul and Daniel,

Thank you for sharing your experience. As I find it, maybe this 
issue is, for now, too sensitive for further discussion.

Kind regards,
Anton



--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel H. Caldwell" 
<danielhcaldwell@y...> wrote:
> Paul,
> 
> Thanks for your comments.
> 
> I will give a few remarks but will NOT name "names".
> 
> I have worked with different theosophists, independent 
> theosophical researchers/historians and various theosophical 
> libraries and archives.
> 
> I would say that in general that I have been
> given help and access in the majority of cases but not always.
> 
> In some cases I was allowed to take my photocopy machine
> into the archives and copy whatever I wanted to! That was
> fun!
> 
> In other cases I would request a specific item
> and sometimes I was told no you can't see it or 
> yes you can see the document but you cannot have
> a photocopy.
> 
> In some cases I have been told you can see this document
> but you must promise not to reveal its existence to
> anyone else. God, I hate those offers of help!
> 
> 5 years ago one prominent Theosophist promised me
> copies of several microfilm rolls of documents but
> 5 years later still hasn't found the time to
> provide the duplicate reels to me. I even offered to have
> a special messenger pick the film up in their
> city and have it duplicated in their city and
> then arrange for my copies to be sent to me. I'm
> still waiting....
> 
> One independent theosophical historian contacted
> me and in the course of our communication it was
> discovered he/she had items I needed and I had
> items he/she needed. It was agreed that we would
> share the documents but at the last minute the
> historian ceased communicating with me and all
> subsequent attempts to contact him/her has been unsuccessful.
> 
> I think for the most part institutions and individuals have
> been very cooperative and helpful in providing me with
> material and assisting me in my research. But there are
> some notable exceptions and some of those were quite surprising
> and puzzling!
> 
> And I should say that I have also shared with other
> students and researchers material that I have. And the 
> establishment of my Blavatsky Archives on the Internet
> <http://blavatskyarchives.com/intromaterial6.htm> was
> prompted by my desire to share hard to find material
> with as many people as possible.
> 
> And the response I have received to this publishing
> endeavor has been for the most part very positive.
> 
> But one theosophical historian was very upset that
> I was publishing on my website various articles by
> William Emmette Coleman. I'm sure he/she will be
> quite upset when I publish Coleman's material
> in a book which I am working on right now.
> 
> When I published some of HPB's Esoteric documents
> and even Judge's 1894 diary 
> <http://blavatskyarchives.com/stokeswqjktdiary.htm>
> I received some very nasty emails and letters from
> upset Blavatsky students who no longer cooperate with
> me and send me material!
> 
> My publishing of the portraits of the two masters on
> my website has caused a few of my colleagues and
> contacts to cease communication with me. And some
> of them no longer recommend my website.
> 
> And I know that when I make comments and bring up
> controversial issues on the WWW about Judge, Crosbie, 
> Bailey, , Besant, Leadbeater, etc., I risk
> losing access to materials and communication
> and cooperation with certain Theosophical students.
> 
> Case in point. When I brought up the plagiarism charge
> surrounding Madame Blavatsky, one of my colleagues
> was upset enough that he/she would no longer work on
> a Blavatsky project that the two of us had agreed on.
> 
> Now I'm rambling so I will stop.
> 
> Daniel
> http://hpb.cc
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> 
> 
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "kpauljohnson" 
<kpauljohnson@y...> 
> wrote:
> > Dear Anton, 
> > 
> > I can only speak anecdotally and describe the high and low 
points 
> of 
> > my experience with research in Theosophical archives. In London 
> and 
> > Paris, I was given free access to the archives and full 
cooperation 
> > from the members in charge of them. I never needed to use the 
> > Olcott Library but Elizabeth Trumpler was fully cooperative and 
> > helpful with the photo on the cover (and inside) Initiates-- the 
> > first foldout illustration in a SUNY Press book. Had minor help 
> > from Pasadena but didn't really call on them so cannot comment 
> > meaningfully.
> > 
> > In Adyar, though, I was restricted from the archives even while 
non-
> > Theosophist researchers there at the same time (Nancy Fix 
Anderson, 
> > Joy Dixon) were being given access. Reason "we have no 
archivist 
> on 
> > duty." Why that reason applied to a longtime member but not to 
non-
> > members perplexed me. Stephen Prothero got full cooperation for 
> his 
> > Olcott bio later. It's "sensitivity" of subject matter and not 
> > staff issues that determine who gets access.
> > 
> > Greg T can speak for himself and I hope will. Coats was fully 
> > cooperative, Burnier fully uncooperative, to him in his 
researches 
> > as I recall him saying. I have also heard one prominent 
> Theosophist 
> > archivist from Europe describe being denied archives access by 
> Radha 
> > and not knowing why.
> > 
> > Daniel has actually published with TPH so ought to know a lot 
more 
> > than I do about their practices.
> > 
> > Cheers,
> > 
> > Paul
> > 
> > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Anton Rozman" 
> > <anton_rozman@y...> wrote:
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Hi Paul, Daniel and all,
> > > 
> > > my appreciation for your work and my sympathy for your 
> > professional 
> > > pain and concern in front of the impenetrable wall, for there 
is 
> > > inside me also this string that sounds when the note of hidden 
> > > treasures echoes. In search of the magic formula: "Open
> > > Sesame!" 
> > > could you tell us some more about:
> > > 
> > > What is the status of these archives?
> > > Are there any laws about archives theosophical organizations 
have 
> > to 
> > > apply?
> > > If yes, how the theosophical organizations respect these laws?
> > > 
> > > Kind regards,
> > > Anton
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel H. Caldwell" 
> > > <danielhcaldwell@y...> wrote:
> > > > Paul,
> > > > 
> > > > Yes, I do share your concern with this issue. It is a 
troubling
> > > > problem and is not confined just to the Adyar T.S.
> > > > 
> > > > Daniel
> > > > 
> > > > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "kpauljohnson" 
> > > <kpauljohnson@y...> 
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel H. Caldwell"
> > > > > <danielhcaldwell@y...> wrote:
> > > > > 
> > > > > > I'm sure there must be some hidden away in the Adyar 
> archives
> > > > > > or the archives of the E.S.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > Hi Daniel,
> > > > > 
> > > > > Do you mean that as a comment on the Adyar archives? As a 
> > fellow
> > > > > professional librarian, I'd hope you share my concern on 
that 
> > > > subject.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Paul