The
Edward Deming Andrews Memorial Shaker
Collection
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike,
302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Blavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna), 1831-1891.
Title: Collection of materials on theosophy,
Dates: 1884-[1920]
Call No.: ASC 1198
Acc. No.: SA 1318
Quantity: 41 items
Location: 29 E 4
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Helena Petrovna Blavetsky was a spiritualist, a founder of the Theosophical
Society, a writer, and a traveler. She
was born in 1831 in Russia, the daughter of Helena and Peter Hahn. Helena Petrovna
married Nicephore Blavatsky in 1848, but only lived
with him a short while. She then began
to travel.
In 1873, Madame Blavatsky came to New York City,
where she befriended a number of persons interested in spiritualism. Two years later, along with Colonel Henry S. Olcott, William Q. Judge, and others, she founded the
Theosophical Society. In 1878, she and
her followers established the official headquarters of the society in
India. At the time of Madame Blavatsky’s
death in 1891, nearly 100,000 people were acknowledged adherents.
Laura Carter Holloway Langford (1843-1930, her
actual dates) was a journalist, author, and lecturer. A native of Tennessee, she spent most of her
adult life in New York, first in Brooklyn and then in Canaan. She was best known for her first book, First Ladies of the White House,
published in 1870. In the late 1870s,
she became interested in theosophy and in 1884, traveled to Europe to meet
Madame Blavetsky, a founder of the movement. In 1903, Mrs. Langford, Elizabeth P. Chapin,
and Maude Ralston wrote a children’s book, Atma Fairy Stories, inspired by theosophy. Mrs. Langford also wrote articles for theosophy
journals. She became friends with Eldress Anna White of the New Lebanon, New York, Shaker
community. The two shared interests in pacifism, feminism,
vegetarianism, and cremation. Mrs. Langford eventually
bought land from the Canaan, New York, Shaker community, and wrote The Story of a Piano, which was inspired
by Shaker craftsmanship.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
This collection includes letters and notes, some
presumably in Madame Blavatsky’s own hand, photographs of the leaders of the
theosophical movement, several printed articles from late nineteenth and early
twentieth century periodicals, and items bearing the name of Laura Langford (at
the time Laura Holloway). Most of the
letters and notes are directed to Laura Holloway, and most are from one of the
theosophy movement teachers (called mahatmas) with the initials K.H. The letters encourage Mrs. Holloway to
maintain her interest and growth in the theosophy movement. While no Shaker is specifically mentioned in
these items, the Shakers and Theosophists are connected through their common
interest in spiritualism and Mrs. Langford’s ties to both movements.
ORGANIZATION
Divided into letters and notes; printed articles;
photographs and prints. Letters are in
chronological order.
LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Gift of Mrs. Edward D. Andrews.
RELATED
MATERIALS
Additional material related to Laura Carter Holloway
Langford is found in ASC 1202, also in the Andrews Memorial Shaker
Collection. See the finding aid for that
group for more details.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Holloway, Laura C. (Laura
Carter), 1848-1930.
Carson, Hiram.
Chapin, Elizabeth P.
Judge, William Quan, 1851-1896.
Olcott, Henry Steel, 1832-1907.
Ralston, Maude.
Topics:
Theosophy.
East Indians – Photographs.
Black-and-white photographs.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 29 E 4
LETTERS AND NOTES:
SA 1318.1e1-2 letter, mostly typed, H. P.
Blavatsky, Paris, to “dear sister,” Mrs. L. C. Holloway, Brooklyn, April 24,
1884, with envelope.
“I know that … you will
be able to understand that all you saw and experienced was true….” Learn from the mahatmas [teachers]. Will be happy to see her in Paris.
SA 1318.1b1-2 letter, Damodan[?]
K. Mavalarkay[?], Adyar
(Madras), India, to Laura C. Holloway, Brooklyn, N.Y., May 11, 1884.
Written in response to a
letter from Mrs. Langford, in which she expressed a desire to enroll as a
pupil. Goes on to write about general
principles of theosophy.
SA 1318.1d1-3 letter, Isabel Cooper-Oakley, “Oaklands,” Enfield, [England,] to Mrs. Holloway, c/o Miss Arundale, London, August 2, 1884.
With envelope, and a
separate piece of paper on which part of the above letter has been transcribed.
Invitation to
visit. Written in blue pencil across the
face of the letter is an additional note, the text of which has been
transcribed onto another piece of paper.
SA 1318.1c typed document, noted as being a duplicate,
signed Mahatma K. H., to L.C.H. [Laura Langford], London, August 22, 1884.
About birthdays, and that
L.C.H. is not even a year old yet in her “chelaship”
SA 1318.26a-c Master K.H., to L.C.H., Elberfeld, Germany, August 1884, labeled as being the “Most
important of all the letters I received.”
[obviously a copy of the original letter, written on stationery of Vaulx Carter, Canaan, N.Y.; Vaulx
was the brother of Laura Holloway]
Theosophy philosophy.
SA 1318.23 unsigned note, [probably from K.H.],
stationery of Hotel Suisse, Kandy, Ceylon, to unknown person [probably Laura
Holloway], May 1, 1893.
Condemns the Baileys;
they are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and support the C.W.L.[?]-A.B. crowd.
SA 1318.1a typed statement, signed by Elizabeth P.
Chapin and Maude Ralston Sharman; they make a statement about a prediction made
by Mrs. [Laura Holloway] Langford about Mrs. Besant, no date.
SA 1318.2 copy of a private and confidential
communication received by Miss F. Arundale from K.
H., no date
Encouraging Miss Arundale to do more to further the society. The London society needs to make their
initiation ceremony more dignified. It
also needs to reach out to other European and American societies. L.C.H. [Laura
C. Holloway] has been very active in promoting the society.
SA 1318.19 titles [presumably of books] written on a
piece of paper;
On back: note from K.
H., recommending a book. “Do not show
this to the Sinnetts.”
SA 1318.20a-j more notes written by K.H., all in
blue pencil, and not always easy to read.
Probably several pages belong together as part of one letter, but it is
difficult to arrange them in a meaningful way.
Notes
about theosophy and about Laura C. Holloway.
SA 1318.21a-d more notes written by K. H., all on
pink paper, some in blue pencil, some in ink.
Notes
about theosophy and about Laura C. Holloway.
Page one of SA 1318.21b repeats the message about birthdays, and that
L.C.H. is not even a year old yet in her “chelaship,”
which is found in SA 1318.1c
SA 1318.22 letter, L.C.H. [Laura Holloway], no place,
to “Beloved and Revered Master,” i.e. K. H., with responses from K.H. written added
to the letter. Not dated.
LC.H.
suggests that a notice should be published in the London Times expressing the Theosophy Society’s confidence in Madame B.
[Blavatsky]. K.H. concurs.
L.C.H. asks “permission to
form a secret occult society,” to be formed “of those who possess either
psychic or literary powers,” preferably are celibate, and “who put implicit
faith in the masters” of the Theosophy Society. K.H.’s response is difficult to read.
L.C.H. asks permission to
return home, where she hopes to write a theosophical novel. K.H. responds with words of encouragement.
SA 1318.24 note, H. P. Blavatsky[?], no place, to
“dearest daughter of God” [probably Laura Holloway], no date.
Please come when you
can. Did not mean to hurt her by what was
said to the Duchess.
SA 1318.25 short note, A.W., 539 Washington Ave., to
Miss Anna C. Sweeney, Brooklyn, no date.
Why don’t I hear from
you? Please come hear me play.
SA 1318.34a-d photograph of a letter and envelope,
H. P. Blavatsky, Philadelphia, to Prof.
Hiram Carson, Ithaca, N.Y., no date; envelope postmarked Feb. 16, no year.
[SA 1318.13a-c is a typed copy of
this letter.]
Generally about
theosophy. Mentions a number of other
spiritualists; she approves of some but not of others.
SA 1318.13a-c typed copy of above letter, H. P.
Blavatsky, Philadelphia, to Professor Hiram Carson, no date.
[no number] return address torn from an envelope, for
T. J. Cox, Brooklyn; postmark on back for Canaan, N.Y., Aug. 12, 1909
ARTICLES:
SA 1318.27a-d “Some Reminiscences of a Veteran Theosophist,
H.P.B. in Germany.” By Frances Arundale. Copied from Oct. 1917 issue [magazine title
not given].
Miss Arundale’s
remembers Madame Blavatsky’s visit to Germany.
She also remembers a visit from Laura C. Holloway, and her working with Mohini Chattergi on “Man:
Fragments of Forgotten History.”
SA 1318.28a-e article, “Madame Blavatsky: A Pen
Picture,” by an American newspaper writer.
From The Word, no date. Penciled corrections. Presumably written by
Laura Holloway.
SA 1318.29 Back cover of The Word, no date, perhaps for issue in which above article was
published.
SA 1318.30a-e article, “H.P. Blavatsky,” not
signed, from The Word, not dated;
pages 70-80 only; missing all pages after page 80.
SA 1318.31a-b article, “The Mahatmas and Their
Instruments: Madame Blavatsky and the Masters – Precipitated Letters and Their
Recipients,” by L.C.L. [Laura C. Holloway Langford], p. 69-72 only, from The Word, not dated; with corrections.
SA 1318.32a-h article, “Colonel Olcott: A Reminiscence,” not signed, p. 7-19, plus a
picture of Olcott, from The Word, not dated but after 1906 ; with a correction.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND PRINTS:
SA 1318.18 photo with printed identification: James M.
Pryse, Mme. H. P. Blavatsky, G. R. S. Mead, “The
great exponent of occult philosophy, and two of her pupils … made at the
Theosophical headquarters, London, in 1891.”
Madame Blavatsky is in a wheelchair or cart.
SA 1318.3 photo identified on back: William Quan Judge.
Taken by Sarony,
New York, no date.
SA 1318.4 copy of a photo of Madame Blavatsky taken
at May Cot in 1887.
On back: note with
identification and with a brief history of the unknown writer’s family.
SA 1318.5 photo of a drawing of Mahatma “M” (Morya).
On back: note about the
drawing and some information about Master M.
SA 1318.6 picture of Mr. Claude Falls Wright,
removed from a theosophical publication.
Stamped on back:
Brooklyn Theosophical Press Bureau.
SA 1318.7 photo of Col. Henry S. Olcott, with what is probably his signature.
Taken by R. Schlegel, Elberfeld, Germany.
Inscription on back: To
my dear and valued friend and colleague L. C. Holloway, H. S. Olcott, Elberfeld, Germany,
27-IX-84.
SA 1318.8 photo of Madame Blavatsky with two Indian
men.
Taken by Nicholas, Madras,
India.
Inscribed on back with
message “to my faithful Barker[?],” signed by Mme
Blavatsky, London, July 1884
SA 1318.9 photo of Madame Blavatsky holding a
large fan.
Taken by Elliott and
Fry, London, with a sticker for The Path, New York.
SA 1318.10 photo of Madame Blavatsky, with a knitted
shawl over her head and holding a cigarette.
Taken by Resta, London.
SA 1318.11 photo of Madame Blavatsky, a head shot,
with part of a fan, similar to that in SA 1318.9
SA 1318.12 photo of mother and son, with son reclining
on a cushion on a fur, identified on back as Mrs. Sinnet
and son.
Taken by Arthur King,
London.
SA 1318.14 photo of the convention group, Adyar, 1884, including Mme
Blavatsky with 9 men, mostly Indians
SA 1318.15 photogravure of portrait of Mme Blavatsky painted by H. Schmiechen
in 1885
SA 1318.16 photo postcard of a group of men and women,
one of whom is holding a camera, labeled on back by E.P.C. “13 members of the
[illegible] which in all has 40 members”; the people are identified on the
back, mostly by surname; E.P.C. must be Elizabeth P. Chapin. Maude Ralston is also in the photo.
SA 1318.17 printed
photo, Mr. A. P. Sinnett and his dog, from unknown
publication
SA 1318.35 photo
(damaged) of William Quan Judge and Henry Steel Olcott, copyright 1891