Old Diary Leaves 1875–8
The True Story of the Theosophical Society

This volume (1895) traces the founding and early history of the Theosophical Society in America in the 1870s.

Henry Steel Olcott (Author)

9781108072939, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 May 2011

530 pages, 15 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 3 cm, 0.67 kg

Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907), co-founder of the Theosophical Society, was a versatile man. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of American agricultural education and also served in the U.S. War Department. Later Olcott was admitted to the New York Bar and became interested in psychology and spiritualism, travelling to India and Sri Lanka with Madame Blavatsky to explore eastern spiritual traditions, especially Buddhism. This volume (1895) describes the first meeting between Olcott and Madame Blavatsky and the founding of the Theosophical Society in 1875. Olcott continued to practise as a lawyer (and supported the Society financially) while in the evenings he and Madame Blavatsky would entertain visitors or collaborate on the book Isis Unveiled. The author portrays his friend as a spiritual medium and describes how Madame Blavatsky's body was from time to time possessed by other 'entities'.

Foreword
1. First meeting of the founders
2. Madame Blavatsky in America
3. Philadelphia phenomena
4. Madame Blavatsky's second marriage
5. Spiritualism
6. Oriental disapprobation
7. Dr. Slade
8. Theosophical Society proposed
9. Formation of the Theosophical Society
10. Baron de Palm
11. The first cremation in America
12. Putative author of 'Art Magic'
13. 'Isis unveiled'
14. Different hypotheses
15. Apparent possession by foreign entities
16. Definition of terms
17. Re-incarnation
18. Early days of the Society
19. Conflicting views
20. Conflicting views continued
21. New York headquarters
22. Various phenomena described
23. Precipitations of pictures
24. Projection of the double
25. Swami Dyánand
26. Madame Blavatsky at home
27. Illusions
28. Character sketch of Madame Blavatsky
29. Madame Blavatsky becomes an American citizen. Formation of the British Theosophical Society. Last days in New York. The founders sail for India
Index.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]