Access Restrictions
Use Restrictions
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Title: Isaac Bonewits papers
Identifier/Call Number: ARC Mss 73
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Creator:
Bonewits, Philip Emmons Isaac
Source:
Seligman, William
Physical Description:
26.33 linear feet
(17 cartons, 3 flat boxes, 2 document boxes, 1 half-size document box, 1 audiocassette, 1 CD)
Date (inclusive): 1960s-2009
Abstract: Subject files, manuscripts, correspondence, notebooks, calendars, photographs and ephemera of Isaac Bonewits (1949–2010),
writer, lecturer, and liturgist with considerable influence on the American Neopagan and Earth religion movements of the late
20th century.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Isaac Bonewits papers, ARC Mss 73. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara
Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Phaedra Bonewits, 2010-2012; gift of William Seligman, 2019.
Biographical Note
Philip Emmons Isaac Bonewits (1949–2010) was a writer, lecturer, and liturgist with considerable influence on the American
Neopagan and Earth religion movements of the late 20th century. Bonewits first became involved with Neopaganism while an undergraduate
at UC Berkeley, where he joined the Reformed Druids of North America. He went on to become the University of California's
first—and, to date, only—graduate to receive a degree in magic. Bonewits published his first book,
Real Magic, shortly after graduation, quickly establishing himself as a leader in the Neopagan community. He eventually founded the
Neopagan Druidic group Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship, which is still functioning. Bonewits was a member of the Aquarian
Anti-Defamation League. and wrote extensively about the history of modern pagan witchcraft, much of which is unpublished.
In the course of his research and writing career, he collected correspondence from many notable figures in the movement.
Scope and Content
Subject files, manuscripts, correspondence, notebooks, photographs and ephemera of Isaac Bonewits (1949–2010), writer, lecturer,
and liturgist with considerable influence on the American Neopagan and Earth religion movements of the late 20th century.
Included among these materials are research files pertaining to pagan religions, pagan liturgy books, treatises on magic and
witchcraft, outlines for articles and books, and many other items related to pagan theology.
Also included are the files collected by William Seligman, after using the materials to write a biography of Isaac Bonewits.
Among these materials are correspondence, magazines, calendars (that belonged to Bonewits), and other materials relating to
the life and works of Isaac Bonewits.
Arrangement
The collection has been divided into the following series: Subject Files, Bonewits' Writings, Others' Writings, Pentalpha
Journal, Calendars, Miscellaneous, and Medical & Legal Records.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Druids and druidism
Magic
Neopaganism
Neopagans
Audiocassettes
Calendars (documents)
Correspondence
Ephemera (general object genre)
Magazines (periodicals)
Manuscripts (documents)
Notebooks
Photographs
Bonewits, Philip Emmons Isaac -- Archives
Seligman, William