Guide to the Society of Pragmatic Mysticism records ARC Mss 93

Finding aid prepared by Leland Riddlesperger, 2019.

UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara 93106-9010

special@library.ucsb.edu

URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections

2019 March 5

Title: Society of Pragmatic Mysticism records

Identifier/Call Number: ARC Mss 93

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections

Creator: Society of Pragmatic Mysticism

Physical Description: 7.79 linear feet (6 cartons, 1 flat oversize box, 53 audiocassettes, 1 CD)

Date (inclusive): approximately 1938-2001

Abstract: Consists of 7 boxes of material relating to the Society of Pragmatic Mysticism and its founder, Mildred Mann, and documenting their beliefs and activities from the 1930s to the early 2000s. Included are 53 audiocassettes and 1 CD containing lectures, discussions, and meditations.

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], Society of Pragmatic Mysticism records, ARC Mss 93. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Acquisition Information

Library purchase, 2019.

Historical Note

The Society of Pragmatic Mysticism was formed in New York City by Mildred Mann (1904-1971), a teacher of metaphysics within the New Thought movement. Originally a student of Emmet Fox, Mann went on to write several books, correspondence courses, pamphlets, and tracts, which formed the core of the society's teachings. The society was initially run from a facility in Midtown Manhattan which featured space for meetings and lectures, a library, a bookstore, and offices. After her death, Mann was succeeded in leadership by the establishment of a directorship of the society, initially filled by Leonebel Connaway. The headquarters of the society were then moved to a Midtown apartment. Under the guidance of its board of trustees, the society continued to publish and promote Mann's teachings, primarily by mail, for many years. In 1980 the society was reestablished in Pawlet, Vermont, and in 1995 it reported 30,000 members worldwide, with the majority residing in Nigeria.

Scope and Content

Records of the Society of Pragmatic Mysticism from the 1930s-2000s, including publications authored by Mildred Mann, pamphlets, pledge cards and subscription notes, booklets, prayer books, library materials of works written by other authors on spirituality, Mildred Mann's notes and lectures, lesson plans, newsletters, memoranda, board minutes, financial reports, and church bulletins relating to the teachings of Emmet Fox, Mildred Mann, and to the Society of Pragmatic Mysticism and similar New Thought movements. The collection contains a significant amount of content by the philosopher Sri Aurobindo. This collection also includes runes, the organization's shop sign, a photograph of Mildred Mann, LP records containing a lecture by Mildred Mann, 53 audio cassettes of lectures and discussions, and 1 CD containing music and chants.

Arrangement

The records are arranged in four series, Series 2 has been further arranged into subseries. The items in Series 1 are arranged by book series and volume number. The series and subseries are arranged as follows: Series 1. Publications, Series 2. Library, Subseries. Artifacts, Series 3. Organizational Records, Series 4. Audiovisual Materials.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

New Thought

Astrology

Cabala

Spiritual healing

Mental healing

Administrative records

Audiocassettes

Compact discs

Church bulletins

Long-playing records

Newsletters

Notes (documents)

Photographs

Publications (documents)

Rune stones

Society of Pragmatic Mysticism -- Archives

Fox, Emmet

Mann, Mildred

Ghose, Aurobindo, 1872-1950

Series 1. Publications

Scope and Content

Contains the printed message series authored by Mildred Mann, and other materials published by the Society of Pragmatic Mysticism.

box 1, folder 1

Pragmatic Mysticism: Developing Your Awareness Vol. 1 - Vol. 3

box 1, folder 2

Pragmatic Mysticism: Developing Your Awareness Vol. 4 - Vol. 6

box 1, folder 3

Pragmatic Mysticism: Developing Your Awareness Vol. 7 - Vol. 9

box 1, folder 4

Pragmatic Mysticism: Developing Your Awareness Vol. 10 - Vol. 12

box 1, folder 5

Pragmatic Mysticism: Being and Becoming Vol. 1 - Vol. 3

box 1, folder 6

Pragmatic Mysticism: Being and Becoming Vol. 4 - Vol. 6

box 1, folder 7

Pragmatic Mysticism: Being and Becoming Vol. 7 - Vol. 9

box 1, folder 8

Pragmatic Mysticism: Being and Becoming Vol. 10 - Vol. 12

box 1, folder 9

Pragmatic Mysticism: Decreeing Your Good Vol. 1 - Vol. 3

box 1, folder 10

Pragmatic Mysticism: Decreeing Your Good Vol. 4 - Vol. 6

box 1, folder 11

Pragmatic Mysticism: Decreeing Your Good Vol. 7 - Vol. 9

box 1, folder 12

Pragmatic Mysticism: Decreeing Your Good Vol. 10 - Vol. 12

box 1, folder 13

Pragmatic Mysticism: Wisdom is Yours Vol. 1 - Vol. 3

box 1, folder 14

Pragmatic Mysticism: Wisdom is Yours Vol. 4 - Vol. 6

box 1, folder 15

Pragmatic Mysticism: Wisdom is Yours Vol. 7 - Vol. 9

box 1, folder 16

Pragmatic Mysticism: Wisdom is Yours Vol. 10 - Vol. 12

box 2, folder 1

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 1 - Vol. 3

box 2, folder 2

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 4 - Vol. 6

box 2, folder 3

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 7 - Vol. 9

box 2, folder 4

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 10 - Vol. 12

box 2, folder 5

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 13 - Vol. 15

box 2, folder 6

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 16 - Vol. 18

box 2, folder 7

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 19 - Vol. 21

box 2, folder 8

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 22 - Vol. 24

box 2, folder 9

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 25 - Vol. 27

box 2, folder 10

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 28 - Vol. 30

box 2, folder 11

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 31 - Vol. 33

box 2, folder 12

A Metaphysical and Symbolic Interpretation of the Bible Vol. 34 - Vol. 36

box 2, folder 13

Become What You Believe; The Bible is Your Story

box 2, folder 14

How to Find Your Real Self; Mind and Consciousness

box 2, folder 15

Ours to Use

box 2, folder 16

Pamphlets

box 2, folder 17

Pledge Cards and Subscription Notices

box 2, folder 18

LP Records: Meditation

Series 2. Library

Scope and Content

Contains pamphlets, booklets, notes, periodicals, and other printed material that was not published by the Society of Pragmatic Mysticism, but was collected by the organization and used for reference.

box 3, folder 1

Booklets, Pamphlets, and Prayer Books

box 3, folder 2

Sri Aurobindo

box 3, folder 3

Sri Aurobindo

box 3, folder 4

Sri Aurobindo

box 3, folder 5

Sri Aurobindo

box 3, folder 6

Sri Aurobindo

box 3, folder 7

Sri Aurobindo

box 3, folder 8

Emmet Fox

box 3, folder 9

Emmet Fox

box 3, folder 10

Emmet Fox

box 3, folder 11

Emmet Fox

box 3, folder 12

Manly P. Hall

box 3, folder 13

Rudolf Steiner

box 3, folder 14

Ervan Seale, Frances Adams Moore, Georgiana Tree West

box 4, folder 1

Emma Curtis Hopkins

box 4, folder 2

Emma Curtis Hopkins

box 4, folder 3

Charles Fillmore, Ernest Holmes, Genevieve Burrell, Zelia M. Walters

box 4, folder 4

Robert Collier, Robert Gordon, Unity School of Christianity

box 4, folder 5

Dorothy J. Hulst, Hannah More Kohaus, Lou Austin, Norman Vincent Peale, Satprem

box 4, folder 6

M. C., Genevieve Behrend, S. L. MacGregor Mathers

box 4, folder 7

H. D. F. Kitto, H. Emile Cady

box 4, folder 8

Edward Fitzgerald, G. R. S. Mead, T. H. Huxley

box 4, folder 9

G. C. Amstutz, Henrietta Elizabeth Schmandt, Josephine Elizabeth Schmandt

box 4, folder 10

Bernard, Florence Scovel Shinn, H. U. Weitbrecht Stanton, Swami Panchadasi

box 4, Folder 11

Existential Idealism, Maurice Blanchot, Neale Donald Walsch, William Kingsland

box 4, folder 12

Doreal (pseud.), Mike Bunker

box 4, folder 13

C. Alan Anderson

box 4, folder 14

Kenneth Wapnick

box 5, folder 1

Nicholas Herman, Parabola Magazine, Raynor C. Johnson, Richard Steinpach

box 5, folder 2

E. Haldeman-Julius, John Dimick, William Wynn Westcott

box 5, folder 3

Hans Claudius Michelsen, Michael Baran, and serials

box 5, folder 4

Catalogs and loose pages

box 5, folder 5

Sri Aurobindo Association peiodicals

box 5, folder 6

Sri Aurobindo Association peiodicals

box 5, folder 7

Study notes; greeting card; dreams 1989

Artifacts

box 7

Photograph of Mildred Mann

box 7

Rune stones

box 7

Headquarters office sign

Series 3. Organizational Records

Scope and Content

Consists of lecture notes, newsletters, meeting minutes, reports, bulletins, lectures, lesson plans, and journals.

box 5, folder 8

Notes of Lessons from Emmet Fox's class on Divine Science

box 5, folder 9

Notes of Lessons from Emmet Fox's class on Divine Science

box 5, folder 10

Notes of Lessons from Emmet Fox's class on Divine Science

box 5, folder 11

Gnosticism and Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge notes

box 5, folder 12

Mildred Mann notes

box 5, folder 13

Mildred Mann notes

box 5, folder 14

Mildred Mann notes

box 5, folder 15

Mildred Mann interview transcripts, correspondence

box 5, folder 16

Board notes

box 5, folder 17

Cabala notes

box 5, folder 18

Charts, notes, etc.

box 5, folder 19

Tree of Life notes

box 5, folder 20

Quotations, notes on Emmet Fox

box 5, folder 21

Clippings, memorandums, dream journal

box 5, folder 22

Journal

box 5, folder 23

The Cabala, SPM bookplates

box 6, folder 1

Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons. Volume I: lessons 1-26

box 6, folder 2

Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons. Volume II: lessons 27-52

box 6, folder 3

Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons. Volume III: lessons 53-78

box 6, folder 4

Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons. Volume IV: lessons 79-104

box 6, folder 5

Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons: Volume V: lessons 105-130

box 6, folder 6

Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons: Volume VI: lessons 131-162

box 6, folder 7

Correspondence and greetings from Self-Realization Fellowship

box 6, folder 8

Mildred Mann lectures

box 6, folder 9

Mildred Mann lectures

box 6, folder 10

Doctrine of Paul; Words of Jesus Gospels

box 6, folder 11

SPM Newsletter

box 6, folder 12

SPM meeting minutes

box 6, folder 13

SPM reports

box 6, folder 14

SPM reports

box 6, folder 15

Church of the Healing Christ bulletins

Series 4. Audiovisual Materials

Scope and Content

Contains a CD and audiocassettes with lectures, discussions, and meditations.

item A37275/CS

M. P. Pundit: The Practical Side of Spiritual Life 1977 March 10

item A37276/CS

Studies in Practical Metaphysics, Part 8: Health & Wholeness (Eric Butterworth)

item A37278/CS

Man's Love Affair with God (Eric Butterworth)

item A37280/CS

Laboratory of Personal Renewal: Part 1 (Eric Butterworth)

item A37281/CS

Laboratory of Personal Renewal: Part 2 (Eric Butterworth)

item A37282/CS

Laboratory of Personal Renewal: Part 3 (Eric Butterworth)

item A37284/CS

MLP - NYU 1979 April 13

item A37285/CS

MLP - NYU II

item A37286/CS

MLP - NYU discussion

item A37289/CS

Passover 1980 March 28

item A37290/CS

Festival Tapes: Mind - Body - Spirit (Solomon) 1979

item A37291/CS

Festival Tapes: Mind - Body - Spirit (Irving Oyle) 1979

item A37292/CS

Festival Tapes: Mind - Body - Spirit (N. Brandon) 1979

item A37293/CS

Lecture N. W.

item A37294/CS

Lecture #7: Case Histories (Mildred Mann)

item A37295/CS

End of lecture #7, lecture #8, start of lecture #9 (Mildred Mann)

item A37296/CS

Lecture #9 continued. 23rd Psalm lecture #10 (Mildred Mann)

item A37297/CS

Lecture #10 and first half of lecture #11 (Mildred Mann)

item A37299/CS

II: Impersonal Life; Thinking and Creating 1971 February

item A37301/CS

#2. Long John; The Bible and You - Troward

item A37302/CS

#3. Troward (continued); Bible Class: Prodigal Son

item A37303/CS

#4. Case Histories: MLP 2nd half

item A37304/CS

#4. Bible Class: Luke

item A37305/CS

#4. Bible Class (Luke continued); Case Histories

item A37306/CS

#5. Reincarnation; Revelation

item A37307/CS

#5. Revelation (continued)

item A37308/CS

#6. Good lectures; Universal Nature and Life (Mildred Mann)

item A37309/CS

Radio Programs (WUNT)

item A37310/CS

item A37311/CS

item A37312/CS

Bartholomew (1 of 6) 1994 April 30

item A37313/CS

Bartholomew (3 of 6)

item A37314/CS

Monday Lecture "Reincarnation" (Mildred Mann)

item A37315/CS

Mildred Mann - Margie Syvars 1972

item A37316/CS

3 Case Histories

item A37318/CS

(illegible title)

item A37319/CS

(illegible title)

item A37320/CS

(no information provided)

item A37321/CS

(no information provided)

item A37322/CS

(no information provided)

item A37323/CS

All About God: A Dialogue Between Neale Donald Walsch and Deepak Chopra, M.D. 2000

item A37324/CS

The Lost Tapes of Denver (Neale Donald Walsch) 1997 December 2

item A37325/CS

The Lost Tapes of Denver (Neale Donald Walsch) 1997 December 2

item A37326/CS

Discovering Your Life's Work (Tara Singh) 1991 December 1

item A37327/CS

Discovering Your Life's Work (Tara Singh) 1992 December 1