Andrew Christian Lohr collection, 1930-1996, bulk 1936-1996

Summary

Creators:

Allen, William H.

Abstract:

This collection preserves the life and teachings of Andrew Christian Lohr (1880-1960), a modern day mystic who lived in Southern California. William H. Allen, a professor of education, collected the material, in part used for a book on Lohr's teaching, Born of Water and Spirit: Teachings in Mystic Christianity (1990). Additional volumes were planned but not published.

Extent:

12 linear feet (10 record boxes, 1 folio )

Language:

Languages represented in the collection: English

Preferred citation:

Andrew Christian Lohr collection, GTU 2009-03-01. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes transcripts of 76 of Lohr's lectures (late 1930s late 1950s), along with some of Lohr's original manuscripts; accounts of his visions; student notes of his talks/lectures; and secondary sources used by Allen in his research. There are drafts of Born of Water and Spirit, and Allen's outlines for successive books pertaining to Lohr's teachings; a draft of The Gospel according to Andrew Christian Lohr; documents pertaining to Allen's publishing process; hard disks containing additional drafts; cassette and reel to reel tapes of lectures; photographs and slides of Lohr; and personal correspondences between Allen and other students of Lohr.

Biographical / historical:

Andrew Christian Lohr was born in Amsterdam, Holland, on October 30, 1880. He grew up in a pious Huguenot family of French-German lineage. He experienced visions at an early age. Mary, as well as Jesus, would appear to him and provide comfort. He reported his consciousness could travel outside of his body, for example accompanying his uncle to Masonic ceremonies. Lohr had no formal education. He left for Paris at an early age looking for work and became an upholsterer. There he married a Dutch woman and had 2 daughters.

His mystical studies and experiences continued throughout his life. He began healing the sick in hospitals in Paris. In 1920, he had a vision telling him to move to the United States. He moved to Oceanside, California, where he taught at the Rosicrucian Center. He later moved to the Los Angeles area, working as an upholsterer. He said, "I can do my daily work and, at the same time, be a thousand miles away helping someone." Along with his healing practices, he spoke on a regular basis and developed a small following, meeting in Glendale and in Santa Monica. Lohr died in La Canada, California, on September 1, 1960. The day after his passing, three students reported seeing him.

This material was collected by William Homer Allen (1914-2009). Raised in Glendale, California, and in Arizona, he received an AB from UCLA (1941); MA, Claremont Graduate School (1948); and EdD, UCLA (1950). He was a captain in the Army, serving from 1941 to 1946.

Allen taught at San Diego State College, University of Wisconsin and the University of Southern California. He worked for the RAND Corporation from 1957 to 1960. He founded and edited the journal, AV Communication Review, published by the Department of Audiovisual Instruction of the National Education Association. After 18 years, he retired from USC as professor in the education department in 1978.

Allen's parents were Christian Scientists and then members of the Unity Church. They met Andrew Christian Lohr (1880-1960) in the early 1930s and became part of the group who met with him on a regular basis. They held teachings at their house in Glendale.

After he retired, Allen transcribed and organized Lohr's teachings, leading to a self-published book, Born of Water and Spirit: Teachings in Mystic Christianity (1990). The book is organized into four parts: The Realm of God, The Realm of Man, Aspects of Man's Regeneration, and Ways to Spiritual Attainment. Additional books with Lohr's talks were planned but never published. Allen also painted and wrote an unpublished book on the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus. He died in 2009.

Allen writes about Lohr in the introduction to Born of Water and Spirit: "He was a spiritual teacher and leader who came to this country from Holland. For over thirty years he gave small talks to groups in private homes and religious centers. He spoke with the authority of a superior knowledge unknown to most people and told the Bible story with an understanding and insight that gave it fresh meaning and significance. Those who knew him felt that he carries a message for mankind that had the authority of a higher power. During the last years of his life, his teachings were recorded - almost half a million words. It is from these recorded talks that I have drawn the material for the book, presenting in an organized form the essence of his spiritual teaching."

Acquisition information:

Donated by Julie A. Page in March 2009.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged as follows: Series 1. Lohr's Manuscripts; Series 2. Correspondence; Series 3. William H. Allen's Writings; Series 4. Media; Series 5. Research. Subseries A. Biblical, Subseries B. Theological/Philosophical, Subseries C. Myth/New Age, Subseries D. Religion/Ritual/Church/Ministry; and Series 6. Recordings of Lohr on reel to reel tape (127). There is one folio of Born of Water and Spirit materials.

Physical location:

8/C/top

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Theosophy.
Mysticism.
Magical thinking.
Religious leaders.
New Age movement.
Spiritual life.
Christianity and other religions.

Indexes:

Index

Lohr, Andrew Christian
Allen, William Homer
Crater, Mildred
Meeks, Rowena

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to The Graduate Theological Union. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Graduate Theological Union as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

Andrew Christian Lohr collection, GTU 2009-03-01. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.

Location of this collection:

Graduate Theological Union

2400 Ridge Road

Berkeley, CA 94709, US

Contact:

(510) 649-2523/2501

archives@gtu.edu

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