The Paul Kagan collection consists almost entirely of publications, printed materials and newsletters published by each organization. Community members designed some of these for a general, interested audience and others only for their own edification. The various publications cover issues and concerns relating to the communities and their central themes. Inclusively, they span a time period from 1911-1971, with the bulk of the material published in the late teens and early twenties.

The Paul Kagan Papers consist largely of documents produced by several California Utopian communities of the early twentieth century. The individuals in these communities strove for a meaningful, humanistic approach to life, which centered on the integral relationship between the individual and the community. Extensively represented are the Llano del Rio community and the Theosophical Society at Krotona, with additional theosophical material from the Halcyon People's Temple, Point Loma Publications, Theosophical University Press(Altadena), Pisgah, and the East-West Cultural Center. Miscellaneous items from an unidentified organization called Fountaingrove are also included.

Copyright has not been assigned to The North Baker Research Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The North Baker Research Library 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.

CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates: https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/