[SPIRITUALISM] Archive of Manuscripts, Notebooks, and Publications from a Spirit Medium. A chronicle of the Edward Erickson (d. 1974), a WWI veteran who lost his hearing and power of speech in the conflict and devoted much of his life after his service to the study of his apparently psychic powers and the practice of spiritualism. The archive includes 11 notebooks in his hand, filled with notes dating from 1923 – 1926, regarding all manner of spiritual and mediumistic subjects and his contact with various “spirit guides" including specifically his “soul mate," Gloria. The memorandum books are wide ranging, and filled almost entirely. Among the topics covered are the “two lives" all men live (spiritual and astral), messages from spirit guides apparently contacted by Erickson (“We are permitted to help [those in the real or living world], but with discretion."), “healing magnetism" and other apparent powers, the “astral plane" and lessons learned through the exploration of this space, among hundreds of other subjects. Erickson writes about being contacted by spirits: “Two spirits came and said to you, as you woke up, that their object in view, was to educate you." He also records many lessons learned, places visited, and discoveries apparently made while in a trance state or through the aid of or communication with various spiritual beings, some he claims having visited him from ancient Egypt and elsewhere. In addition, Erickson's notes include communication with Madame Helena Blavatsky, mystic and co-founder of the Theosophical Society and Charles Leadbeater, author, member of the Theosophical Society and co-initiator of the Co-Free Masonry (a branch for women and men). Much of the material is of a Christian or religious nature, with many allusions made to Jesus, prayer, Accompanying the notebooks are a 53-page typed transcription of much of their contents.
Sold together with a collection of newspaper clippings, handwritten notes, and ephemeral material owned by Erickson (including one sheaf of clippings related to the development of the atomic bomb), and a large group publications from his library, including material from the Theosophical Society (Theosophic Messenger), the Rosicrucians, Greater Mysteries of Ancient Egypt by Aegyptus (1931), issues of Spiritual Science magazine, The Voice of the AIM, and other similar periodicals, and many other pamphlets on spiritualism or related subjects. Many of these publications bear Erickson's notes or his rubber ownership stamps on their covers. In all, a fascinating trove of material related to life in the great beyond and alternative schools of thought regarding the human mind and its unknown frontiers.