Virginia Hanson
Virginia Gordon Hanson was an editor and writer best known for her books Masters and Men and, with George Linton, the Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett.
Theosophical work
Miss Hanson joined the Theosophical Society in America in 1949, in Washington, D. C. She became a prominent lecturer for the Society, and wrote numerous articles. In 1962 joined the headquarters staff, where she wrote a series of educational letters that were sent to new members, a project that continues to this day. She was a Senior Editor of Quest Books of the Theosophical Publishing House (Wheaton).[1]
Readers Guide to the Mahatma Letters
George Linton and his wife, of Portland, Oregon, frequently visited the TSA headquarters while Miss Hanson was on staff there. Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett was the product of much study by each of the coauthors, and it continues to be a valuable tool for study of the letters.
Other writings
In addition to her educational letters, Miss Hanson made many other contributions to Theosophical literature. These books are listed in chronological sequence:
- H. P. Blavatsky and The Secret Doctrine: Commentaries on Her Contributions to World Thought. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1971. It is a collection of essays originally published in The American Theosophist, in May 1969, with five additional essays.
- Approaches to Meditation. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973.
- Gifts of the Lotus: a Book of Daily Meditations. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1974.
- The Silent Encounter: Reflections on Mysticism. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1974.
- The Mahatma Letters: Today's Encounter with the Wisdom of the Ages. Madras, India: Theosophical Publlishing House, 1977.
- The Process of Intuition: A Psychology of Creativity
- Masters and Men: the Human Story in The Mahatma Letters. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980. This book has been digitized by Google and Hathitrust, but is not available yet.
- Karma: the Universal Law of Harmony. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1981 and Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited, 1981. Rosemarie Stewart collaborated in editing this collection of essays. Published in German in 1982.
- The Sage from Concord: the Essence of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1981. A Quest miniature book of Emerson quotations.
- Notes on The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett. Ojai, Calif.: V. Hanson, 1987.
She also wrote numerous articles for journals. The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists
Awards
The Olcott Foundation named Virginia Hanson to win its lecture award for 1951, in recognition of her lecture, "The Divine Autobiography - A Universal Best Seller."[2] In 1990, Miss Hanson was awarded the prestigious Subba Row Medal for her Theosophical writings.
Later years
From 1975 until her death in 1991, Miss Hanson was on the staff of the Krotona Institute of Theosophy.
Notes
- ↑ "Hanson, Virginia Gordon", Theosophical Encyclopedia (Quezon City, Philippines: Theosophical Publishing House, 2006), 268-269. Available online at Theosopedia.
- ↑ Margery Parks, Virginia Deaderick, and Dr. George B. DeHoff, "The Olcott Foundation," The American Theosophist 39:9 (September, 1951), 180.