James S. Perkins

James Perkins in 1943. Image from TSA Archives.

James Perkins in 1943. Image from TSA Archives.

Theosophical work

James and Kathrine Perkins at Olcott in 1947. Image from TSA Archives.

James Perkins was elected to the Board of the Theosophical Society in America in 1936. Three years later he began the first of three terms as Vice-President in the administration of Sidney A. Cook.

Years as President

James S. Perkins. Image from TSA Archives.

In 1945 Mr. Perkins assumed the Presidency of the Theosophical Society in America, when Sidney A. Cook resigned to become International Vice-President in Adyar.

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Years as International Vice-President

James Perkins served as Vice-President of the international Theosophical Society in Adyar for ten years, beginning in 1961.

Art

James Perkins was a commercial artist. He frequently used his professional skills to illustrate books

Examples of his art works are in the Theosophical Society in America Archives.

Writings

• Experiencing Reincarnation. Wheaton, IL: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1977. A Quest Book. Illustrated by the author. This volume provides much useful information about the nature and occurrence of reincarnation, and what happens to the subtle bodies in the process of death and rebirth.

• Freedom Through Intuition. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Press, 1951.

• A Geometry of Space-Consciousness. Adyar, Chennai, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1964. This book has illustrations that demonstrate complex concepts like "orbits of human consciousness" and "space-consciousness in seven dimensions."

• Keys to Wholeness of Being. Adyar, Chennai, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1961. Originally printed in The Theosophist, September and October 1960. Key Knowledge, Key Direction, Key Procedure, and Key Motion are the elements that help humans achieve wholeness.

• Mankind's Survival: the Way of Harmony. Adyar, Chennai, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1958. Originally printed in The Theosophist, February and March 1958, which was transcribed from a lecture at the 82nd International Convention at Adyar, in December, 1957. This booklet points out how modern science is confronting the idea that life is coming forth from within, which the author regards as the key concept of the 20th century.

• Night Reveals The Stars: A Discourse On Man's Origin And Powers. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Press, 1952.

• Open Immortal Eyes. Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1948. This booklet was written when the author was President of the TSA. It discusses how humans are learning to use senses beyond the physical ones of mortal beings. The title is a quotation from William Blake, "I rest not from my great task to open the eternal worlds, to open the immortal eyes of man . . . the human imagination."

• Reincarnation for Everyone. Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1956. This booklet was written when the author was President of the TSA. It is a basic introduction to the concepts of reincarnation.

• Through Death to Rebirth. First edition: Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1961. Quest Books edition published in 1973. Illustrated by the author with drawings and two colored plates. This book was written during Perkins' term as International Vice-President. The dynamic and symbolic illustrations help to guide the reader to better understanding of the process of death.

• Visual Meditations on the Universe. Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1961. This was printed under the Quest Books imprint. This volume uses over 30 color plates created by the author intended to take the reader on a journey through creation and evolution according to Theosophical tradition.

Later years

After his term as International Vice President, Mr. Perkins moved to Ojai, California. He died on Nov 19,1991.