Louise A. Off: Difference between revisions

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== Theosophical Society involvement ==
== Theosophical Society involvement ==


Miss Off was a very active member of the Society in Los Angeles. In 1893 she was on the Advisory Committee for the '''Theosophical Congress''' at the [[World's Parliament of Religions (1893)|World's Parliament of Religions]] in Chicago.<ref>''The Theosophical Congress Held by the Theosophical Society at the Parliament of Religions'' (New York: American Section Headquarters TS, 1893), 12.</ref> She corresponded with "The Missouri Platonist," [[Thomas Moore Johnson]].<ref>See Bowen, Patrick D. and K. Paul Johnson, eds. ''Letters to the Sage: Selected Correspondence of Thomas Moore Johnson Volume One: The Esotericists.'' Forest Grove, OR: The Typhon Press, 2016.</ref>
Miss Off was a very early active member of the [[Theosophical Movement|Theosophical movement]] in the United States. She was secretary of one of the very first American lodges – the '''Los Angeles Theosophical Society'''. The group was chartered in 1885, a year before the [[American Section]] formed. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Kingsbury was President.<ref>"American Branches," ''The Path'' 5.12 (March, 1891), 394.</ref> Miss Off "conducted in her home well-attended weekly meetings for the discussion of Theosophy."<ref>" Clifton L. Holland, An Overview of Religion in Los Angeles from 1850 to 1930," Available at [http://www.prolades.com/glama/la5co07/overview_1850-1930.htm this website].</ref>


In July 1892 she became editor of [[The New Californian (periodical)|''The New Californian'']] as successor to [[Jerome A. Anderson|Dr. Jerome Anderson]]. In addition to her work in this journal, she wrote articles for the''Los Angeles Times'' and Theosophical periodicals. These are some of the titles:
Here are some of her other activities:
* On October 12-13, 1889, Miss Off presented a paper, "A Few Suggestions Regarding the Higher Life" at the convention of the Pacific Coast Branches.<ref>"Theosophical Activities" ''The Path'' 4.9 (December, 1889), 291.</ref>
* In 1893 she was on the Advisory Committee for the '''Theosophical Congress''' at the [[World's Parliament of Religions (1893)|World's Parliament of Religions]] in Chicago.<ref>''The Theosophical Congress Held by the Theosophical Society at the Parliament of Religions'' (New York: American Section Headquarters TS, 1893), 12.</ref>
* She corresponded with "The Missouri Platonist," [[Thomas Moore Johnson]].<ref>See Bowen, Patrick D. and K. Paul Johnson, eds. ''Letters to the Sage: Selected Correspondence of Thomas Moore Johnson Volume One: The Esotericists.'' Forest Grove, OR: The Typhon Press, 2016.</ref>
 
In July 1892 she became editor of [[The New Californian (periodical)|''The New Californian'']] as successor to [[Jerome A. Anderson|Dr. Jerome Anderson]]. In addition to her work in this journal, she wrote articles for newspapers like the ''Los Angeles Times'', and for other Theosophical periodicals. These are some of the titles:


* '''"The Astral Light"''' ''Theosophical Siftings'' 3.7 (1890), 24. Available at [http://www.levir.com.br/theosophy/theotext.php?cod=0048 this website] and as an audio recording narrated by Sandra Brautigan at [https://itunes.apple.com/gb/audiobook/astral-light-theosophical/id981318086 Itunes] and [https://www.amazon.com/The-Astral-Light-Theosophical-Classics/dp/B00VFHNSQU Amazon.com].
* '''"The Astral Light"''' ''Theosophical Siftings'' 3.7 (1890), 24. Available at [http://www.levir.com.br/theosophy/theotext.php?cod=0048 this website] and as an audio recording narrated by Sandra Brautigan at [https://itunes.apple.com/gb/audiobook/astral-light-theosophical/id981318086 Itunes] and [https://www.amazon.com/The-Astral-Light-Theosophical-Classics/dp/B00VFHNSQU Amazon.com].

Revision as of 14:26, 23 December 2016

Louise A Off (1864-1895) was a Theosophist and artist in California. She is best known for becoming the editor of The New Californian, the journal of the early American Section of the Theosophical Society. At one time, she was thought to use the pseudonym "Nizida," but that connection is now discredited.

Life and career

Louise A. Off was born in Wisconsin in 1864. After spending her childhood in Springfield, Iowa, she settled in Los Angeles about 1882.

Example of work by Miss Off

According to a compendium of artists' biographies,

Her articles on philosophy and theosophy appeared in the [Los Angeles] Times. She taught painting to small groups while active with women’s clubs and the social scene until her death there in 1895. Her works are rare due to her short life span.[1]

Miss Off died young, on January 6, 1895.[2] She was said to be "a prominent member of the Society in California, and one of the pioneers of the movement on the Pacific Coast."[3]

Theosophical Society involvement

Miss Off was a very early active member of the Theosophical movement in the United States. She was secretary of one of the very first American lodges – the Los Angeles Theosophical Society. The group was chartered in 1885, a year before the American Section formed. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Kingsbury was President.[4] Miss Off "conducted in her home well-attended weekly meetings for the discussion of Theosophy."[5]

Here are some of her other activities:

  • On October 12-13, 1889, Miss Off presented a paper, "A Few Suggestions Regarding the Higher Life" at the convention of the Pacific Coast Branches.[6]
  • In 1893 she was on the Advisory Committee for the Theosophical Congress at the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago.[7]
  • She corresponded with "The Missouri Platonist," Thomas Moore Johnson.[8]

In July 1892 she became editor of The New Californian as successor to Dr. Jerome Anderson. In addition to her work in this journal, she wrote articles for newspapers like the Los Angeles Times, and for other Theosophical periodicals. These are some of the titles:

  • "The Astral Light" Theosophical Siftings 3.7 (1890), 24. Available at this website and as an audio recording narrated by Sandra Brautigan at Itunes and Amazon.com.
  • "A Fragment on the Requirements of a Theosophical Life" Theosophical Siftings 4.12 (1891), 13.
  • "A Few Lines from California" The Theosophist Vol 10 (June, 1889), 524.
  • "Echoes from the Vedas" The New Californian 3.8 (February, 1894), 255.
  • "Love and Psyche" The New Californian 2.1 (July, 1892), 25.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Louisa A. Off" on EdanHughes.com website. Available at this website.
  2. ↑ Anonymous. "Obituary - Miss Louise Off. Deceased (1895/1/6). The Path 9.11 (February 1895), 408.
  3. ↑ "Theosophical Activities: America" Lucifer Vol 16 (March-August 1895), 81.
  4. ↑ "American Branches," The Path 5.12 (March, 1891), 394.
  5. ↑ " Clifton L. Holland, An Overview of Religion in Los Angeles from 1850 to 1930," Available at this website.
  6. ↑ "Theosophical Activities" The Path 4.9 (December, 1889), 291.
  7. ↑ The Theosophical Congress Held by the Theosophical Society at the Parliament of Religions (New York: American Section Headquarters TS, 1893), 12.
  8. ↑ See Bowen, Patrick D. and K. Paul Johnson, eds. Letters to the Sage: Selected Correspondence of Thomas Moore Johnson Volume One: The Esotericists. Forest Grove, OR: The Typhon Press, 2016.
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