Marie Russak Hotchener
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Marie Russak Hotchener (October 7, 1865 - March 4, 1945) an opera singer, architect, writer, editor, and secretary to H. S. Olcott and Annie Besant, was a prominent leader of the Theosophical Society (Adyar). She died in 1945 in Hollywood, California.
Early years and operatic career
Marie Elaine Barnard was born on October 7, 1865 in the small town of Four Corners, located in Butte County, northern California. She was the daughter of Allyn Mather Barnard and Sarah Ann McIntosh.
Theosophical work
She was appointed Colonel Olcott’s Honorary Secretary in 1906 and traveled with him to India. She was present at his deathbed in 1907, where she witnessed the visit by the Masters to the dying Theosophist.
She stayed four years in India acting as Annie Besant's secretary and after leaving Marie Russak helped found the Krotona Colony, in 1912. In addition, she co-founded the Temple of the Rosy Cross, and designed a number of houses for Theosophists.
Life in Hollywood
In Hollywood, Marie turned her creativity to architecture. She designed Moorcrest, the magnificent home of Charlie Chaplin at 6147 Temple Hill Drive, in a combination of Moorish and Mission styles. She and Henry built their own house next door at 6137 Temple Hill Drive. It was a similarly majestic building with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a tower like a minaret. That house served as the base of operation in 1930 when Marie Hotchener edited The Theosophist. After Annie Besant decided to take the editorial tasks back to Adyar, she gave Marie and Henry permission to publish another Theosophical periodical calle World Theosophy.
Later years
Mrs. Hotchener was a member of the Besant Lodge in Hollywood, California.[1]
She passed away on March 4, 1945.
Notes
- ↑ "Statistics," The American Theosophist 33.4 (April, 1945), 96.
Online resources
Articles
- Marie Barnard Russak Hotchener at Theosopedia
- The Diva of Krotona at Doves Today
- Marie Barnard at Fourth Millennium
- Marie Russak at Wikipedia
- Marie Russak Hotchener and Moorcrest: The Theosophist Opera Singer and Her Architectural Fantasia at Under the Hollywood Sign
- About The "Torre del Moro" designed by Marie Russak