Hubert Van Hook

Hubert Van Hook
Photo from TSA Archives.

Hubert Van Hook was the son of Dr. Weller Van Hook and his wife Dr. Anna Van Hook.

Hubert was born on June 3, 1896 in Chicago. In 1907 he met Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater when they were visiting Chicago. When Mrs. Besant returned in 1909, she persuaded Mrs. Van Hook to take her son to Europe and India for special training. The boy was viewed as a possible vehicle for the World Teacher until Leadbeater decided to cast Jiddu Krishnamurti in that role. Anna Van Hook and Hubert lived at the Adyar headquarters of the Theosophical Society for five years, and she tutored her son with the young Krishnamurti and his brother Nitya.

While living at Adyar, Hubert learned to play the violin quite well, tutored by Mr. Schwarz, the Society's Treasurer. Clara Codd described an occasion when she accompanied him on the piano as he played Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata.

In 1915, Hubert and his mother lived in London for a while. During the years 1917-1920 he resided in New York City, working as a clerk. Hubert spent 1923-1924 attending Law School at Northwestern University. He was an associate editor of Illinois Law Review and joined the law fraternity Delta Theta Phi.