Olcott (campus): Difference between revisions

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== Landscaping in 1930s ==
== Landscaping in 1930s ==
When purchased, the land was plowed a farm field. The first priority of members was to establish a grove of trees, so on May 8, 1925, Kay Campbell and several others planted the first tree, a silver linden.  
When purchased, the land was plowed a farm field. The first priority of members was to establish a grove of trees, so on May 8, 1925, Kay Campbell and several others planted the first tree, a silver linden.  
 
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[[File:Gateway arch 1.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Entrance arch by Claude Bragdon]]
== Entrance arch ==
== Entrance arch ==
[[File:Gateway arch 1.jpg|240px|right|thumb|Entrance arch by Claude Bragdon]]
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== Perkins Pond ==
== Perkins Pond ==
 
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[[File:Mills Building exterior.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Joy Mills Building]]
== Joy Mills Building ==
== Joy Mills Building ==
[[File:Mills Building exterior.jpg|220px|right|thumb|Joy Mills Building]]
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[[File:Drumming_at_Youth_Circle.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Drumming at Youth Circle]]
== Youth Circle ==
== Youth Circle ==
 
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[[File:Olcott campus Garden of Remembrance.jpg|160px|left|thumb|Garden of Remembrance]]
== Garden of Remembrance ==
== Garden of Remembrance ==
 
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== Labyrinth ==
== Labyrinth ==
 
[[File:Labyrinth 3.jpg|180px|right|thumb|Labyrinth]]
== Tree planting in recent years ==
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==Online Resources==
==Online Resources==
===Articles===
===Articles===

Revision as of 05:27, 6 January 2014

Aerial view of campus in 1940s. Image from TSA Archives.

Olcott is the headquarters estate of the Theosophical Society in America, located in Wheaton, Illinois. It comprises about 41 acres (16.6 hectares) of land, with offices and library in the L. W. Rogers Building; the Quest Bookshop and the Theosophical Publishing House in the Joy Mills Building; warehouse, garages, and maintenance buildings; and houses occupied by employees.

These are general tours of the campus and its history,

Purchase of original acreage

President L. W. Rogers of the American Theosophical Society, now known as the Theosophical Society in America, initiated a search for a permanent headquarters location. The Society had outgrown its Chicago building. Mr. Rogers sought a new site that was centrally located - that is, within 500 miles of Chicago; near excellent rail transportation; with inexpensive land available in an attractive rural setting. The search was well publicized. Society members wrote to propose locations, and local officials from across the Midwest offered sites. National Secretary Kay Campbell found land in Wheaton that fulfilled all the requirements, and early in 1925 the Society purchased almost 10 acres (4 hectares) of farmland on North Main Street. The original acreage is shown in the aerial photograph above.

Landscaping in 1920s and 1930s

L. W. Rogers Building

The L. W. Rogers Building was constructed in 1926-1927. From that time it has housed the Society's administrative offices

Landscaping in 1930s

When purchased, the land was plowed a farm field. The first priority of members was to establish a grove of trees, so on May 8, 1925, Kay Campbell and several others planted the first tree, a silver linden.


Entrance arch by Claude Bragdon

Entrance arch






Perkins Pond




Joy Mills Building

Joy Mills Building







Drumming at Youth Circle

Youth Circle





Garden of Remembrance

Garden of Remembrance






Labyrinth

Labyrinth




Online Resources

Articles

Video

Notes