Early Magnetism, in its Higher Relation to Humanity as Veiled in the Poets and the Prophets

US-RPB-msatwood Mary Anne Atwood Papers1882-1910 Finding aid prepared by Finding aid encoded by Jamie Radke Brown University Library

Box A Brown University Providence, RI, 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email:hay@brown.edu

2002 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-12-05 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) 2003-02-06 Revised to EAD 2002 standard by Judy Dowling 2004-12-13 Revised to local encoding standards by Patrick Yott 200-07-29 Revised to local encoding standards by Jennifer Betts 2012-12-06 Revised to RIAMCO encoding standards by Karen Eberhart Mary Anne Atwood papers Ms.Atwood John Hay Library Special Collections

Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

English 2 linear feet 1882-1910 The Mary Anne Atwood Papers contains letters and manuscripts for the period 1882-1910. Most of the letters in the collection are written from M.A. Atwood to Mme. Isabelle de Steiger. The collection also includes other letters written and received by Atwood, manuscript drafts and notes. According to the admirers of Mary Anne Atwood, "Mrs. Atwood was truly an adept [of the metaphysical tradition]. The last one." "The Atwood material is very important for the study of a vanished Britain, when Neo-Platonism and High Ideas influenced the nation. But, as Mrs. Atwood says, they went in for power and threw their spiritual heritage out the window." Atwood, Mary Anne, 1817-1910 Atwood (Mary Anne) papers Biographical Note

Born in 1817, the daughter of Thomas South, Mary Anne Atwood would author two books. In 1846 she published (under a pen name) Early Magnetism, in its Higher Relation to Humanity as Veiled in the Poets and the Prophets. In 1850, under her maiden name, M.A. South, she published A Suggestive Enquiry into the Hermetic Mystery, a book which put forth an early statement of the theory that the true goal of alchemy was spiritual perfection. A short time later Mrs. Atwood regretted publication of this work, fearing she had revealed too much of matters that would be better kept secret. She subsequently bought up as many copies of the book as possible and destroyed them. Nevertheless, a few copies survived and in 1918, some years after her death, a new edition of the work was brought out, with an introduction by Walter Leslie Wilmshurst and memorabilia of Mrs. Atwood. A further printing appeared in 1920, but the book remained a scarce one until 1960 when it was again reprinted from the Wilmshurst edition by Julian Press, New York.

On both of the above works Mrs. Atwood collaborated with her father and after his death she wrote nothing more for publication. In 1859 she married Alban Thomas Atwood, vicar of Leake, Yorkshire. They had no children. Alban Atwood died in 1883. Mary Anne Atwood lived out her life at Knayton Lodge, Thirsk [England]. She died on April 13, 1910. Her last words were: "I cannot find my center of gravity."

Administrative information

The collection was purchased from sources in Britain in 1967.

Collection information

There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.

Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.

The Mary Anne Atwood Papers is divided into 5 series. Four of the series contain correspondence. Series 1. Letters to Mme. Isabelle de Steiger Series 2. Drafts of letters to various people Series 3. Fragments of letters to various people Series 4. Manuscripts Series 5. Letters received by Mrs. Atwood and Mme. de Steiger

Correspondence is ordered chronologically. The series containing letters received by Mrs. Atwood and Mme. de Steiger are first grouped by the author of the letter, then ordered chronologically. The series containing M.A. Atwood's manuscripts are grouped in the following order: drafts, fragments, notes and copies.

Mary Anne Atwood Papers, Ms. Atwood, Brown University Library.

The collection contains letters and manuscripts for the period 1882-1910 concerning theosophy, alchemy, the occult, free will, metaphysics, neoplatonism, ontology, and philosophy. The bulk of the letters are between Mrs. Atwood and Mme. Isabelle de Steiger.

Additional information

Brown University Library catalog record for this collection: Mary Anne Atwood Papers

Names Allen, George William Atwood, Mary Anne, 1817-1910 Besant, Annie Wood, 1847-1933 Blavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna), 1831-1891 De Steiger, Isabelle (Lace), 1836-1927 Maitland, Edward, 1824-1897 Massey, Charles Carleton Müller, F. Max (Friedrich Max), 1823-1900 Peck, W Penny, A. J. (Anne Judith), 1825?-1893 Shirley, Ralph, 1865-1946 Sinnett, A. P. (Alfred Percy), 1840-1921 Subjects Alchemy Mysticism Occultism Religion South African War, 1899-1902 Theosophy Occupations Authors Types of Materials Letters (correspondence) RIAMCO Browsing Term Education Letters to Isabelle De Steiger Series 1 1890-1910 1890-1894 Atwood, Mary Anne to De Steiger, Isabelle Knayton, Thirsk (UK) 1 16.0 pages 1890 January 21 autograph letter signed Immediate Source of Acquisition note

A54785 [1]