Believest Thou This (1) - Carbon
Content Description
In August 1955 Alfred Robinson and Pearl Robinson gave the University of Idaho Library many Psychiana related items including four large boxes which were to remain sealed for 25 years. These boxes were opened in January 1980 and the contents sorted; the material is now contained in seven file boxes. Included in the three boxes of correspondence are letters between Psychiana headquarters and students in eighteen countries. Carbon copies of Psychiana's replies are attached to most of the original letters from students. The letters from students which Robinson used in his publications are marked with quotation marks; occasionally words were changed or sentences rearranged. The remaining boxes contain copies of all the Psychiana lessons, copies of Psychiana Weekly and other similar publications, typescripts of speeches and articles by Frank Robinson, broadsides used in advertising, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, a scrapbook of clippings kept by Robinson, and photographs.
This is a very important collection not only for those researching Dr. Frank B. Robinson and the impact of Psychiana, but also for those interested in non-orthodox religion. Anyone interested in effective advertising methods would also find this collection useful.
The contents of each section of this collection are described in the following Description of Series.
Dates
- Creation: 1929-1951
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 8 linear feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Description
Both the 151 page original typescript and a carbon copy of the typescript are included in this collection. They include the title-page, chapters 1-5, and the first page of chapter 6 of a book about Frank Robinson. Although the title page reads: Believest Thou This / by Dyson Battley / Copyright 1946 The Bobbs-Merrill co., it is evident from reading the manuscript that the book was actually written by Robinson. No part of this book is found among his published works.The manuscript contains many biographical details, including Alfred's experiences during the war, which are not found in Robinson's autobiography. There are also some misstatements of biographical information. In conversations between the author and Robinson, Robinson expounds on his theory of eternal life, stating that before long man will learn the secret of living forever on this earth. Some of the incidents related here are also related in other works, but with different characters, e.g., the incident of the China pheasant which was killed by Robinson's car and restored to life by Robinson is also related on page 170 of The Wanderer, only it was the Wanderer who restored the bird's life. Likewise, on page 56 of the typescript the author states it was he who made out the $5000 check for an advertising bill and mailed it, whereas in Robinson's autobiography, 2d ed., p. 213, Robinson states a clerk (whom, incidentally, he had to dismiss for forging his name to checks) made out the check and Robinson himself mailed it. The author of this manuscript claims to have witnessed several healings and on pages 146-147 asks Robinson to explain the psychology he used in healing a young woman of a heart condition. This explanation is perhaps one of the most interesting sections of the entire manuscript.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Repository