• American Religions Collection, 1840s-1990s [bulk dates 1970s-1990s]. Approximately 1,000 linear feet of manuscripts mainly relating to 20th century non-traditional religions and splinter groups of larger religious bodies in North America. The core of the collection, assembled by J. Gordon Melton, includes major sections relating to Astrology, Buddhism, Christian Science, Evangelical Christian, Hindu, Islam, Magick, Mormon, New Age, Spiritualism, Theosophy, and numerous other groups and movements. (ARC Mss 1).
• Chandler [Russell] Collection, ca. 1960s-1990. About 300 files with correspondence, articles, newsletters, press releases, clippings, research notes, photographs, drafts and copies of Chandler’s own articles, and related materials, ca. 1960s-1990, with the bulk from the 1970s and 1980s when Chandler was a religion writer for the Los Angeles Times. The files are arranged alphabetically and include a mix of topics, people, and religious groups. Included are files such as: Abortion, Black Muslims, Capital Punishment, Christians in Government, Deprogramming, Doomsday Groups, Eastern Mystery Religions, Evolution/Creation, Jerry Falwell, Louis Farrakhan, Science and Religion, Sports as Folk Religion, Tax Exemptions, and Terrorism. (ARC Mss 2).
• Jurgensmeyer [Mark] / Radhasoami Collection, ca. 1918-1980s [bulk dates 1960s-1980s]. Pamphlets, articles, brochures, annual reports, and other printed materials (copies and originals) about the Radhasoami religious groups and leaders such as Kirpal Singh, Darshan Singh, and Faqir Singh, collected by UCSB professor Jurgensmeyer. Accompanying books have been cataloged separately. (ARC Mss 3).
• World Church of God Collection, ca. late 1960s-1980s. Materials by and about the World Church of God, its operations, and its leaders Herbert W. Armstrong and Garner Ted Armstrong. Included are correspondence, conference files, court records, magazine and newspaper articles, memoranda, newsletters, notes, sermons, and subject files. (ARC Mss 4).
• Institute of Cultural Affairs Collection, ca. 1970s-1980s. Includes articles, lectures, meeting handouts – some of which are copies of articles/writings by theologians such as Reinhold Niebuhr. (ARC Mss 5).
• Bain [Alan] Collection. Files regarding independent bishops. (ARC Mss 6).
• Religious Leaders of America Collection, ca. 1970s-1980s. Research files used by J. Gordon Melton while compiling his book Religious Leaders of America: A Biographical Guide to Founders and Leaders of Religious Bodies, Churches, and Spiritual Groups in North America, first published in 1991. The files, which are arranged alphabetically by the person’s name, contain correspondence, photocopied clippings, writings, and other materials by and about the religious leaders and their groups. (ARC Mss 7).
• Chicagoland Psychic Archives, 1964-1985. A project started in the fall of 1975 at Dr. J. Gordon Melton’s Institute for the Study of American Religions to gather materials relating to the large Chicago area community engaged in the study and practice of paranormal phenomena, including psychics, astrologers, readers, mediums, graphologists, ghosthunters, and devotees of the occult, nonconventional healing, UFOs, and parapsychology. The files contain newsletters, flyers and posters, newspaper articles, business cards, correspondence, promotional materials, and other relevant items. (ARC Mss 9).
• Burnell [George Edwin and Mary Lamoreaux] Collection, ca. 1890s-1960s. Includes typescripts of lecture series, pamphlets and other printed materials by Los Angeles area New Thought practitioners George Edwin Burnell and Mary Lamoreaux Burnell (founders of the Burnell Foundation), and Genevieve Burnell Forgey / Robinson. (ARC Mss 10).
• Christian Anti-Communism Crusade Collection. (ARC Mss 11).
• Ramey [Louise] Collection. (ARC Mss 12).
• Fifth Annual International Conference on New Religions Collection, 1991. Mainly papers presented at the conference, held in Solvang, California, May 16-17, 1991. (ARC Mss 13).
• Lockman Foundation Collection, ca. 1930s-1976. Records of the Lockman Foundation, established by F. Dewey Lockman, including correspondence, photographs (b/w and color), photo albums/scrapbooks, audiotapes (open reel and audiocassettes), articles and clippings, and printed materials (copies of Amplified Bibles and New Testaments, New American Standard Bibles and New Testaments, in English and translation into other languages). (ARC Mss 14).
• Leitner [Anthony U.] Memorial Collection, 1966-1997. Papers and printed works, mainly about Tibetan Buddhism. (ARC Mss 15).
• Piediscalzi [Nicholas] Collection. Mainly reports, articles, and other printed materials re religion and public education issues, as well as notebooks and audio cassette sets pertaining to Lazaris, as channeled by Jach Pursel. (ARC Mss 16).
• Stockton [Bayard] Collection, ca. latter 1980s-early 1990s. Mainly drafts of Stockton’s book, Catapult: The Biography of Robert A. Monroe (1989), and correspondence and material about Monroe and the Monroe Institute. Also, a sizeable collection of audiotapes, many issued by the Monroe Institute, as well as some non-commercial tapes of interviews, conversations, and reflections by people associated with the Monroe Institute. (ARC Mss 17).
• Zeiger [Robert S.] Papers. Files of Zeiger, a bishop with the Old Catholic movement. (ARC Mss 18).
• Cult Awareness Network (CAN) Collection, ca. 1970s-1990s. Includes files (correspondence, clippings, articles) relating to hundreds of religious groups, as well as internal administrative, financial, and legal files of a cult watchdog group which ceased operations in the mid 1990s. (ARC Mss 19).
• Melton [J. Gordon] Papers, ca. 1960s-1990s. Mainly research files of Melton, prolific author of religious reference works and donor of much of UCSB’s American Religions Collection. Includes bibliographical, biographical, ISAR (Institute for the Study of American Religions), and legal files (mainly copies of depositions, testimony, and exhibits relating to cases for which Melton was asked to be an expert witness), publication files (copies of articles and papers, drafts of manuscripts, and some related correspondence), research files, mainly in support of writing projects such as the Encyclopedia of American Religions, Spiritual Frontier Fellowship files (Melton was a field rep in the early 1970s), and teaching files (course outlines and related material, mainly UCSB courses). (ARC Mss 20).
• Ballard [John / Jan] Collection. New Age/Communal and related mss, monographs, and serials. (ARC Mss 21).
• Krishnamurti [U. G.] Collection, ca. 1970s-1990s. Mainly clippings and copies of articles (U.S. and India) videotapes, and audiotapes by and about the ‘anti-guru’ philosopher. (ARC Mss 22).
• Clifton [Charles S.] Collection. Editorial files, correspondence, and research files about pagan, witchcraft, ‘cult’ subjects. (ARC Mss 23).
• Hadden [Jeffrey] Papers, 1958-2000 [bulk dates 1977-2000]. Files (correspondence, financial and tax records, clippings, notes, website printouts, brochures, newsletters, mailings and other promotional literature) relating to various religious groups and leaders, mainly televangelists such Jim Bakker (PTL), Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson, assembled by Hadden, a professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, expert on New Religious Movements, and author/editor of numerous works, often focusing on televangelism in America. Accompanied by a related collection of books that have been cataloged separately. (ARC Mss 24).
• White [Nelson H.] Papers, 1969-1999 [bulk 1980-1995]. Collected self-published works on ceremonial magic by Nelson H. White of Technology Group publications. Collection includes some unpublished material. (ARC Mss 25).
• Ramtha Collection, 1991-2004. Audio and video recording of the teachings of the spirit Ramtha, channeled by JZ Knight. (ARC Mss 26).
• Adams [Fred] / Feraferia Collection. (ARC Mss 27).
• Muster [Nori] Betrayal of the Spirit Collection. ISKCON related materials. (ARC Mss 28).
• Bromley [David] Papers. Manuscript, typescript, and printed material relating to new religious movements. (ARC Mss 29).
• Gutman [Jeremiah] Papers. Attorney’s case files regarding lawsuits brought to court on behalf of the Unification Church and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). (ARC Mss 30).
• Warder [Michael] Collection, ca. late 1960s-1980s. Files relating to Michael Warder’s participation in the Unification Church, mainly as editor of the New York based newspaper News World. Included are legal files relating to various activities of the church and its tax exempt status. (ARC Mss 31).
• Shupe [Anson D.] Collection, ca. 1969-1982. Mainly correspondence, research files, and printed material collected by Shupe, re the Goddian Movement, founded by Lawrence A. Whitten. (ARC Mss 32).
• Continuing Church Movement Collection. Files from DeKoven Foundation of Ohio, Inc. pastor, Roderic B. Dibbert, re bishops connected with the ‘Continuing Church’ movement and some of the jurisdictions within the movement. (ARC Mss 33).
• Society for Pragmatic Mysticism Collection, ca. 1970s. Mainly printed pamphlets and lectures by Mildred Mann. (ARC Mss 35).
• Estreletta Papers, ca. 1920s-1970. Three bound volumes relating to Christian mystic Ruth Robinson Starns, known as Estreletta, Keeper of the White Rose Grotto, as compiled by Bennett William Palmer. Included are correspondence to/from/about Estreletta, a biographical sketch by Palmer, a typescript autobiography by Estrelletta, as well as articles, clippings, and photographs. (ARC Mss 36).
• Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Collection, ca. 1990s. Pamphlets, brochures, newsletters, and other printed material by and about Soka Gakkai International (SGI). (ARC Mss 37).
• Black-Jewish Information Center Press Releases, 1979-1983. (ARC Mss 38).
• World Prophetic Ministry, Inc. Collection, 1960s-1970s. 56 numbered pamphlets in the Fruitful Life Series, with individual titles, by Howard C. Estep, President of the World Prophetic Ministry, Inc. (Colton, California). (ARC Mss 39).
• Living Stream Ministry Collection, ca. latter 1970s. Pamphlets and series of printed messages mainly by Witness Lee, published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California. Included are “Life-Study of Genesis,” “Life-Study of Matthew,” and “Life-Study of Revelation.” (ARC Mss 40).
• Children of God Collection, 1970s. More than 100 pamphlets, flyers, and other printed pieces mainly by Moses David, with titles such as “Gaddafi! Earth’s Last Pharaoh?” “How to Survive War,” and “Exorcism,” and “Revolutionary Sex.” Also copies of Mo letters, as well as articles, reports, and other material about the Children of God. (ARC Mss 41).
• Chick Publications Collection, ca. 1970s-1990s. 40+ small illustrated pamphlets by Jack T. Chick, with titles such as “Creator or Liar?” “The Passover Plot?” “This Was Your Life,” and “Is There Another Christ?” (ARC Mss 42).
• Faith, Prayer and Tract League Collection, n.d. [ca. 1950s-1970s?]. 200+ small tracts published by the Faith, Prayer, and Tract League of Grand Rapids, Michigan, mainly in the Silent Evangelist and Scripture Postcard series, with titles such as “Born Again,” “Where Will You Spend Eternity?” and “Where Is Happiness?” (ARC Mss 43).
• Bible Truth Publishers Collection, n.d. [ca. 1970s?]. 50+ small tracts by Bible Truth Publishers of Oak Park, Illinois, with titles such as “The Broken Safe,” “The Destiny of Man,” and “Which Church Saves?” (ARC Mss 44).
• Bible Teachers’ Manual Collection, 1960s-1970s. 35 printed Bible Teachers’ (New York) manuals, with titles such as “Revelation for the End of the Gospel Age” and “Who May Know the Secrets of God.” (ARC Mss 60).
• Christian Science Collection. Includes copies of early Christian Science serials. (ARC Mss 45).
• Unity School of Christianity Collection, ca. 1950s-1980s. 150+ pamphlets and tracts published by the Unity School of Christianity (Missouri). (ARC Mss 46).
• Word of Grace Collection, ca. 1970. 59 pamphlets by Duane Edward Spencer, based on radio messages from the Word of Grace program (San Antonio, Texas), intended to aid in the study of key words of Scripture. (ARC Mss 47).
• Santa Barbara Parapsychology Collection, ca. 1970s-1980s. Newsletters, magazines, catalogs, flyers, articles, records of experiments, correspondence, subject files, and other material, mainly printed, collected by Santa Barbara resident Dr. David T. Phillips and primarily pertaining to parapsychology-related groups, studies, and issues in Santa Barbara, southern California, and elsewhere in the U.S. (ARC Mss 48).
• Dohrman [Selina] Collection, ca. 1960s. Pamphlets, articles, typescripts, drawings, and other material relating to a range of religions acquired by Selina Dorhrman, a disciple of Karpal Singh. (ARC Mss 49).
• Swedenborg and New Jerusalem Church Pamphlet Collection, ca. 1826-1898. (ARC Mss 50).
• Primitive Baptist Association Annual Session Minutes, ca. 1940s-1960s. Printed annual session minutes for Primitive Baptist associations, arranged alphabetically by name of the association, located in several states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. (ARC Mss 53).
• Foundation for Christian Living Collection, ca. 1950s-1980s. Approximately 700 printed tracts and pamphlets published by the Foundation for Christian Living, mainly by Norman Vincent Peale, with titles such as “Inner Strength to Match Outer Stress,” “Powerful Effect of Optimism,” and “What Are You Doing with Your Life?” (ARC Mss 54).
• Brotherhood of the White Temple, Inc. Collection, ca. 1930s-1940s. More than 40 pamphlets printed by the Brotherhood of the White Temple, Inc. (Sedalia, Colorado), most by M. Doreal, with titles such as “Atlantis and Lemuria,” “Symbolism of the Great Seal of the United States,” and “Wisdom of the Kabbala.” (ARC Mss 57).
• Hall [Manly Palmer] Collection, ca. 1930s-1950s. 19 pamphlets by Manley Palmer Hall, many published by the Philosophical Research Society (Los Angeles), with titles such as “The Occult Anatomy of Man,” “The Riddle of the Rosicrucians,” and “The Sacred Magic of the Qabbalah.” (ARC Mss 58).
• Radio Bible Class Collection, ca. 1970s-1980s. 78 booklets published by the Radio Bible Class (Grand Rapids, MI), most by Richard W. De Haan, with titles such as “Eternal Destinations,” “The Other Side of Death,” and “The Time of Christ’s Return.” (ARC Mss 59).
• Mark-Age Collection, 1960s-1980s. 42 printed self study courses and other pamphlets by Mark-Age (Miami and Fort Lauderdale, FL), most discussing Christ Consciousness, as channeled through Nada-Yolanda, with titles such as “Into the Fourth Dimension,” “Life in Our Solar System,” and “A New Heaven and a New Earth.” (ARC Mss 61).
• Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society Collection, ca. 1940s-1970s. Tracts and pamphlets by the Jehovah’s Witnesses publishers, with titles such as: “End of Axis Powers,” “God and State,” and “Refugees.” (ARC Mss 62).
• Process Church of the Final Judgment Collection, ca. 1960s-1970s. Teaching and training materials, autobiography and diary of founder Robert de Grimson, correspondence, and other materials relating to the Process Church. (ARC Mss 63).
• Knights of Columbus Collection, ca. 1950-1961. 32 numbered pamphlets published by the Supreme Council, Knights of Columbus, Religious Information Bureau (St. Louis), with titles such as “The Infallible Church: Truth or Trickery,” “Is the Catholic Church a Menace to Democracy?” and “Let Us Judge Catholics by the Bible.” (ARC Mss 64).
• Moral Re-Armament Collection, ca. 1940s-1960s. Mainly pamphlets. (ARC Mss 65).
• Morse Fellowship Collection. (ARC Mss 66).