Author(s): Henry S. Olcott

Theosophy | New arrivals from Adyar

This series, in six volumes, relates the fascinating events that occurred in the founding and early day of The Theosophical Society. Col. H.S.Olcott, President-founder, kept detailed diaries from which these books were written, covering the years 1874 to 1898

Olcott tells of his association with his co-founder, Madame H.P.Blavatsky, and their work together for the cause of Theosophy. He writes of their contacts with the Mahatmas, of Theosophical Society from its small beginnings in New York in 1875 to an expanding international movement spread through many parts of the world.

To keep intact the true flavour of the early years of the Theosophical Society, Col. Olcott's words are presented just as he wrote them. His comments include references to occasional differences of opinion with his close and trusted colleague, H.P.Blavatsky. These very human differences perhaps will cause the reader to react with a smile of relief, knowing that great leaders such as these were also subject to human frailty and to times of disagreement. Old Diary Leaves gives a personal evaluation only, and is not intended to represent an official history f The Theosophical Society.

Henry Steel Olcott was born on 2 August 1832 in Orange, New Jersey. In his early life he became distinguished in the field of agriculture and then later for his services to the U.S Government during the Civil War. In 1874, when investifating spiritualistic phenomena for some New York news papers, he met H.P.Blavatsky and together they became the principal founders of The Theosophical Society. He devoted the rest of his life to work for the Society and related causes. He died on 17 February 1907 at Adyar, Madras (now Chennai), India.