Overview of the Collection |
|
| Creator: | Stearn, Jess. |
| Title: | Jess Stearn Papers |
| Inclusive Dates: | 1932-1970 |
| Quantity: | 5.0 linear ft. |
| Abstract: | Papers of the American author. Collection contains correspondence (1965-1968); typescript drafts and revisions of articles and books; research material, galley proofs, and book publicity. Research relates to Edgar Cayce, the occult, parapsychology, psychical research, and yoga. |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: | Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Library 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 http://scrc.syr.edu |
Jess Stearn (1914-2002) was an American journalist and author known for his writings on the occult.
Stearn attended Syracuse University and worked as a reporter for The New York Daily News for seventeen years before becoming interested in Edward Cayce while researching him for a book. He eventually published two biographies of Cayce, The Sleeping Prophet: The Life and Work of Edgar Cayce (1968) and A Prophet in His Own Country: The Story of the Young Edgar Cayce (1974), as well as more than thirty other books on reincarnation, psychic phenomena, and the occult. He also collaborated with Taylor Caldwell on Caldwell's book I, Judas, and wrote a book on Caldwell's psychic lives.
The Jess Stearn Papers consist of correspondence, memorabilia, and writings.
Correspondence consists almost entirely of incoming letters; approximately half are from admirers (fan mail), with the remainder concerned with the writing and publication of Stearns' books. Significant letters include Hugh Lynn Cayce (Edgar Cayce's son), Doubleday & Company, Doubleday Canada Ltd., LIFE magazine, Matie Molinaro, Kay Perry, Phoenix Republic and Gazette, and Austin Rice.
Memorabilia includes one folder each of biographical material and personal financial records.
Writings consist of articles and books by Stearn. Articles are represented in the collection in printed form only. Books include research material, manuscripts, galley proofs, printed copies, book reviews and publicity material.
Correspondence is arranged chronologically. Memorabilia is arranged alphabetically by topic. Writings are arranged alphabetically by type and within that by title.
Ken and Joanne MacIver material relating to Mr Stearn's novel "The Search for the Girl with the Blue Eyes" may only be used with the written permission of Kenneth MacIver. Any such written permission documents will be retained by SCRC.
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
For more Edgar Cayce material, see the Juliet Brooke Ballard Papers. The Long John Nebel Papers includes an interview with Cayce from 1968 and two interviews with Jess Stearn (his name spelled "Stern" in the Nebel listing), 1966 and 1968.
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Jess Stearn Papers
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Library
Gift of Jess Stearn, 1968-1973.
Created by: MFA
Date: Nov 1968
Revision history: 19 Nov 2009 - converted to EAD (MRC)
| Correspondence | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Incoming 1965-1968 | ||||||||||
| Memorabilia | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Biographical material 1965 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Financial records 1966-1968 | ||||||||||
| Writings | |||||||||||
| Articles | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | "My search for the girl with the blue eyes," This Week Magazine 21 Jul 1968 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | "Yoga and drugs," This Week Magazine 16 Jun 1968 | ||||||||||
| Books | |||||||||||
| The Door to the Future | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Printed copy 1963 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Review 1963 | ||||||||||
| Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Research material 1932-1967 - including the Reilly Service | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Research material | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Draft A, incomplete - original typescript and typescript copy, revised | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Draft B, printer's copy 1966 - original typescript, revised (3 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Galley proof 1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Page proof 1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Printed copy 1967 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Reviews 1967 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Publicity material 1967-1968 | ||||||||||
| The Grapevine | |||||||||||
| Box 4 | Reviews and publicity material 1964 | ||||||||||
| The Search for the Girl with the Blue Eyes | |||||||||||
| Box 4 | Research material and notes | ||||||||||
| Box 4 | Kenneth A. MacIver 1962-1966 - correspondence and miscellaneous notes, reproductions (2 folders) | ||||||||||
| RESTRICTED: Requires written permission of K. MacIver. | |||||||||||
| Box 4 | Joanne MacIver, transcript of sessions - reproductions (2 folders) | ||||||||||
| RESTRICTED: Requires written permission of K. MacIver. | |||||||||||
| Box 5 | Draft A, incomplete - original typescript and typescript copy, revised (3 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 5 | Draft B, incomplete - original typescript and typescript copy, revised (2 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 6 | Draft C, incomplete - original typescript (3 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 6 | Draft D - typescript reproduction (3 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 6 | Draft E, printer's copy 1968 - original typescript, revised (3 folders) | ||||||||||
| Galley proofs 1968 | |||||||||||
| Box 7 | Uncorrected | ||||||||||
| Box 7 | Revised | ||||||||||
| Box 7 | Final | ||||||||||
| Box 7 | Printed copy 1968 | ||||||||||
| Box 7 | Book reviews 1968 | ||||||||||
| Box 7 | Publicity material 1968 | ||||||||||
| The Sixth Man | |||||||||||
| Box 8 | Research material | ||||||||||
| Box 8 | Printed copy 1961 | ||||||||||
| Box 8 | Book reviews 1961 | ||||||||||
| Youth, Yoga, and Reincarnation | |||||||||||
| Box 8 | Draft A - original typescript, revised (3 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 8 | Draft B, incomplete - typescript | ||||||||||
| Box 8 | Draft C, chapter 12 only | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Draft D, printer's copy 1965 - original typescript and typescript copy, revised (3 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Printed copy 1965 | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Book reviews 1965 | ||||||||||
