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Kaye Hyde Manuscript and Ephemera Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0412

Scope and Contents

Most of the materials in this collection were found tucked inside the books of Kaye Hyde's personal collection, donated by his son Hugh Hyde in 2005. Materials include correspondence, Hyde's handwritten notes to books in his collection, postcards, photographs, printed ephemera, newslettters, and newspaper clippings. Most items, like Kaye Hyde's book collection, deal with non-mainstream or alternative religious movements, alternative health and healing, and fraternal societies such as the Freemasons. The collection consists of five series: Correspondence and Personal Documents, Ephemera, Newsletters, Newspaper Clippings, and Oversize Materials.

Correspondence and Personal Documents includes letters sent to Hyde from correspondents around the world. Most are figures involved in various esoteric organizations; some correspondents are involved with worldwide Muslim and Buddhist organizations. Copies of Hyde's outgoing letters are also found in this series. Most of these are to authors or editors at various publications, and most deal with issues in alternative religious movements. There is some material here to booksellers and other individuals regarding Hyde's efforts to build his "occult library." Of particular interest in the correspondence is Hyde's opinions on Elijah Poole and the organization called American Muslims. Personal Documents include Hyde's extensive handwritten notes and annotations to books in his collection, family photographs, and postcards. Oversize Materials also includes personal documents of Hyde's early life, including diplomas and certificates.

Ephemera is the largest series, and is comprised of print ephemera found tucked inside Hyde's books. There is not a record, unfortunately, of which book each item was found in, but this can sometimes be somewhat reconstructed by searching the library catalog for similar keywords. This series is filed alphabetically by Producer of the item (whether company, individual, or organization). There is no particular order within each alphabetical folder. The type of ephemera is also noted.

Newsletters includes single issues of newsletters from a variety of organizations. This series is again arranged alphabetically by Producer.

Newspaper Clippings includes subjects that follow the general concentrations found in Hyde's book collection, including Religion, Health, Astrology and the Occult, Economics, Asia, and U. S. Foreign Policy.

Dates

  • Creation: 1922-1979

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.

Biographical Note

Kaye Hyde was born in Minnesota in 1900. He received a diploma from the headquarters of the Theosophical Society in Adyar, India in 1922, and another from Katherine Tingley’s Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society at San Diego in 1923. Hyde was certified by the American Association of Vocational Counselors in 1927; this was to become his career later in his life.

Hyde began to build his library of alternative religious movements and western esoterica in the 1940s and 1950s. His correspondence shows connections to numerous Buddhist, Muslim, and Zoroastrian organizations worldwide, and he was involved with the Freemasons, the Rosicrucians, and the United Faithists of Kosmon for much of his life.

Extent

1.27 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement Note

I: Correspondence and Personal Documents

II: Ephemera

III: Newsletters

IV: Newspaper Clippings

V: Oversize Materials

Source of Acquisition

Hugh Hyde

Accruals and Additions

9999-152, Items of ephemera may be added to this collection as they are located in the book collection.

Related Materials

Kaye Hyde's book collection, donated by son Hugh Hyde in 2005. Cataloged as part of the Alternative Religious Movements Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, San Diego State University.

http://libpac.sdsu.edu/search/X?(%22gift%20of%20hugh%20hyde%22)&b=cdsc%20&Da=&Db=&p=&SORT=D

Title
Kaye Hyde Manuscript and Ephemera Collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository

Contact:
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego CA 92182-8050 US
619-594-6791