Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

West Virginia and Regional History Center

West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Primary Collecting Areas:
West Virginia and Appalachia History and Culture
Description:
The West Virginia & Regional History Center preserves and provides access to the records that document the history and culture of the state and the central Appalachian region. The Center is part of West Virginia University Libraries.
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Start Over Repository West Virginia and Regional History Center Subjects Hare Krishnas

F. Gerald Ham, Compiler, Records regarding Kirtanananda Bhaktipada Swami, 1948/2011 0.8 Linear Feet Summary: 10 in. (2 document cases, 5 in. each)

Ham, F. Gerald, 1930-2021

Records regarding Kirtanananda Bhaktipada Swami (Keith Gordon Ham), a founding member and leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) or "Hare Krishna" religious movement. Most of the material in the collection regards his involvement with the community of New Vrindaban in Marshall County, West Virginia and the controversies and legal problems that arose during his term of leadership there. The collection also contains biographical information regarding Bhaktipada, Hare Krishna associated publications, and other material.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Henry Doktorski, Compiler, Records regarding Kirtanananda Bhaktipada Swami and the New Vrindaban Commune, 1949/2020 54.63 Linear Feet 54 ft. 7.5 in. (42 record cartons, 15 in. each); (4 flat storage boxes, 3.5 in. each); (2 flat storage boxes, 3 in.); (1 oversized folder, 0.5 in.); (1 document case, 5 in.)

Ham, F. Gerald, 1930-2021

This collection contains records pertaining to the community of New Vrindaban in Marshall County, West Virginia and its founder Kirtanananda Bhaktipada Swami (Keith Gordon Ham), a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) or "Hare Krishna" religious movement, until his expulsion in 1987. Compiled by Henry Doktorski, a former resident of New Vrindaban and author of several books on the subject, the collection includes records which provide insight into daily life in the commune, such as committee meeting minutes, housing contracts and behavioral guidelines for devotees. There are also audio recordings and written transcripts of meditation sessions and other spiritual practices.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Content Warning

ARVAS is an aggregator of archival resources. ARVAS does not have control of the descriptive language used in our members’ finding aids.

Finding aids may contain historical terms and phrases, reflecting the shared attitudes and values of the community from which they were collected, but are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical or mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Many institutions and organizations are in the process of reviewing and revising their descriptive language, with the intent to describe materials in more humanizing, inclusive, and harm-reductive ways. As members revise their descriptive language, their changes will eventually be reflected in their ARVAS finding aids.