What does it take to become one of the most visited bodies of work in the Yale University Library archives? It takes being the Seth/Jane/Rob material. Some of you may not know that copies of much of the creative output of Seth’s, Jane’s and Rob’s - not limited just to the sessions but also including paintings, photos, correspondence, journals, etc. - were donated to the Manuscripts and Archives division at Yale’s library in New Haven, Connecticut, starting in late 1978 at the urging of Jane’s publisher. All of this material is available for research and review, and a large number of people from all over the globe have made their way to Yale to see it.

There are over 1,700 collections housed in the library, many by some of the most famous people in the world. So, acceptance of the Jane Roberts’ papers by Yale adds a mainstream significance to the work, and will help to preserve it in perpetuity. The Seth material is consistently one of the most viewed of the overall collections. Though the rankings vary every year, unlike most other collections Jane’s is generally in the annual top 10, and has been since its arrival. And it’s the only metaphysical body of work in that impressive 10. (Go Seth!)

To find online information concerning visiting the collection, including hours, directions, policies and the library catalogue, you can access the Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives website at http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa/

And for more information on what’s in the Seth/Jane/Rob collection, go to http://drs.library.yale.edu:8083/fedoragsearch/rest and search for “Jane Roberts Papers”. This database site consists of Finding Aids for all archival and manuscript materials at Yale. Its purpose is to provide information about the creation, historical context, arrangement and content of archival and manuscript collections, as well as the information necessary for users to identify and request the portions relevant to their research.

Enjoy your trip to Yale, either via cyberspace or physical space. And say hello to Seth for us all!

(Painting of Yale's Sterling Library by Jobi Harris.)

(Special thanks to Mary Dillman who supplied some information for this article.)