Historical Documents
primary sources providing context
There are a lot of old newspaper articles and documents, scattered throughout this website. This page is more specifically about 'collections' of documents and stories of correspondence between individuals.
Click on the links below to go to the relevant page.
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Doreen Valientes Scrapbooks - a collection of over 100 scrapbooks of news clippings spanning over 40 years.
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Letters from Margaret Bruce, Patricia Crowther, Melita Denning and Ray Bone to Charles Clark
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Letter from Charles Clark to Anton Miles and partner (Mahendra and Dianisis)
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The Witchcraft Research Association's 1960s Pentagram Publication
Other Craft History Resources
'A generation which ignores history has no past - and no future...' The notebook's of Lazarus Long.
Websites
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My Articles which deal with some aspect of Craft History, including the development of its rites and the history of the Scottish Wica.
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www.geraldgardner.com/essays.php - Links to various essays on Gardnerian Witchcraft, and it's history.
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The Boscastle Museum of Witchcraft's excellent online research archives - a wide range of documents amassed over many years, especially in connection with Cecil Williamson.
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Alexandrian Witchcraft and its history - a new website dealing with Alexandrian history.
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An Annotated Chronology and Bibliography of the Early Gardnerian Craft by Roger Dearnaley. This used to be online but the website is now dead so I have uploaded it here.
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http://www.geraldgardner.com/dearnaley.php - An essay by Roger Dearnaley that explores the influence of Aleister Crowley on Gardner and the Book of Shadows.
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Notes on Gardnerian Witchcraft in England by Fred Lamond - Another page that's fallen foul of time so I have reproduced the archived version.
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http://www.geraldgardner.com/History_of_Wicca_Revised.pdf - A history based on a talk given by Julia Phillips.
*Since some of the above articles and essays were written, new information has come to light so there are inaccuracies.*
Notable Craft History Books
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Read all of Philip Heselton's Craft books - Philip has done many years of exhaustive research and has produced some highly informative books about Gerald Gardner. Philips passion is evident throughout and his books are a must-have for anyone with an interest in this area.
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The Rebirth of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente - This book has a couple of chapters about Doreen's experiences in the Craft's early years.
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Fifty Years of Wicca by Fred Lamond - This book has a few chapters about Fred's experiences in the Craft.
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Wiccan Roots by Philip Heselton - This book deals with Gardner's early life, the people he knew and the places he went.
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Gerald Gardner and the Cauldron of Inspiration by Philip Heselton - This is Philip's second book about Gardner and includes even more research and information on his life.
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Witchfather 1 & Witchfather 2 by Phillip Heselton - revised and updated versions of Philips earlier two book Wiccan Roots and Gerald Gardner and the Cauldron of Inspiration
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Inventing Witchcraft by Aidan Kelly - An analysis of the 'Gardnerian' Book of Shadows as well as some insight into Craft history. This book is an updated and revised version of Crafting The Art Of Magic
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The Witches Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar - Another classic text which also delves into modern Witchcraft's history.
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Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton - An academic investigation into the history of modern Witchcraft.