http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8qv3rzf No online items Guide to the Charlotte Selver papers HPA Mss 33 Finding aid prepared by Anh Huynh, Mona Luo and Zachary Liebhaber, 2015. UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara 93106-9010 [email protected] URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections 2015 September Guide to the Charlotte Selver HPA Mss 33 1 papers HPA Mss 33 Title: Charlotte Selver papers Identifier/Call Number: HPA Mss 33 Contributing Institution: UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections Language of Material: Multiple languages Physical Description: 114.13 linear feet(20 document boxes, 56 cartons, 8 oversize boxes, 8 shoeboxes, 54 audiocassettes, 370 audiotape reels, 6 film reels) Creator: Selver, Charlotte Date (inclusive): approximately 1920-2003 Date (bulk): approximately 1950-1999 Abstract: The Charlotte Selver papers circa 20th century (bulk approximately 1950 to 1999) consist of the personal and professional correspondence, writings, transcripts of classes and workshops, photographs, personal items, and sound records of Charlotte Selver, music educator, originator of the concept of sensory awareness and leading member of the Sensory Awareness Foundation. Charlotte introduced sensory awareness to the U.S. She was closely connected to the Esalen Institute and San Francisco Zen Center. Her work is continued by the Sensory Awareness Foundation. These papers also contain material related to Charles V.W. Brooks, Selver's husband, author, and Sensory Awareness instructor Language of Material: The collection is in English and German. Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library Access Restrictions Many of the photographs in this collection are brittle and will require special handling. Please contact the UC Santa Barbara Department of Special Research Collections in advance for access. Use Restrictions Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained. Preferred Citation [Identification of Item], Charlotte Selver papers, HPA Mss 33. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara. Acquisition Information Transferred to UCSB Special Collections from the Sensory Awareness Foundation. Biographical Note Charlotte Selver (April 4, 1901 in Ruhrort (Duisburg), Germany – August 22, 2003 in Muir Beach, California; née Wittgenstein) German music educator, originator of the concept of sensory awareness and leading member of the Sensory Awareness Foundation began her studies with gymnastics teacher Elsa Gindler and music teacher Heinrich Jacoby in Germany in the 1920s. Their teaching emphasized the development of the natural gifts of each person, at any age. Aspects of this emphasis was carried over into sensory awareness, particularly the conscious sensing of the body and the deliberate following of physical sensation. Emigrating from Germany to New York in 1938, Selver continued her work in this field, which was to have a strong influence on the Human Potential Movement and humanistic psychology, as well as physical therapy and physical psychotherapy. Selver instructed students in sensory awareness in many locations across the United States and the world from 1930s into the 2000s, attracting leaders in the fields psychology, physical therapy, and philosophy, such as Alan Watts, Moshe Feldenkrais, Fritz Perls, and Ida Rolf. Many of Selver's workshops and classes were conducted at the Esalen Institute near Big Sur, California, where her first "experimental workshop" took place in 1963. Selver married Charles V. W. Brooks in 1963, with whom she lived at Muir Beach, California, up until her death in 2003. Together they taught classes and workshops. Based on these experiences, Charles authored Sensory Awareness, describing his work with her as an instructor and the meaning of sensory awareness as a life practice.Cha rlotte Selver died at the age of 102. Her work is continued by the Sensory Awareness Foundation, in San Rafael, California. Scope and Content The Charlotte Selver papers circa 20th century (bulk approximately 1950 to 1999) consist of the personal and professional correspondence, writings, transcripts of classes and workshops, photographs, personal items, and sound records of Charlotte Selver (1901-2003) generated throughout the course of her career as instructor and leader in the field of sensory awareness. Guide to the Charlotte Selver HPA Mss 33 2 papers HPA Mss 33 A large portion of the papers comprises transcripts of interviews and lectures starting in 1959, through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s in many different locations, including New York City, Monhegan, Esalen, Green Gulch, and Tassajara. Personal and professional correspondence ranges from the 1940s through the 2000s and is in both English and German. Similarly, photographs range from as early as the 1920s all the way to 2003. Many of the photographs document Selver's classes in body and sensory awareness. Miscellaneous materials comprise a wide range of items including lectures, manuscripts, reports, programs, publications, notes, guest books, personal items, schedules, bibliographies, clippings, scattered correspondence and transcripts, and pamphlets. Many of these items document her work with Alan Watts, Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, Heinrich Jacoby, Elsa Gindler, Gertrude Heller, Mary Alice Roche, and Ruth Veselko, among many others. A large collection of audiotape reels and audicassettes accompany the transcripts. Among these materials is a sizeable group of lectures and workshops conducted by Alan Watts, both alone and in conjunction with Charlotte Selver. Arrangement These materials have been arranged into the following series: 1. Transcripts, 2. Correspondence, 3. Bulletins & Newsletters, 4. Photographs & Posters, 5. Miscellaneous, 6. Audiovisual, 7. Additions, and 8. Charles V.W. Brooks. Acronyms CS = Charlotte Selver, CB = Charles Brooks, CSF = Charlotte Selver Foundation, AW = Alan Watts, MAR = Mary Alice Roche, RV = Ruth Veselko, SAF = Sensory Awareness Foundation Related Items Items held at the UCSB Library Brooks, Charles Van Wyck.Sensory awareness: the rediscovery of experiencing / New York : Viking Press, 1974. Main Library BF320 .B7 1974 Collected writings on sensory awareness /Caldwell, NJ : Charlotte Selver Foundation, c1984. Special Collections BF311 .C559 1984 [Non-circulating] Bulletin (Charlotte Selver Foundation) Bulletin / Caldwell, N.J.: The Foundation, 1971-1985. Special Collections BF320 .B85 [Non-circulating] Newsletter (Charlotte Selver Foundation) Newsletter /Caldwell, N.J. : The Foundation, Special Collections BF320 .N49 [Non-circulating] SAF newsletter.Mill Valley, CA : The Foundation,Special Collections BF320 .S24 [Non-circulating] Subjects and Indexing Terms Awareness Consciousness Senses and sensation Human potential movement Humanistic psychology Audiocassettes Audiotapes Bibliographies Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Film reels Interviews Lectures Manuscripts (documents) Pamphlets Photographs Programs (documents) Publications (documents) Reports Transcripts Workshops (seminars) Guide to the Charlotte Selver HPA Mss 33 3 papers HPA Mss 33 Writings (documents) Selver, Charlotte Brooks, Charles Van Wyck Gindler, Elsa, 1885-1961 Heller, Gertrude Jacoby, Heinrich Roche, Mary Alice Suzuki, Daisetz Teitaro, 1870-1966 Veselko, Ruth Watts, Alan Sensory Awareness Foundation Series 1. Transcripts Scope and Content Series 1., Transcripts, contains complete transcripts of Selver's classes, study groups and workshops from the 1950s through the 1980s. Arrangement Transcripts have been arranged into subseries by location or personal name, and within subseries chronologically. Barra De Navidad 1971-1975 Box 10 Barra De Navidad CS-CB 1971 January Box 10 Barra De Navidad Advanced Study Group 1973 February 8 Box 10 Barra De Navidad Advanced Study Group 1973 February 8 Box 10 Barra De Navidad Advanced Study Group 1973 February 9 Box 10 Barra De Navidad Advanced Study Group 1973 February 10 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 5th Session "Weight of Arm" CB (1) 1975 January 12 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 5th Session "Weight of Arm" (2) 1975 January 12 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 6th Session "Weight of Stone; Weight of Head" CB (1) 1975 January 12 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 6th Session "Weight of Stone; Weight of Head" CB (2) 1975 January 12 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 8th Session "Standing and Breathing" CS 1975 January 14 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 13th Session "Sitting" CS 1975 January 18 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 5th Session "Breathing" CS 1975 January 26 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 8th Session "Resting Head" CB (1) 1975 January 29 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 8th Session "Resting Head" CB (2) 1975 January 29 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 10th Session "One's Hands on Breathing of Two" CB (1) 1975 January 15 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 10th Session "One's Hand on Breathing of Two" CB (2) 1975 January 15 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 12th Session "Enlivening Feet for Standing" CS 1975 January 17 Box 10 Barra De Navidad 7th Session "Gravity and Eyes" CB (1) 1975