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Koreshan Unity

Image - Cyrus R. Teed (Koresh)

Cyrus R. Teed
(a.k.a. Koresh)

Description of the Koreshan Unity

The Special Collections of Hamilton College have nearly complete runs of four periodicals published by the Koreshan Unity: The Guiding Star (Chicago, 1887-1889); The Plowshare and Pruning Hook (San Francisco, 1891-1895); The Flaming Sword (Chicago and Estero, 1890-1948); and The Salvator and Scientist (Allegheny, Pa., 1895-1896). Altogether the collection comprises literally thousands of pages of content, including very interesting material by and about the Harmony Society and the Shakers in the early issues of the Flaming Sword.

 

Background

Founded by Dr. Cyrus Reed Teed (aka Koresh), of Utica, New York, in the 1870s, the movement left New York state for Chicago in the 1880s before finding a permanent home at Estero, Florida in 1894. The Koreshans are well-known for their famous proposition that the earth is a concave sphere and we live inside. In fact, the Koreshans posited the entire cosmos was contained within this sphere. Koreshans practiced celibacy and tended a beautifully landscaped community on Estero Bay.

External Resources

Research on site at Hamilton College

To schedule a research visit, please contact us in advance.

Christian Goodwillie, Director and Curator of Special Collections and Archives
E-mail: cgoodwil (at) hamilton (dot) edu
Telephone: (315) 859-4447

Special Collections
Burke Library
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, NY 13323
Regular hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Items in the collection

  • The Flaming Sword, vols. 1-22 (1889-1908)
  • The Guiding Star, vols. 1-3 (1887-1889)
  • The Plowshare and Pruning Hook, vols. 1-3:4 (1891-1895)
Guiding star
Periodical publication of the Koreshan Unity, founded by Dr. Cyrus R. Teed (Koresh), Chicago, Illinois. Published: v. 1, no. 1 (Dec. 1886)-v. 3, no. 4 (Apr. 1889).
Plowshare and pruning hook
Periodical publication of the Koreshan Unity, founded by Dr. Cyrus R. Teed (Koresh), Chicago, Illinois. Published: Vol. 1, no. 1 (May 1, 1891)-v. 3 no. 4 (Jan. 26, 1895); Weekly, 1891 June 1-1895; Monthly, 1891 May 1.
The Flaming sword
Periodical publication of the Koreshan Unity, founded by Dr. Cyrus R. Teed (Koresh), Chicago, Illinois. Began in 1889?, Quarterly, 1945-, Monthly, [1925]-1944.