Adyar Library
Encyclopedia
The Adyar Library and Research Centre was founded in 1886 by theosophist Henry Steel Olcott
. The library is at the Theosophical Society Adyar
in Adyar, near Chennai
.
founded the "library Olcott" in December 1886. Olcott's small private collection of approx. 200 books in 24 languages was the core of library. During his travels in Asia, Olcott acquired more and often rare books for the library. After Olcott's death in 1907, the library was continued by other theosophists. Today, the library has approx. 250'000 books and 20'000 palm leaves. The library is today among the most important orientalist libraries in the world.
The library was at first situated inside the headquarters of the Theosophical Society. In 1966 it was moved to a separate building, the Adyar Library Building. It also has a public museum that shows old books and manuscripts. The Adyar library is also used by post-graduate students in Sanskrit
and Indology
of the University of Madras
.
The University of Chicago
is trying to preserve the old works in the Adyar library with modern techniques.
Henry Steel Olcott
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott was an American military officer, journalist, lawyer and the co-founder and first President of the Theosophical Society....
. The library is at the Theosophical Society Adyar
Theosophical Society Adyar
The Theosophy Society - Adyar is the name of a section of the Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. Its headquarters moved with Blavatsky and president Henry Steel Olcott to Adyar, an area of Chennai in 1883...
in Adyar, near Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
.
History
Henry Steel OlcottHenry Steel Olcott
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott was an American military officer, journalist, lawyer and the co-founder and first President of the Theosophical Society....
founded the "library Olcott" in December 1886. Olcott's small private collection of approx. 200 books in 24 languages was the core of library. During his travels in Asia, Olcott acquired more and often rare books for the library. After Olcott's death in 1907, the library was continued by other theosophists. Today, the library has approx. 250'000 books and 20'000 palm leaves. The library is today among the most important orientalist libraries in the world.
The library was at first situated inside the headquarters of the Theosophical Society. In 1966 it was moved to a separate building, the Adyar Library Building. It also has a public museum that shows old books and manuscripts. The Adyar library is also used by post-graduate students in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and Indology
Indology
Indology is the academic study of the history and cultures, languages, and literature of the Indian subcontinent , and as such is a subset of Asian studies....
of the University of Madras
University of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
.
The University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
is trying to preserve the old works in the Adyar library with modern techniques.
