John P. Van Mater (1917-2002) was born in Vallejo, California, and joined the international headquarters of The Theosophical Society in 1937, then located at Point Loma, California. He attended Theosophical University, receiving a BA in English Literature. From 1942 to 1948 he served as Secretary General of the TS, and from 1948 to 1982 was head of the American Section. In 1972 Grace F. Knoche appointed him Head Librarian of Theosophical University Library in Altadena, California. John is remembered for his kindness, humor, intellectual depth, love of people, and sharing his wide-ranging interests in theosophy, literature, history, and science. Over the years John wrote scores of articles for theosophical periodicals — over one hundred for Sunrise alone — and delivered many public lectures. In 1979 he began preparing this comprehensive Index to The Secret Doctrine, published in 1997.
Books
The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy : Index