Sun Publishing Company records
Collection
Identifier: MSS-851-BC
Scope and Content
This collection documents the business of Sun Publishing and Sun Books. It illuminates issues pertaining to the New Age movement and the interests of people involved in mysticism and counterculture. The bulk of the collection consists of general correspondence files. Catalogs and price lists document the products of Sun Publishing. The Astral Projection provided subscriptions to prisoners free of charge, thus, some of the correspondence from the 1970’s consists of letters expressing thoughts and views of prison inmates. Event flyers and the assortment of advertisements document the counterculture and New Age movement in Albuquerque and beyond.
Dates
- 1969-1999
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biography / History
Skip Whitson, a long time New Mexico resident was President and Editor-in Chief of Sun Publishing Company and Sun Books.
During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, The Astral Projection, The Tribal Messenger, and The Old Town Gazette were published by Sun Publishing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Astral Projection was the most popular of the three. This tabloid newspaper/magazine was published sporadically from November 1968 - October 1973, with national and international sales and subscriptions. The Tribal Messenger, intended for a more local audience, was published and distributed biweekly from November 1969 – December 1973. It reported news that could not be found in local dailies or on the local radio and TV stations. Whitson published The Old Town Gazette, a tourist newspaper, during the summers of 1971, 1972, and 1973. In 1974, Whitson combined Astral Projection and Tribal Messenger into The Sun and started Sun Publishing to publish books. He eventually gave up the newspaper business, turning his focus to publishing books on meditation and the occult, travel, art, and a series of reprints from 19th Century American magazines, called The Old 100 Years Ago Series. Sun Books/Sun Publishing relocated from Albuquerque to Santa Fe in the mid 1980s. Publication topics expanded to include: American Indians, Astrology, Crystals/Minerals, Earth Changes, General Occult, Healing, Historical, Inspiration/Positive Thinking, Kundalini, Longevity, Oriental, Prophecy, Religions, and Western Mysticism.
As of 2010, Whitson continues to publish and sell self-help, motivational, inspirational, leadership, and recovery books by authors such as James Allen, Orison Swett Marden, Christian D. Larson, Lily L. Allen, Prentice Mulford, Ralph Waldo Trine, Emile Coue, etc. He is currently the owner of Abooksource.com.
During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, The Astral Projection, The Tribal Messenger, and The Old Town Gazette were published by Sun Publishing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Astral Projection was the most popular of the three. This tabloid newspaper/magazine was published sporadically from November 1968 - October 1973, with national and international sales and subscriptions. The Tribal Messenger, intended for a more local audience, was published and distributed biweekly from November 1969 – December 1973. It reported news that could not be found in local dailies or on the local radio and TV stations. Whitson published The Old Town Gazette, a tourist newspaper, during the summers of 1971, 1972, and 1973. In 1974, Whitson combined Astral Projection and Tribal Messenger into The Sun and started Sun Publishing to publish books. He eventually gave up the newspaper business, turning his focus to publishing books on meditation and the occult, travel, art, and a series of reprints from 19th Century American magazines, called The Old 100 Years Ago Series. Sun Books/Sun Publishing relocated from Albuquerque to Santa Fe in the mid 1980s. Publication topics expanded to include: American Indians, Astrology, Crystals/Minerals, Earth Changes, General Occult, Healing, Historical, Inspiration/Positive Thinking, Kundalini, Longevity, Oriental, Prophecy, Religions, and Western Mysticism.
As of 2010, Whitson continues to publish and sell self-help, motivational, inspirational, leadership, and recovery books by authors such as James Allen, Orison Swett Marden, Christian D. Larson, Lily L. Allen, Prentice Mulford, Ralph Waldo Trine, Emile Coue, etc. He is currently the owner of Abooksource.com.
Extent
1 box (1 cu. ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Separated Material
Publications have been catalogued for the University Libraries book collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Sun Publishing Company records, 1969-1999
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- wlp
- Date
- © 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu