 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRLoving Greetings to Each One of You, As we move through these final, quiet stretches of winter, the world can feel gray and brittle, and our own spirits may echo that starkness. Yet even in this bareness, Baba offers clarity, endurance, and the promise of what has not yet emerged. In the stillness, He draws us close to His flame, giving us the warmth to carry on. Beneath the frozen ground, a subtle quickening begins; an early stirring of spring that awakens both the outer landscape and our inner lives. At Meher Archive Collective, we see this seasonal shift as a reflection of our work. Preservation is not simply the safeguarding of old treasures; it is tending the flame of Baba’s presence within them so they can come alive for those who seek Him. When we encounter the tangible remnants of His life—letters, photographs, the garments He wore—we are not merely observing history. Each digital scan or restored artifact becomes a doorway into His story, and into our own with Him. These are conduits of His love, steadying us when the world feels overwhelming. Sharing this material is essential. If hidden, it is like a seed that never reaches the soil. Our mission is to ensure that these treasures are not only protected but made accessible, so they can nourish hearts and deepen each seeker’s connection with Him. I often imagine the archive as a winter garden. To a casual eye, it may look like rows of dormant boxes and silent shelves. But to the lover, it is a sanctuary of quiet potential. The quiet, meticulous work of conservation and cataloging mirrors winter’s discipline, while spring arrives in the moment a seeker discovers the one image or quote that rekindles their tired spirit. That spark becomes a kind of early harvest; remaining fresh with Baba, rooted in the past yet blossoming in the eternal present. As the world begins to green again, may we shake off the winter heaviness and step once more fully into His love. Let’s keep the flame of His presence bright, together. In His loving embrace, Evie Lindemann Board Chair TECH UPDATEby John Dalisky Soutron Launch: A New Era for the Meher Archive We are thrilled to share a major milestone in our journey to safeguard history. Meher Archive has officially completed the installation and configuration of Soutron, our new cloud-based collections management system. This represents a significant step forward in how we protect, organize, and share our beloved Baba treasures. Why Soutron? In the world of archiving, the goal is to balance protection with access. Soutron allows us to do exactly that without the complexity of managing local servers. As a cloud-hosted service, Soutron handles the IT infrastructure, meaning they fully manage, support, and keep it continuously updated. Because the platform is ready to use “out of the box” and easily customizable, we can spend less time troubleshooting software and more time focusing on what matters most: processing and preserving our collection of Baba artifacts. Soutron provides the framework we need to:
Because Soutron is flexible and designed to adapt to future needs, our digital archive will grow right alongside us. We are excited to see the stories these records will tell and the research they will inspire. Our goal is to make these treasures available to the world. Whether you are a community member who wishes to spend a quiet afternoon exploring a collection or a scholar conducting research on Baba, the Meher Archive collections will now be easier to access from your own home or office. Try it out right now Below are a few examples you can explore right now: https://meherarchivecollective.org/Portal/Archive/en-US/RecordView/Index/2471 https://meherarchivecollective.org/Portal/Archive/en-US/RecordView/Index/2436 https://meherarchivecollective.org/Portal/Archive/en-US/RecordView/Index/2453 https://meherarchivecollective.org/Portal/Archive/en-US/RecordView/Index/5 BUILDING RENOVATION PROGRESSby Hugh Huntington Quiet Months, Meaningful Momentum Construction activity at the archive has been relatively quiet over the past few months, but meaningful progress continues. Several small projects have been completed by Nick Gerardi, while Peter Nordeen has been in India. His primary focus has been cleaning the peeling paint in the large original kitchen, bringing renewed care and attention to this historic space. We also addressed challenges with the HVAC system. Some coolant line connections, considered a new industry standard at the time of construction, proved to be vulnerable to failure. We have now replaced most of those with the previous, more reliable standard, strengthening the system for the long term. In addition, the remaining security cameras are now fully operational, and all internal ethernet connections for our computers have been completed. We have begun seeking quotes for completion of the first floor, taking thoughtful steps toward the next phase of development before launching a major building fundraising effort. We are encouraged by this steady forward movement and look ahead with confidence to what comes next. ARCHIVES CORNERby Polly Rolman-Smith Hidden Gems from the Shaw Family Collection Archiving has been in full swing at Meher Archive so far in 2026, with the launch of a major project to process the Shaw Family Collection, originally assembled by the revered Baba lover Darwin Shaw. The unprocessed collection initially consisted of 15 large plastic bins filled with letters, pamphlets, publications, photographs, postcards, travel ephemera, and other papers. In addition to these paper materials, the collection also includes a large number of audio recordings and films that are planned for a future digitization and rehousing project. This significant undertaking has been a collaborative effort within the archive, involving archives manager Polly Rolman-Smith, archival consultant Susan McKendree, and volunteers Jeanne Felknor, Elaine Cox, Cynthia Drake, and Jana Weed. Leading the effort among the volunteers is Jeanne Felknor, who is not only organizing the collection but also making valuable historical notes about each document to assist with the cataloging process. Jeanne, a longtime Baba lover, has been instrumental in uncovering many hidden gems within the collection. Materials from each bin are carefully organized, cleaned, and de-metalized, meaning staples and paperclips are gently removed in preparation for rehousing. Following this detailed process, items are preliminarily cataloged in a searchable finding aid that will eventually be available to the public through our online database (Soutron). After this first phase is complete, the next steps will include full archival rehousing for long-term preservation, followed by scanning and the cataloging of individual items in Soutron. “I got the opportunity to come here and comb through this material one page at a time,” Jeanne said of the project. “What happened was that I became immersed in the stories of Baba through this work. In my lifetime, I never thought I would see such things!” Among the many important documents preserved by Darwin Shaw are telegrams and cables from Baba to Darwin; early letters signed “M.S. Irani”; a 1933 letter from Chanji describing a treasure trove of early Baba history; a 1932 letter from Chanji documenting Baba’s time in California and his interactions with Hollywood figures; a collection of warm-hearted letters from Mani Irani complete with drawings; and a fascinating series of letters exchanged between poets Jeanne Robert Foster and Francis Brabazon during the 1960s. The work on this collection—and many of the remarkable items mentioned above—will be explored in greater detail during the next “In Touch with Meher Archive” Baba Zoom on Saturday, May 2nd at 11:00 AM EST. More details will be available at babazoom.net and will also be shared through our email announcements.
MEHER ARCHIVE PROFILE
After moving to the Los Angeles area, she became more deeply involved with the Baba community, offering both her musical and graphic talents in service. Gay and her husband, Greg, were the primary creators of the popular newsletter “Love Street Lamppost,” publishing Baba news from the Los Angeles group for several years. They later served in numerous roles at Meherana in Mariposa, California. In 2019, Gay and Greg moved to the Asheville area. They initially lived in the Meher Archive caretaker house before purchasing their home in Weaverville. Today, they are well-known stalwarts of the Western North Carolina Baba community. Gay currently oversees the Meher Archive newsletter, website maintenance, and communications. She warmly welcomes other Baba friends to become more directly involved with the Meher Archive organization. VOLUNTEER UPDATEby John Dalisky Be Part of the Meher Archive Mission Whether you are a tech wizard, a local helper, or a creative storyteller, there is a place for you in this sacred work. We are currently looking for volunteers to help fill the following roles: 🌐 Information & Systems Technology The Role: Support our digital infrastructure and help ensure that our cloud-based tools run smoothly. We welcome tech-savvy volunteers who can help manage data flows, provide end-user support, optimize our online presence, and ensure that data backups occur according to plan and policy. ✍️ Transcriptions The Role: Turn handwritten letters, diaries, and notes into searchable digital text. Transcriptions make our Baba treasures discoverable. Without attentive eyes and dedicated typing hands, many of these stories would remain hidden. 📂 Local Archive Processing (Onsite)The Role: Work hands-on at the Archive Center with scanning equipment and perform data entry directly into our database. We currently have a backlog of physical materials that need to be digitized and cataloged to ensure their long-term preservation. 🧹 Archive Center Care (Cleaning) The Role: Help maintain a pristine, dust-free environment for our physical collections. Preservation begins with a clean environment. Keeping the Archive Center tidy is a direct act of service to the artifacts themselves. 📖 Library Online Sales Assistance The Role: Assist with the online sale of books from the Meher New Life Library. Work with our technology team to set up payment functions, manage inventory both onsite and online, respond to book inquiries, pack and mail orders, and ensure that bookkeeping receives accurate transaction records for payments, receipts, and tax reporting. 💰 Fundraising Planning Team The Role: Brainstorm and help implement strategies to ensure the financial sustainability of the Archive. To keep our archive services running and our preservation tools up to date, we need a team dedicated to supporting the mission through community engagement and fundraising. 📢 Marketing & Communications The Role: Share the vision of the Meher Archive, promoting new additions to the collection, and helping with community outreach. We need voices to help tell the world why this work matters. If you enjoy writing, social media, or public relations, your skills can help us share our purpose. 🏛️ Board Members The Role: Provide high-level guidance, strategic planning, and long-term vision for Meher Archive. We are seeking thoughtful leaders with a passion for preserving Baba’s history to help guide the Archive into the future and ensure it remains a pillar of the community for generations. Ready to Join Us? No matter your skill set, your contribution helps ensure that our unique records of Baba’s history and the lives He touched are never lost. 👉 Click here to fill out our volunteer application. LIBRARY UPDATEby Ann Barker Growing the Library, Preserving the Story The library continues to grow as a work in progress, with new shelving added to the library workroom and more fascinating documents and books arriving regularly. Pat Cook of the Minneapolis Baba Group recently sent materials documenting the beginnings of their group in the 1960s. Over the years, several of Baba’s mandali (close disciples) visited and spoke at their meetings. The library and archive hope to collect more information about the origins and early histories of Baba groups across the country. I am continuing to catalog materials from the Peter and Debbie Nordeen folders, which contain a wealth of remarkable history about Baba music and the early Baba gatherings. Our dedicated library volunteers are also making wonderful progress. Vandana Easterbrooks has been carefully housing rare materials, while Diana Goodheart has been collating periodicals and placing them in archival boxes. The proverb, “A great society is built when people plant trees whose shade they will never sit in,” beautifully reflects our hope that the Meher Archive Collective and the Meher New Life Library are building resources that will benefit future generations even more than our own. As a reminder, our open hours are: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2 – 6 p.m. Saturdays, 12 – 4 p.m. Please come visit! If you have questions about what’s happening in the library, call me at (936) 234-1779 or email [email protected] PROGRAMS and ACTIVITIESby Gay Dunn A Bloom of Energy at Meher Archive Collective With more hands in the Archive, the movement, momentum, and spark are evident. Volunteer and staff energy, as well as community gatherings, are making the Meher Archive campus livelier each day.  On Baba’s birthday, the team, hard at work, paused to celebrate together. CLOCKWISE: Polly Rolman-Smith, Ashley Lowe, Jana Weed, Susan McKendree, Meher Baba, Jeanne Felknor, and Elaine Cox Last quarter, two community events brought Baba’s presence alive in the space, with the promise of many more ahead. We have some wonderful photos from these events, with thanks to our photographer friends, Chris Barker (seminar photos) and Leon Kestenbaum (profile article - earlier in this newsletter and concert photos).
ABOVE: Friends gathered in the meeting room for Ward Parks’ three-day seminar, "The Art of Praise": Poetry of Francis Brabazon. BELOW: The following week a concert of new and old songs of praise was presented by Ward Parks and friends, with a special appearance by a whirling dervish. 
Ongoing Programs at Meher Archive Collective Monthly Dhuni On the 12th of each month, Meher Archive offers a Dhuni on the lawn of the Meher Archive building, weather permitting. Our next Dhuni will be on Sunday, April 12th, on the lawn of the Meher Archive building. To all musicians, poets, storytellers, and lovers of the Beloved, your heartfelt offerings are warmly welcome at the Dhuni. Whether through music, verse, or sacred story, your expression is a gift to the gathering. In Touch with Meher Archive The program “In Touch with Meher Archive Collective – Cherishing Meher Baba’s Legacy” is a bi-monthly series featuring a variety of topics related to preserving Baba’s legacy. All are welcome to join us on BabaZoom.net for our next live program on Saturday, May 2nd, at 11:00 a.m. Evie Lindemann and Polly Rolman-Smith will share some wonderful discoveries from the Shaw Family Collection. YouTube Visit Meher Archive Collective’s YouTube channel and check out our videos. The “In Touch with Meher Archive” program from February 7th, with Marnie Frank and Sevn McAuley in conversation with Evie Lindemann about the Beads on One String Foundation can be viewed here: In Touch with the MAC: a conversation about Beads on One String, Feb 7, 2026 live on Baba Zoom Coming soon on our channel: Q&A with Peter Nordeen and Ward Parks from August 9th (part 4) BOARD OF DIRECTORS Evie Lindemann, President: [email protected] Hugh Huntington, Secretary: [email protected] Scott O’Neal, Treasurer: [email protected] Anne Barker, Director: [email protected] |
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