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"We felt especially fortunate to visit the Meher Archive Collective at this early stage of its development. Seeing MAC while the building is still being transformed gave us a glimpse not only of what it is today, but of what it may become in the years ahead."

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Our Visit to the Meher Archive Collective in Weaverville, NC
by Madhu Kumar

Jai Baba!

I had heard about Meher Archive Collective (MAC) for some time and had been wanting to visit. During the 2026 Asheville Music Sahavas, a group of us from the Chapel Hill area finally had the opportunity to take a tour of MAC in Weaverville, North Carolina.

We arrived at a beautiful old brick building where Hugh Huntington, a MAC volunteer, was waiting to welcome us and give us a tour.

HISTORY
The building itself has an interesting history. Originally an old school, it was acquired from a church organization about eight years ago. The purchase came about through a fortunate combination of circumstances, including the deep desire of the Baba community to see this project come to fruition and the construction and real-estate expertise of several Baba lovers in the Ashville area. The founding MAC committee had initially been looking for approximately 2,500 square feet of space. Instead, they found themselves with a 25,000-square-foot building, which seems especially befitting of an archive devoted to the Avatar of the Age!

The building also has a special connection with the local community. Many residents of Weaverville have at least one relative who attended the school there when they were young. MAC hopes to preserve this local history as well, with plans for an exhibit on the first floor where former students and local families can share photographs, trophies, memorabilia, and other reminders of the school’s past.

RENOVATION
As we walked through the first floor, we saw the extensive construction and renovation that is still underway. Dedicated Baba lovers are contributing their time, skills, knowledge, and, above all, their love to transform this old building into a home for the precious records and artifacts associated with Meher Baba.

Although the original construction of the building is remarkably solid, there is still an enormous amount of work to be done. The renovation is proceeding carefully and in phases. Great attention is being given to the quality of materials, sound building construction practices, and the responsible use of resources. Areas intended for archival storage are equipped with temperature and humidity controls in keeping with modern archival standards, so that the materials entrusted to the MAC can be preserved for generations to come.

Part of the first floor is also planned as a rental venue for weddings, ceremonies, and other gatherings including the annual Ashville Music Sahavas. The income generated from this space can provide an ongoing source of support for the Archive and its future activities.

THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED
A beautiful grand stairwell leads to the completed portion of the Archive. As we reached this floor, we were greeted by a striking life-size photograph of Meher Baba from Mahabaleshwar, India.

The entrance is through a pair of restored wooden doors from Guruprasad Palace in Poona, India. Guruprasad was a place where Meher Baba spent considerable periods of time during the 1960s and was also the site of the historic East-West Gathering in 1962. Beside the doors is a small exhibit telling the story of their restoration and their journey to the Archive.

Throughout our visit, volunteers accompanied us and shared the stories behind many of the objects and photographs we encountered. It was evident that these were not simply archival materials to them. Each artifact carried a story, a connection, and a memory. Their love for Meher Baba was evident not only in the stories they told, but in the care with which they undertake this work.

The completed portion of MAC has an atmosphere of quietness and tranquility. At the same time, it has the feel of a modern, thoughtfully designed museum. Photographs and paintings of Meher Baba line the walls, each accompanied by information that helps place the image in its historical context.

One large room is devoted to rotating exhibitions of artwork depicting Meher Baba. At the time of our visit, the room featured paintings by the artist Charlie Mills.

LIBRARY and READING ROOM
Another room houses the library, which contains a substantial collection of books by Meher Baba, books about Him, and writings by His lovers and followers. There are also archival magazines, booklets, newsletters, and other publications spanning many decades and documenting aspects of Meher Baba’s life, work, and messages.

The library is not only a repository of books and publications. It is also a welcoming and peaceful reading room, filled with natural light. MAC has several copies of Meher Baba’s books that may be made available to people in the local community.

DARSHAN ROOM
Perhaps the most intimate space we visited was the Darshan Room. A chair once used by Meher Baba is preserved there. Visitors may sit quietly, meditate, bow before the chair, or simply spend a few moments in His remembrance. The room has a particularly peaceful atmosphere, inviting one to pause and be inwardly with Him.

THE ARCHIVE
Along one side of the hallway are offices and workspaces where volunteers carry out archival activities, restoration work, meetings, and planning. Seeing these spaces brought home to us how much dedicated effort is required behind the scenes to preserve the physical record of a life and work as vast as Meher Baba’s.
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We felt especially fortunate to visit the Meher Archive Collective at this early stage of its development. Seeing MAC while the building is still being transformed gave us a glimpse not only of what it is today, but of what it may become in the years ahead.

The Archive represents a labor of love: a collective effort to preserve photographs, writings, publications, personal belongings, and other materials connected with Meher Baba so that they may remain available to future generations. In doing so, MAC is helping to safeguard a tangible record of His life and work.
As we left the building, I felt grateful to have witnessed this work in its formative stages. There is something deeply moving about seeing Baba lovers come together, each offering whatever they can: their time, expertise, resources, and love to create a place where His life and work can be encountered through the historical materials entrusted to the Archive.

May the Meher Archive Collective continue to grow and flourish, and may it serve generations of Baba lovers and seekers who come to learn more about the life and work of Beloved Meher Baba, the Avatar of the Age.
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Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!