Big find: a Psychiana diary
Frank Robinson’s journal, revealed in long-awaited unboxing could prove to be invaluable to historians
Much is known about Psychiana, the Moscow-based mail-order religion that was founded by Frank Robinson and achieved global recognition during the Great Depression.
There still could be much more to learn about the charismatic founder himself.
On Monday night, the Latah County Historical Society opened five boxes donated by the Robinson family containing items that could provide valuable insights into Robinson’s life, and the lives of his family members.
These boxes were donated by Frank Robinson’s son, Alfred, in 1996 with the instructions that they not be opened until October 2023 — 75 years after Frank Robinson’s death on Oct. 19, 1948.
A drumroll played as Latah County Historical Society volunteers opened each box in front of a crowd of people that packed the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre in Moscow.
Maybe the most significant item found inside was Frank Robinson’s diary, which he apparently kept at the end of his life from 1946-48.
“This is what we have been waiting for, folks,” said Dulce Kersting-Lark, the head of the University of Idaho Library’s Special Collection and Archives.
The diary came with its own index with notes about people he may have met with, including Louis Boas, the former editor of the Daily Idahonian.
The boxes also contained letters, sales agreements, genealogy information, appointment books and numerous diaries written by Alfred Robinson.
The Latah County Historical Society plans to catalog all these items.
Psychiana began in the late 1920s when Frank Robinson advertised the religion in 700 newspapers, 86 magazines and 18 radio stations. His lessons, which were centered on teaching people how to discover their “God Power,” were sent to 600,000 people in 67 countries. Psychiana employed nearly 100 people and became the largest private employer in Latah County. It was reported to be the seventh-largest religious organization in the world.
The Robinson home still stands on Howard Street in Moscow.
Keith Petersen, former director of the Latah County Historical Society, said during Monday’s event that Psychiana was successful largely because of the era in which it was founded. He said Frank Robinson sold hope at a time in American history when people yearned for it.
“This is a really good example of how people tried to get through the Depression,” he said.
Monday’s event also featured guest speaker Glenda Hawley, who worked for Psychiana when she was 18 years old.
Hawley, 94, was friends with Frank Robinson’s daughter, Florence, and needed a job so she could pay for a wedding dress.
At Psychiana, Hawley printed labels and filled envelopes with Psychiana teachings along with the other women who worked there. She said employees were not allowed to read the materials they were putting into envelopes.
“It was a pretty boring job,” she admitted.
However, she did end up earning $50 that went toward buying a long white satin dress.
Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.
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