FROM THE FILES OF THE FBI #124
HUBBARD ASSOCIATION OF SCIENTOLOGISTS
INTERNATIONAL
806 North Third Street
Phoenix, Arizona
June 12, 1954
Better Business Bureau
834 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona
Gentlemen:
For your interest, the Hubbard Association of Scientologists, an
Arizona Corporation, has brought about certain changes in
Scientology, and of which we would like to acquaint you.
Scientology is described as a science of knowingness. It is
actually a modern approach, using mathematics and physics, to the
philosophic subject of epistemology. The goal of Scientology is to
bring about greater capabilities in human beings such as increases
in recognition, memory, and reaction time. Such a science would of
course address various phenomena such as psychosomatic illness,
aberration and behavior.
The subject of Scientology is largely the work of L. Ron
Hubbard, author and scientist, who began his work in 1932 while a
student of nuclear physics at George Washington University in
Washington, D.C. Hubbard was also trained in psycho-analysis in
Washington, D.C. by Commander Tompson, (M.C.) U.S.N. who had
studied personally with Freud and who instituted psycho-analysis in
the U.S. Navy for use in flight surgery. Hubbard was also trained
by Dr. William Alan White, then superintendent of St. Elizabeth's,
the government asylum at Washington.
Hubbard's interest in the mind was from the standpoint of
physical energy and, later, anthropology. A member of the
Explorer's Club in good standing for eighteen years, Hubbard has
led several expeditions and has widely studied, in Asia, Alaska and
Latin America barbaric cultures for what they might reveal
concerning the motivations of humanities. In World War II he served
with distinction as a naval officer and was selected to Naval Civil
Affairs by reason of his knowledge of the Oriental psychology.
In 1947 Hubbard published a book for the Gerontological Society
and the American Medical Association called "Scientology A New
Science." Politely received, the date yet remained unstudied and so
unused and Hubbard eventually followed this original publications
[sic] with an article in the Explorer Club professional journal.
This article attracted the attention of many people, amongst them
members of the Russian government. Hubbard saw a need to release
his work in more detailed form and, received an offer from
Hermitage House, Inc., one of the better publisher of psychiatric
texts, he consented to write a formal book.
Here, if anywhere, Hubbard erred. Hermitage House insisted on a
popularized version and a more popular name for the subject
(Dianetics) and Hubbard, foseeing [sic] no more than a few thousand
copy sale, agreed. Hermitage House, altering the manuscript and
writing a new introduction (a fact which became the subject of a
suit) unwisely chose to publish an article about "Dianetics" by
Hubbard in a pulp magazine. Hubbard, as in the case of almost any
nuclear physicist, often wrote, for amusement science fiction.
Hermitage House desired to capitalize on this fact to gain a sale
amongst those who were familiar with Hubbard's name.
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The book, called "Dianetics: Modern Science of Mental Health"
startled the publishing world, and Hubbard, by climbing high into
the best-seller listing of the New York Times and staying there for
months. Such instant popularity found Hubbard unprepared for the
floods of mail and pleas for help.
Hubbard, interested only in research, financially independent
without such royalties, was glad to listen to a proposal from on C.
Parker Morgan and his publisher to let them form a Foundation to
service this demand. Seven trustees, of which Hubbard was only one,
formed on June 1, 1950 the Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation of
Elizabeth, New Jersey. Hubbard gave the[?] book and its royalties
and returned to his own pursuits.
This organization, however, pressed heavily upon him for
lectures and disturbed his own routine. Yet the corporation
insisted on growing, forming other corporations in Illinois,
California and Hawaii, each with a duplicate directorate.
In November, 1950 Hubbard became convinced that the corporation
was not sound and that it would not attain to its professed goal of
helping people. He attempted to withdraw his name from it and was
variously inveighed against. He had only one vote in seven. Forced
to leave it in possession and continued use of his name, he retired
in December to Palm Springs, California where he set up a modest
research laboratory. Although he did not seek them, many people
began to come to him in Palm Springs. This seriously impaired the
business of the Foundation such [illegible word] that in Los
Angeles for Hubbard charged nothing.
A.E. van Vogt, the principal mover in the Los Angeles Foundation
and others were intensely provoked at Hubbard's withdrawal.
Hubbard's wife, from whom he had been separated, also became
incensed at him. For public appearance she had been a Foundation
director. With the obvious coming failure of the Foundations and
with it a failure of the income she drew from i[?] she threatened
Hubbard with public scandal if he did not support the Foundations.
Hubbard, busy writing a new book, refused to lend any credence
to these threats or those of the Elizabeth board and went to Cuba
where he completed a 125,000 word book in the next many weeks. As
their young child had always been under his, not her mother's care,
the child accompanied him.
True to her threats and those of the Foundation trust[?] a great
deal of scandal was stirred up. A receivership was gai[?] in Los
Angeles by this woman and the trustees to seize control [?] the
Foundations and many statements were made to the press.
Hubbard made no statements of any kind during all this period
and when he became aware that they had been made, ordere[?] his
separated wife to him, had her sign a confession to perjury (copy
enclosed) and applied for and received a divorce from her without
alimony to her.
Meanwhile the Elizabeth Foundation over which Hubbard had never
had power beyond his personality, sold itself to one Don G.
Purcell, an oilman in Kansas.
Purcell moved the Foundation to Wichita, Kansas and Hubbard,
having completed his book, went to Kansas to settle various
affairs.
Considering that Purcell wished only to make money from
Dianetics, Hubbard sought to reform the attitude of the Foundation
To accomplish this he supported himself in Kansas by writing and
lecturing and finally, after a few months, unable
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to bring about a good public presence on the part of the
Foundation and Purcell, he resigned from all connections in early
1952 and refused Purcell and others any further permission to use
his name or work.
Purcell's answer was to file for bankruptcy within one month
conceiving that the Foundations could not continue without
Hubbard's support. Purcell bought the Foundations from bankruptcy
as his personal property shortly after and continued them in
business, but, unable to use Hubbard's name or additional work, the
organization The Dianetics Foundation of Kansas came to exist only
as a shell, quite inactive today.
After resigning in early 1952, Hubbard came to Phoenix to visit
his parents, liked the city and with his wife Mary Sue whom he
married early in 1952, settled here. He opened a quiet office which
became that fall (1952) the Hubbard Association of Scientologists.
He had reverted "Dianetics" back to its original name, Scientology.
This organization was founded by some five hundred people in
various parts of the world who had long been interested in
Hubbard's work. Publishing a few books locally and issuing twice a
month, the Journal of Scientology, the HAS has continued a quiet
carrer [sic] in Arizona. It has opened up branch offices in Camden,
New Jersey and London, England. Th[?] association exists to publish
material related to behavior to train qualified people in
Scientology.
The HAS is the first organization in the field of "Dianetics"
and Scientology to be controlled by Hubbard. It pays its bills
promptly as any Phoenix business firm with which it deals can
attest. Although any organization dealing with behaviour can
attract hangers-on, there has been no consequently of this in the
HAS. Hubbard's policy of quiet, orderly business and investigation
is clearly manifested in the gneral [sic] good repute of the HAS in
Phoenix.
In so far as possible the HAS has sought to associate itself
with steady and reliable people. It does permit its name and the
name Scientology to be used by autonomous organizations, Such,
called associates or groups, exist in many ci[?] They use HAS
materials and pay a membership fee but otherwise have no
connection. Whey [sic] they err financially or seem to hurt HAS
repute, their membership is cancelled. This has happened recently
in Los Angeles. The HAS has no other control over such persons.
The addresses of the HAS are 806 North Third Street Phoenix,
Arizona, 507 Market Street, Camden, New Jersey, 163 Holland Park
Avenue, London, England. The Camden and London offices are run by
committees.
The HAS, under the management of Hubbard, has a two year record
of good repute and responsibility. It is aware, as is Hubbard, that
the 1950 blatant use of Hubbard's name by early Foundations has
often reflected against HAS progress. It is aware of the mountains
of publicity generated by the sudden and strange popularity of a
book. The HAS is also awa[?] that it is the first organization
controlled by Hubbard and t[?] it enjoys good public reputation as
well as good credit. It is content to pay its way, has no great
ambition to riches and builds solidly as it goes.
The HAS recently rented quarters at 401-A East Roosevelt and 616
North Third Street. The latter address was once occupied by a
psychologist, Dr. Gordon Beckstead, who was in no way connected
with the HAS.
Awakening recently to the fact that many of its interested
people were ministers, the HAS has assisted them to form churches
such as the Church of American Science and the Church of
Scientology. Also, when friends of Hubbard in Europe
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pointed out to him that the home organization of
psycho-analysis, the Freudian Institute of Vienna, was now in the
Russian zone of Austria and desired removal, Hubbard helped finance
the organization of the Freudian Foundation of America" to be
offered to those in Vienna should they desire to avail themselves
of it. In the latter and in the churches, the HAS has no further
control or interest.
As Scientology is proving it can do much for disabled veterans
and others such as they, the HAS may soon make Scientology
available to the disabled as a public service.
The HAS business gross is about $10,000 a month. It has no
profits or dividends. It finances the processing, with Scientology
of indigent and disabled people.
There is no broadly stated medical opinion of Scientology,
mainly because it does not in any way intend or pretend to encroach
upon medicine. Its field in [sic] the study of Knowledge itself and
its benefits are more closely allied to philosophy and religion
than to medicine or psychology. If one "gets well" in the process
of knowing more about himself or Mankind the benefit derived from
knowledge gained, not treatment received.
Aside from offering public services, the firm two-year policy of
the HAS will continue to be followed. To neither defend nor attack
on the public stage but to keep [illegible words] house,
financially and ethically sound.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Hubbard Association of Scientologists
[signed] John Galusha
by John Galusha, Secretary
