Marie Russak
Encyclopedia
Marie Russak was born on October 7, 1865 in the small city of Four Corners, Butte County in northern California
.
She studied music at Mills College in Oakland
. She became a renowned singer, performing in several European cities. In 1899, she married the opera producer Frank Russak. She was deeply interested in Theosophy
and became active in the Theosophical Society
.
Between 1906 and 1910 she lived in Adyar (Chennai), India
, where she deepened her study of esoterism. She participated actively in Co-Masonry, and in 1912 she co-founded the Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross
with Annie Besant
. She worked actively with the Rosicrucian
s until the group was dissolved in 1918.
Russak continued to work in the Theosophical Society
and was contacted in California
by Harvey Spencer Lewis
, who in 1915 had founded AMORC. She transmitted many of the esoteric knowledge that she had acquired, and she collaborated with the elaboration of some rituals, which were similar to those made of the OTRC.
Marie Russak was also involved in architectural design, and her work can still be seen in Krotona
, California
. Some of her designs were inspired by Moorish and Mission styles. One of her buildings, Moorcrest (probably completed in 1921) was rented by Charlie Chaplin
before its sale in 1925 to the parents of Mary Astor
, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Langhanke.
Marie Russak died March 4, 1945, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
She studied music at Mills College in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. She became a renowned singer, performing in several European cities. In 1899, she married the opera producer Frank Russak. She was deeply interested in Theosophy
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
and became active in the Theosophical Society
Theosophical Society
The Theosophical Society is an organization formed in 1875 to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. The original organization, after splits and realignments has several successors...
.
Between 1906 and 1910 she lived in Adyar (Chennai), India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where she deepened her study of esoterism. She participated actively in Co-Masonry, and in 1912 she co-founded the Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross
Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross
The Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross was an organization of traditional esoterism of West, founded in the bosom of the Theosophical Society in 1912 but due to the First World War, the activity was suspended ....
with Annie Besant
Annie Besant
Annie Besant was a prominent British Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator and supporter of Irish and Indian self rule.She was married at 19 to Frank Besant but separated from him over religious differences. She then became a prominent speaker for the National Secular Society ...
. She worked actively with the Rosicrucian
Rosicrucian
Rosicrucianism is a philosophical secret society, said to have been founded in late medieval Germany by Christian Rosenkreuz. It holds a doctrine or theology "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past", which, "concealed from the average man, provide insight into nature, the physical universe...
s until the group was dissolved in 1918.
Russak continued to work in the Theosophical Society
Theosophical Society
The Theosophical Society is an organization formed in 1875 to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. The original organization, after splits and realignments has several successors...
and was contacted in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
by Harvey Spencer Lewis
Harvey Spencer Lewis
Harvey Spencer Lewis F.R.C., S.·.I.·., 33°66°95°, Ph.D. , a noted Rosicrucian author, occultist, and mystic, was the founder in USA and the first Imperator of Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis , from 1915 until 1939....
, who in 1915 had founded AMORC. She transmitted many of the esoteric knowledge that she had acquired, and she collaborated with the elaboration of some rituals, which were similar to those made of the OTRC.
Marie Russak was also involved in architectural design, and her work can still be seen in Krotona
Krotona
Krotona was one of three important Theosophical "colonies" in the U.S. during the early part of the 20th century. Originally built in Hollywood during 1912, the colony was eventually relocated to Ojai, California in 1926, where it operates today as the Krotona Institute of Theosophy.Located just...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Some of her designs were inspired by Moorish and Mission styles. One of her buildings, Moorcrest (probably completed in 1921) was rented by Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
before its sale in 1925 to the parents of Mary Astor
Mary Astor
Mary Astor was an American actress. Most remembered for her role as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart, Astor began her long motion picture career as a teenager in the silent movies of the early 1920s.She eventually made a successful transition to talkies, but almost...
, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Langhanke.
Marie Russak died March 4, 1945, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.