The Theos Bernard papers, 1884-1998 (bulk 1935-1947), document Bernard's interest in yoga and Tibetan tantric philosophy. Contains photographs, personal and professional correspondence, writings, lectures and interviews, research materials, notes, newspaper clippings, and family materials. **NOTE: The content of the papers is not digitized, and must be used in person.
Overview of the Tibetan Collection
We also have a very unique collection of Tibetan and other Himalayan material. To browse through the collection, search in Orbis for the following Local Call Numbers:
Tanka (Thangka) collection: 77 thangkas, circa 1600-circa 1950. All thangkas have been carefully photographed, front and back, and the images are available online.
"Newari" collection: Not in Orbis. Includes 150 manuscripts in Newari, Nepali, and Sanskrit. Most are from Nepal or northern India. Includes some palm leaf manuscripts.
Tibet Bernard: A very large collection (approx. 395 volumes) that includes the Rin chen gter mdzod, collected by Theos Bernard in 1937.
Tibet Kanjur: A 1949 copy of the Lhasa Kanjur in excellent condition.
Tibet MSS: About 65 original Tibetan manuscripts from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Tibet Mirror (Yul phyogs so so'i gsar 'gyur me long), one of the most significant early Tibetan language newspapers, began in October 1925 in Kalimpong, India. It chronicled dramatic social and political transformations in Tibet, India, and in the broader region.
How Wesley Needham grew the Beinecke Tibetan collection
Studies in Comparative Religion, Vol. 2, No. 2. (Spring, 1968). Find the paper version in the Yale stacks. This article details some of the events that precipitated Needham's desire to create the Yale Himalaya collection.
A short article about Wesley Needham, acting Curator of the Tibetan Collection, and his earlier role at the University of draftsman on Sterling Memorial Library.