Elsie and Wilfred Sechrist Collection
Collection
Identifier: Coll. 12
Scope and Contents
This collection documents the personal and professional lives of A.R.E. members and staff Elsie Sechrist and her husband Wilfred "Bill" Sechrist. Materials include correspondence, research materials, travel materials, books, artifacts, ephemera, and photographs.
Dates
- 1920 - 2006
Creator
- Sechrist, Elsie (Person)
Conditions Governing Use
Collection is open for research use.
Biographical / Historical
Elsie Rode Sechrist was born on February 12, 1909 in Connecticut to Gustave Rode and Amelia Potz. She worked as a nurse and later married Wilfred Sechrist in New York City on December 21, 1931. Elsie and her husband first discovered Edgar Cayce when they read the New York Times'review of There Is A River in 1942. They both received readings and became friends with Edgar during the last years of his life. In 1943, Elsie and Wilfred organized one of the first study groups in New York City, and later started groups in Los Angeles, CA and Houston, TX. Elsie specialized in dreams and meditation. She published the booklet Meditation: Gateway to Light in 1964 and the book Dreams: Your Magic Mirror in 1968. Elsie was a prolific writer and lecturer, appearing on national television as a representative of A.R.E during the 1960s. Elsie and Wilfred Sechrist first started to travel internationally for the A.R.E. in 1949, becoming joint International Field and Group Representatives. They both served on the A.R.E. Board of Trustees and as A.R.E. Vice-President. Elsie Sechrist died in Virginia Beach on April 12, 1992, at the age of 83.
Wilfred "Bill" Sechrist was born on October 2, 1909 in High Point, North Carolina to Hunter and Minnie Sechrist. He married Elsie Rode in New York City on December 21, 1931. He was a graduate of the Chicago Vocational Training School, received his M.B.A. from the University of California, and completed training at the Radio Corporation of America. He worked with the Klein Institute for Aptitude Testing and the Human Engineering Program at the University of Minnesota. During the Second World War, he worked as a flight test engineer for Bendix Aviation. Sechrist cofounded the Texas franchise of Budget Rent-A-Car with friend and fellow A.R.E. member Robert Adriance in 1961, and retired from the company in 1970. He was a member of Baylake United Methodist Church and served on the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Houston Foundation as well as the Salvation Army Boys' Club. He and his wife Elsie first discovered Edgar Cayce when they read the New York Times' review of There Is A River in 1942. They both received readings and became friends with Edgar during the last years of his life. In 1943, Elsie and Wilfred organized one of the first study groups in New York City, and later started groups in Los Angeles, CA and Houston, TX. Wilfred specialized in the business readings. He wrote and gave lectures on behalf of the A.R.E. He and Elsie first started to travel internationally for the A.R.E. in 1949, becoming joint International Field and Group Representatives. They both served on the A.R.E. Board of Trustees and as A.R.E. Vice-President. Wilfred Sechrist died on January 25, 1987 at the age of 77.
Wilfred "Bill" Sechrist was born on October 2, 1909 in High Point, North Carolina to Hunter and Minnie Sechrist. He married Elsie Rode in New York City on December 21, 1931. He was a graduate of the Chicago Vocational Training School, received his M.B.A. from the University of California, and completed training at the Radio Corporation of America. He worked with the Klein Institute for Aptitude Testing and the Human Engineering Program at the University of Minnesota. During the Second World War, he worked as a flight test engineer for Bendix Aviation. Sechrist cofounded the Texas franchise of Budget Rent-A-Car with friend and fellow A.R.E. member Robert Adriance in 1961, and retired from the company in 1970. He was a member of Baylake United Methodist Church and served on the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Houston Foundation as well as the Salvation Army Boys' Club. He and his wife Elsie first discovered Edgar Cayce when they read the New York Times' review of There Is A River in 1942. They both received readings and became friends with Edgar during the last years of his life. In 1943, Elsie and Wilfred organized one of the first study groups in New York City, and later started groups in Los Angeles, CA and Houston, TX. Wilfred specialized in the business readings. He wrote and gave lectures on behalf of the A.R.E. He and Elsie first started to travel internationally for the A.R.E. in 1949, becoming joint International Field and Group Representatives. They both served on the A.R.E. Board of Trustees and as A.R.E. Vice-President. Wilfred Sechrist died on January 25, 1987 at the age of 77.
Extent
2.4 Linear Feet (6 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by creator and material type.
Creator
- Sechrist, Elsie (Person)
- Sechrist, Wilfred (Person)
- Title
- Elsie and Wilfred Sechrist Collection
- Author
- Jessica Newell
- Date
- 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The Edgar Cayce Foundation Repository