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Jeffrey Noles Rajneesh Collection, circa 1975-1985

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Jeffrey Noles
Title
Jeffrey Noles Rajneesh Collection
Dates
circa 1975-1985 (inclusive)
Quantity
7 cubic feet , (7 record cartons )
Collection Number
Coll 621
Summary
Records of immigration lawyer Jeffrey Noles of Portland, Oregon, who represented Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, his mother Saraswati Bai Babulal Jain, and many of his followers and residents of Rajneeshpuram. Items include immigration case exhibits which include originals and copies of correspondence, news clippings, affidavits, letters of support for Bhagwan, original Rajneesh newsletters, pamphlets and books. Materials date from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English and Hindi.
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Historical Note

Jeffrey Noles was a prominent immigration lawyer from Portland, Oregon. Noles represented Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, Ma Anand Sheela and many other Rajneeshees on immigration matters during their inhabitancy of Rajneeshpuram in Oregon.

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a spiritual teacher who developed a substantial international following in Pune, India, decided in 1981 to relocate to the United States. While investigating possible sites, he and his chief lieutenant, Ma Anand Sheela, visited the 64,000-acre Muddy Ranch in southern Wasco County, decided that it was the perfect place for their planned community, and purchased it at top dollar.

Because the ranch was agricultural land in a rural part of Wasco County, creation of what was effectively a new city violated state land-use laws. Rajneesh leaders used physical intimidation to exclude Wasco County officials from the ranch and tried to incorporate it as the City of Rajneeshpuram, a status that would subject them to fewer restrictions. Oregon Attorney General David Frohnmayer argued vigorously that the incorporation was illegal because the community was closed to nonadherents, a position with which court decisions agreed. (In a moot decision laid down in 1987, after the community had imploded, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that the incorporation was legal.)

In addition to the legal troubles associated with the establishment of Rajneeshpuram, many Rajneeshees, who came from all over the world had trouble with immigration. Bhagwan, as well as many of his followers, attempted to gain citizenship or permanent residence in the United States by way of marriage. In Bhagwan's case, he filed for preference as a religious leader, most of the cases were met with denials and lengthy legal processes which eventually resulted in charges of immigration fraud.

Portions of this note come from The Oregon Encyclopedia Project

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Content Description

The Collection consists of primarily documents used in the immigration cases of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, his mother, Saraswati Bai Babulal Jain, and residents of Rajneeshpuram, Oregon

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.

Preferred Citation

Jeffrey Noles Rajneesh Collection, Coll 621, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Items are arranged and labeled as they were found in binders and folders. Original arrangement was kept as close as possible. The collection is arranged into seven series:

  • Series A: Exhibit A, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Immigration case
  • Series B: Exhibits B-T, rebuttals and Affidavits
  • Series C: Rebuttal exhibits 1-32
  • Series D: Contents of a binder labeled "Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh"
  • Series E: Contents of a binder labeled "Jain, Saraswati Bai Babul"
  • Series F: Individual case files
  • Series G: Miscellaneous

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Rajneeshees--Oregon
  • Rajneeshees.

Personal Names

  • Noles, Jeffrey (creator)
  • Rajneesh, Bhagwan Shree, 1931-1990

Geographical Names

  • Antelope (Or.)
  • Rajneeshpuram (Or.)

Finding aid prepared by Sheana Corbridge
2018

CC0

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