The Koreshans offers a rare glimpse into a charismatic leader and his followers as they endeavored to create a thriving utopian community.
Upon his “Illumination” in 1869, the prophet Cyrus R. Teed (later called by the Hebrew translation “Koresh”), first founded the Science of Universiology and the Koreshanity religion in New York. The Koreshan Unity group was further established in a Victorian suburb of Chicago until 1894, when the group relocated to establish their “New Jerusalem" in Estero, Florida. The Koreshan Unity espoused radical new doctrine that was a union of reincarnation, alchemy, religio-science, and Koresh’s most radical concept: the belief that the earth is truly concave and the universe resides finite within.
The collective photographs, ephemera, monographs, and furniture on exhibit document the utopian community’s industrious nature. Though their community operated on collectivist ideals, the Koreshans sustained their fellowship by operating a bakery and general store, as well as owning and operating a printing press to create original texts, religious publications, and the American Eagle Newspaper. Koresh was a prolific writer, publishing numerous books, all of which are on display. The members of the Unity placed great emphasis on fine art, theater, and chamber music, maintaining their Victorian sensibility.
Thanks to the generous donation of monographs and ephemera from The College of Life Foundation, our students, faculty, and Southwest Florida will have access to these materials in perpetuity. The Koreshan State Park has graciously loaned their extensive collection of photographs to be exhibited and digitized by the library to provide global access to the historic collection. Due to the collaborative work of the FGCU Library, Florida Archives, The College of Life Foundation, and the Koreshan State Park, the public has the unique opportunity to view materials that have not been in the same room in fifty years.
