The University of Massachusetts Amherst
Robert S. Cox Special Collections & University Archives Research Center
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Diamond, Stephen

Steve Diamond Papers

1960-2004
10 boxes 6.25 linear feet
Call no.: MS 542
Depiction of Steve Diamond and border collie at Montague Farm, ca.1980
Steve Diamond and border collie at Montague Farm, ca.1980

An author and activist, Steve Diamond worked for the newly formed Liberation News Service in 1968 covering stories like the student strike at Columbia University. After more than a year of internal strife resulting from ideological differences, the alternative news service split into two factions, with Marshall Bloom and Raymond Mungo leading a new division of LNS in rural New England. Diamond, among those who left for New England, settled into life in a commune on old Ripley Farm in Montague, Massachusetts. His experiences during the first year on the farm are recorded in his book, What the Trees Said. Diamond later worked as a writer and consultant for Green Mountain Post Films, editor of the Valley Advocate and Boston Phoenix, and as a contributor for The Atlantic Monthly, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Village Voice.

This collection consists chiefly of Diamond’s correspondence and writing, including drafts of his book chapters, stories, and articles; research notes; and diary entries. The collection also contains printed articles by and about Diamond, digital images, and audio recordings.

Background on Steve Diamond

Steve Diamond found his activist calling fairly early in his life. While studying at Columbia University, he began working for the Liberation News Service, a newspaper group that served underground college communities and frequently dealt with topics relating to nonviolent activism. Though the paper was successful, its writing staff would ultimately fracture and split into two groups. Diamond’s group split of and bought the Ripley Farm in Montague where they formed a commune. While the paper they started there shut down following the ruin of their equipment during the first winter, the commune provided a place for people to share their ideas, writings, and philosophies with each other, completely free of the criticism they felt they might face from the outside world.

Eventually, though, more conflict, combined with the unexplained suicide of the group’s founder, Marshall Bloom, caused the end of the commune and Diamond went off to do his own work. He wrote a number of novels including Panama Red, which concerned the legalization of marijuana in the country, some short pieces concerning anti-nuke activist Sam Lovejoy, and What the Trees Said, a chronicle of the first year he and his friends spent on the commune. Diamond’s writings would reach and influence a wide array of people, many of whom he would go on to correspond with through letters and, eventually email, helping them to promote their own causes and giving advice on how to find solace despite the woes and troubles that frequent the world.

Diamond’s other great goal was his One Day of Peace initiative. Diamond hoped that he could convince the world to cease all violence and bloodshed and refrain from the use of weapons for one day, January 1st, 2000. Diamond dedicated several years of his life to this project, and while not all sovereign nations agreed to the idea, he received positive feedback from several groups and even a few world leaders who agreed to his plan. This would be the last great achievement of his life, for Diamond’s unhealthy lifestyle and the stresses he put himself through contributed to his early demise at the age of 59. Yet though his life was ended abruptly, Diamonds legacy of peace and brotherly love continues to inspire people as they seek their own visions of a better world.

Scope of collection

The collection consists of a wide variety of items related to Diamond’s life and work.
Writings are chiefly works by Diamond, but also include pieces written by his friends and peers as well as publications relating to his work and beliefs. Notes, photographs, and correspondence offer insight into Diamond’s personal life–a life focused in later years on his spiritual journey amidst personal challenges.

Series descriptions

Includes writings and publications both by Steve Diamond and his close colleagues or friends. Diamond’s writings range from The Book of Om, which describes a personal journey to achieve peace and become one with the universe, to What the Trees Said, which depicts his experience living in a commune. The One Day in Peace book documents his efforts towards achieving one day of world peace on January 1, 2000.

Many of the writings by others focus on themes or areas of interest that are similar to ones Diamond wrote about, such as spirituality, peace, and justice. These include materials produced by the Liberation News Service and a Newstimes article highlighting Sam Lovejoy’s anti-nuclear activism.

This series consists of Diamonds personal notes, correspondences, documents, and photos, which taken together offer insight into his personal life. Materials includes peace documents from other countries related to his One Day in Peace initiative, notes, correspondence, and photographs featuring places that he visited in relation to his work, family life, and spiritual journey. In his Trueheart Files, Diamond reflects on his friend, Marshall Bloom, and the impact of his suicide on those who cared for him.

Inventory

Series 1. Writings and Publications
1969-2004
Steve Diamond
1969-2003
Diamond, Steve:
Anatomy of a Rose
ca. 1969
Box 1: 1
Diamond, Steve:
Anatomy of a Rose
ca. 1969
Box 1: 2
Diamond, Steve: “An Angel Named Fred”
1999
Box 1: 3
Diamond, Steve: “Applause for the Victoria Street Theater”
undated
Box 1: 4
Diamond, Steve: “Are You Norbert Hausburg?”
ca. 1986
Box 1: 5
Diamond, Steve: Articles
1999
Box 1: 6
Diamond, Steve: “Blue Sky Ronnie”
undated
Box 1: 7
Diamond, Steve: “The Blue Star Stories”
ca. 1981
Box 1: 8
Diamond, Steve: “The Book of Om” (notes included)
1989 Mar 9
Box 1: 9
Diamond, Steve: “The Bull’s Eye and the Scorpion”
undated
Box 1: 10
Diamond, Steve: “Cannibus Rising”
1995
Box 1: 11
Diamond, Steve: “A Cosmic Search for the Hundredth Human”
ca. 1992
Box 1: 12
Diamond, Steve: “The Day Isaac Bashevis Singer Made my Mother Cry”
1986
Box 1: 13
Diamond, Steve: “Disney Vision”
1990
Box 1: 14
Diamond, Steve: “Do Thoughts Have Wings?”
1997
Box 1: 15
Diamond, Steve: “Earthling: Saint Hood”
undated
Box 1: 16
Diamond, Steve: “Faith and Exceptional Humans: Stories for Bob”
1999
Box 1: 17
Diamond, Steve: “The Goldbook”
1985
Box 1: 18
Diamond, Steve: “The Hurricane”
2000
Box 1: 19
Diamond, Steve: “Jazz Festival”
1978
Box 1: 20
Diamond, Steve: “Lightworkers”
ca. 1999
Box 1: 21
Diamond, Steve: “LoveJoy Chapter”
undated
Box 1: 22
Diamond, Steve: “Men in the Shadows”
undated
Box 1: 23
Diamond, Steve: “Miami Sutra”
1995
Box 1: 24
Diamond, Steve: Newsclippings
1978
Box 1: 25
Diamond, Steve:
One Day in Peace
2000 Jan 1
Box 1: 26
Diamond, Steve: “One Day,” draft
1999
Box 1: 27
Diamond, Steve: “Past, Future, Present”
1986
Box 1: 28
Diamond, Steve: “Peace Industry”
1997
Box 1: 29
Diamond, Steve: “Powell-Peraltra: Chairman of the Skateboard”
undated
Box 1: 30
Diamond, Steve: “Saint Hood”
undated
Box 1: 31
Diamond, Steve: “Shree Story”
2000
Box 1: 32
Diamond, Steve: “A Story”
1999
Box 1: 33
Diamond, Steve: “Taking The High Road”
ca. 1986
Box 1: 34
Diamond, Steve and Thompson, Jeff: “UFO”
ca. 1969
Box 1: 35
Diamond, Steve: “Vendanta Temple”(includes interview, articles, and notes)
1989
Box 1: 36
Diamond, Steve: “What’s God Daddy?”
1989
Box 1: 37
Diamond, Steve:
What the Trees Said: draft, correspondence
ca. 2003
Box 1: 38
Diamond, Steve:
What the Trees Said: Life on a New Age Farm (original), Part I
1970
Box 2: 1
Diamond, Steve:
What the Trees Said: Life on a New Age Farm (original), Part II
1970
Box 2: 2
Diamond, Steve: Writings: miscellaneous
1986-1988
Box 10
Contents:

Includes “Vendetta Story,” “Saint Hood,” “Experts in Love” and clippings.

Other writings
1969-2003
Alan, Robert:
Day One
ca. 1999
Box 2: 3
Allan, Eddy: “Politics and the Zig Zag Man”
undated
Box 2: 4
“American Theosophist”
1989
Box 2: 5
The Animal Agenda Magazine
1989 Mar
Box 2: 6
Arnold, Kathy:
Manifestations of Greatness
1995
Box 2: 7
“Atencion San Miguel”
1987 Oct
Box 2: 8
Barber, Bob: “Spiritualist’s Goal a Day of Peace”
1997 May
Box 2: 9
Berman, Cassie: “Interview/Talk with Lex Hixon”
1992
Box 2: 10
Besant, Annie: “Speak Out”
undated
Box 2: 11
“Bridging Trees,” vol. 6, issue no. 1
2003
Box 2: 12
Brown, Malcolm and Seaton, Shirley: “The Christmas Truce”
1998 Nov 3
Box 2: 13
“Campaign For Frederich P. Rose Hall “
2004 Oct 18
Box 2: 14
“Connexions”
1986 Mar
Box 2: 15
“The Coral Gables”
1983
Box 2: 16
“The Coral Gable News”
1971 Sep
Box 2: 17
Davis, Richie: “Peace For The New Year”
1999
Box 2: 18
Dr. D: “Saving the Earth in the 1980’s”
undated
Box 2: 19
“Earth Star: Whole Life New England”
ca. 1980
Box 2: 20
“Echoes”
ca.1989
Box 2: 21
“Emergence Quarterly,” no.10
ca. 1995
Box 2: 22
“For The Love of Life”
1989
Box 2: 23
Gillies, Douglas: “Prophet Book Commentaries”
ca. 2002
Box 2: 24
“Global Link” newsletters
1997
Box 2: 25
Goi: “Autobiography of Master Goi”
undated
Box 3: 1
Good Vibrations Mediation for Peaceful Change”
1999 Feb 7
Box 3: 2
“Green Mountain Post”
ca. 1972
Box 3: 3
Hapgood, Charles: “The Breadth of Spiritual Experience”
ca. 1979
Box 3: 4
Hermequaftewa, Andrew: “The Hopi Way of Life”
undated
Box 3: 5
“The High Cost of High Tension”
1981 Oct
Box 3: 6
“Independent Voices: Harmonic Convergence”
1989 Dec 28
Box 3: 7
“Interspecies Newsletter”
ca. 1989
Box 3: 8
Keynes, Milton: “The Crime of Disturbing Peace”
ca. 1979
Box 3: 9
Liberation News Service
1967
Box 3: 10
Life Santa Barbara News-Press
1997 May 17
Box 3: 11

Los Angeles Times
1989 Aug 14
Box 3: 12

Magical Blend Magazine, issue 11
undated
Box 3: 13

Magical Blend Magazine, issue 13
undated
Box 3: 14

Messenger, vol.5, no.18
1981
Box 3: 15

The Miami Herald: correspondence
1989
Box 3: 16

New Age Magazine
1976 Dec
Box 3: 17
Newsclippings
undated
Box 3: 18
Newsclippings
undated
Box 3: 19
Newsclippings
1989-1991
Box 3: 20
Newsclippings: Hindi Diamond Articles
1997
Box 3: 21
Newsclippings: Mark Diamond Articles
undated
Box 3: 22

NewTimes
1977 July 22
Box 3: 23

NewTimes: Isaac Bashevis Singer, vol. 4 no. 50
1990
Box 3: 24

NewTimes: Sam Lovejoy’s Nuclear War
1974
Box 3: 25

The NewsTimes, vol. XVI no. 11
2001
Box 3: 26
Nollman, Jim: “The Case Of the Pain of Whales”
undated
Box 3: 27

OJAI Valley Voice
1988
Box 3: 28

Organica, vol. 7, no. 26
1988
Box 3: 29

The Organica Report
2003
Box 3: 30

Oui Magazine: “The No Nukes Movie”
undated
Box 3: 31

Peace Matters
2003
Box 3: 32
Peterson, David: “Workers Compensation Pays Off In Long Run”
1992 July 23
Box 3: 33

Positive News
1999
Box 3: 34

Psychic Magazine
1973
Box 3: 35

The Quest
1989
Box 3: 36

The Quest, vol 1. no. 2
1988
Box 3: 37
Riponche, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso: “The Heart of the Buddhist View”
2004 July 14
Box 4: 1
Russel, Jan: Madonna Ministry II pamphlet
undated
Box 4: 2

Santa Barbara
1987 July
Box 4: 3

Santa Barbara
1987 Sep
Box 4: 4

Santa Barbara Magazine
1987
Box 4: 5

Santa Barbara Magazine
1987 Nov
Box 4: 6

Santa Barbara News-Press
1990 Aug 19
Box 4: 7

Sedona: Journal of Emergence!
2002
Box 4: 8
“s.m.a LL Talk”
1986 Oct 31
Box 4: 9

South Miami News
1971 Sept
Box 4: 10
Stem, Frem: “Rainbow Maker”
2000
Box 4: 11

Theosophical Digest
1989
Box 4: 12

Time Magazine
1987 Aug 31
Box 4: 13
Tremaine, Kit: “Earth’s Aura”
undated
Box 4: 14
Twin Soul Relationship
ca. 2003
Box 4: 15

UFO Journal
1991 May
Box 4: 16

UFO Magazine, vol. 3, no. 4
1988
Box 4: 17

UFO Magazine, vol 3. no. 5
1988
Box 4: 18

UFO Magazine, vol 4. no. 1
1989
Box 4: 19

UFO Magazine, vol 4. no. 2
1989
Box 4: 20

UFOs and the Alien Presence: Six Viewpoints
1991 Apr 15
Box 4: 21
Unidentified author: “Infidelity”
1999
Box 4: 22
Unidentfied author: “Interview: Rodrigo Carazo”
1996
Box 4: 23
Unidentified manuscripts
ca. 1989 Apr
Box 4: 24
“Vermont Summer”
undated
Box 4: 25
Voices of Spirit
ca. 1975
Box 4: 26

What The Trees Said: review
undated
Box 4: 27
Series 2. Personal
1960-2004
Amsterdam
2003 Nov
Box 5: 1
Applications/Ramtha Story
2000
Box 5: 2
Artwork
undated
Box 10
Audio cassettes
undated
Box 9
Birth Certificate
1960
Box 5: 3
Certificate of Copyright Registration
1979
Box 5: 4
CheapTrips.com
ca. 2003
Box 5: 5

The Coral Gables City Beautiful, vol.1 no. 3
Jun 16
Box 5: 6

The Coral Gables City Beautiful, vol.1 no. 17
1984 May
Box 5: 7
Correspondence
undated
Box 5: 8
Correspondence
ca. 1987
Box 5: 9
Correspondence
ca. 1979
Box 5: 10
Correspondence
1994
Box 5: 11
Correspondence
2003
Box 5: 12
Correspondence
1998
Box 5: 13
Diamon, Steve: “Cosmic Citizen”
undated
Box 5: 14
Diamond, Steve: “Hot Dogs, Cool Digs”
1988 Oct 6
Box 5: 15
Diamond, Steve and Silverhartz, Allan: “A Hopeful Conversation About Peace”
1995 Dec 31
Box 5: 16
Diamond, Steve: Manuscript
undated
Box 5: 17
Diamond, Steve: “One Day in Peace: Expecting a Miracle”
1999 Jan 3
Box 5: 18
Diamond, Steve and Silberhartz, Allan: “Picking Up on the Millenium Peace Buzz”
1997 Jan 1
Box 5: 19
Diamond, Steve and Diamond, Maya: “Steve’s Stop Smoking Book, other items”
undated
Box 5: 20
Diamond, Steve: “Zen and the Art of Driving, Santa Barbara style”
1991 Mar 21
Box 5: 21
Divorce documents
1983
Box 5: 22
“Doing Time, Getting Free: documentary proposal
undated
Box 5: 23
“Famous Jacks in History”
2004
Box 5: 24
Financial: Passport
1995
Box 5: 25
Financial Share
undated
Box 5: 26
Footage farm
undated
Box 5: 27
Flyers and pamplets
1989
Box 5: 28
“How to Create Harmony in the 21st Century”
1999
Box 6: 1
“Lady Cordial: Lights forever Victorious”
undated
Box 6: 2
Letters
ca. 1968
Box 6: 3
Mahatma Letters
1987
Box 6: 4
Mahatma Letters
1987
Box 6: 5
Mahatma Letters
1987
Box 6: 6
Miscellaneous items
undated
Box 6: 7

The Montague Reporter
2003 Sep 18
Box 6: 8

The Montague Reporter
2003 Oct 2
Box 6: 9
Notebook
1986
Box 6: 10
Notebook
undated
Box 6: 11
Notes
1988
Box 6: 12
Notes: Blue Star Stories
undated
Box 6: 13
Notes: Citizen Bloom
1984
Box 6: 14
Notes: Don Jesus Story
undated
Box 6: 15
Notes: Fels
2004
Box 6: 16
Notes: Hurricane
undated
Box 6: 17
Notes: Santa Barbara Dolphin event
1987
Box 6: 18
Om notes
1989
Box 6: 20
Peace: Congress Bill, One Day
2000 June 23
Box 6: 21
Peace: Goi, Peace Foundation
undated
Box 6: 22
Peace: “Hague Appeal for Peace”
1999 May 11
Box 6: 23
Peace: Mass. Arts and Humanitites Foundation
1977
Box 6: 24
Peace: “The Muse Concerts for a Non-Nuclear Future Program”
1979
Box 6: 25
Peace: “No Nukes: From the Muse Concerts for a Non-Nuclear Future”
1979 Sep
Box 7: 1
Peace: “One Day Endorsements”
2000
Box 7: 2
Peace: “One Day in Peace” notes
2003 Jan 3
Box 7: 3
Peace: “One Day in Peace” postcard
2000
Box 7: 4
Peace: “One Day in Peace” samples
2000
Box 7: 5
Peace: peace developments
2004
Box 7: 6
Peace: “Peace Maker Circle”
2003 Nov 1
Box 7: 7
Peace: “Peace Palace Library”
undated
Box 7: 8
Peace: Translational Institute Annual Report
2001
Box 7: 9
Photographs: Blue Star
1986
Box 7: 10
Photographs: Holografix, card
undated
Box 7: 11
Photographs: Iceland
1997
Box 7: 12
Photographs: Montague, Farmer Labor Association
1993
Box 7: 13
Photographs: Postcards, blank
1994
Box 7: 14
Photographs
undated
Box 7: 15
Photographs: Seattle ROTC Fire
1968
Box 7: 16
Photographs: Tibetian
1995
Box 7: 17
Quit claim deed
2002 June 11
Box 7: 18
Smith, Gregory: Emails
2001
Box 7: 19
Scrapbook
1962-1980
Box 10
“Steve’s Friends List”
2001
Box 7: 20
“Theosophical Order”
ca. 1967
Box 7: 21
Trueheart Files: articles
1982
Box 7: 22
Trueheart Files: correspondence
1992
Box 7: 23
Trueheart Files: correspondence
1966
Box 7: 24
Trueheart Files: Marshall Bloom
undated
Box 7: 25
Trueheart Files: notes
undated
Box 7: 26
Trueheart Files: United States Student Press Association (USSPA)
1967
Box 7: 27
Trueheart Files: writings
undated
Box 7: 28
T-shirts
undated
Box 6: 19

Valley Advocate
1988 July 4
Box 8: 1

Valley Advocate
2004 Jan 8
Box 8: 2

Administrative information

Access

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Gift of Crescent Diamond, 2007.

Processing Information

Processed by Kethney Massenat, Fall 2018.

Language:

English

Copyright and Use (More information )

Cite as: Steve Diamond Papers (MS 542). Special
Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Libraries.

Search terms

Subjects

  • Activists–Massachusetts
  • Bloom, Marshall, 1944-1969
  • Communal living–Massachusetts
  • Liberation News Service (Montague, Mass.)
  • Liberation News Service (New York, N.Y.)
  • Mungo, Raymond, 1946-

Contributors

  • Diamond, Stephen [main entry]

Subjects

Activists--MassachusettsBloom, Marshall, 1944-1969Communal living--MassachusettsLiberation News Service (Montague, Mass.)Liberation News Service (New York, N.Y.)Mungo, Raymond, 1946-

Contributors

Diamond, Stephen