|
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
100-344485-6 LA rept. 10-1-46 Made by. James Hoone, Jr.
Subjects [Jack Parsons] activities at Northrup Aircraft, Inc. restricted by AAF pending clearance by MED and AAF Headquarters, which clearance was forthcoming and subj. continues his employment. Mail cover reflects subj. and wife receiving correspondence from Communist dominated organizations.
Ser 10 El Paso rept. 1-27-47 Made by. Francis Linley; El Paso File #: 100-3850
Subj. employed DSM Project, Los Alamos, N.M. from 1943 to Sept. 1945. He is associated with reported CP [Communist Party] members.
Ser 13
Sub. restricted by Army authorities from all secret projects at Northrop Aircraft, Inc., and as result Cornog was placed on a leave of absence without pay status by that concern beginning 3-2-47. Cornog appeared at local AAF office in an attempt to clarify his status and furnished a ltr. of explanation in which he claimed membership in the Association of Los Alamos Scientists, Association of Pasadena Scientists, American Civil Liberties Union, and Hollywood Writers' Mobilization. Subj. states he has resigned from this latter group but admits serving on Exec. Committee and representing them as Chairman of the "Progress in Science" section at a meeting in Berkeley, Calif., of the Calif. Labor School. Cornog claimed to "view with great apprehension the rising tide of Communism throughout the world." Mail cover discloses Subj. received a ltr. from [Redacted], colored whose wife [Redacted], colored, has served as Chairman of the San Gabriel Valley CPA and who in 1946 was known to be a member of the CP. Subject's future plans undecided according to informant.
Ser 19 L.A. rept 1-3-48 Made by Charles H. Brusch. LA File # 100-25560
Carnog has been employed since 7-1-47 as an instructor in the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering at the U. of Calif. at Berkeley, Calif. Present residence is 978 Grizzly Peak Blvd., Berkeley, Calif.
[Redacted], Procurement Section, MED, [illegible] South Broadway, upon interview revealed that he had been assigned to the Procurement Section of the Manhattan Engineering District Project in the Los Angeles area since Oct. 1943 and that his duties consisted primarily in the obtaining of materials for the different phases of the project at Cal Tech and Los Alamos, New Mexico.
[Redacted] stated when Cornog was in this area he usually stayed with John W. Parsons [Jack Parsons], 1003 South Orange Grove Avenue, Pasadena, Calif. [Redacted] stated he believed Cornog was in some way connected with the Association of Pasadena Scientists, which he considered a "crack-pot" organization whose members consisted of out-spoken young scientists who advocated civilian control of all phases of atomic energy. He said that this organization had as its purpose the elimination of the military as the controlling factor of Atomic energy in order that the theory of atomic energy could be made available for free research for present day scientists without being restrained by the military.
[Redacted], Area Engineer, Los Angeles Area MED, upon interview, advised substantially the same info. as furnished by [Redacted] and in addition stated that he did not believe that Cornog was radically inclined. He stated he believed him to be reliable and loyal. He said the only suspicion he had ever had concerning the subj. was in connection with his residence while in Pasadena at the home of John W. Parsons. He stated he believed Parsons was something of a "crack-pot" who was active in a religious cult in Pasadena, whose headquarters were at his home at 1005 South Orange Grove Avenue. However, he stated that he had since been convinced that Parsons was harmless and that he was just somewhat of a religious fanatic.
A review of the Los Alamos files relative to Cornog reflects that whenever he was in Pasadena on official project business he usually resided with John W. Parsons at the above-listed address. It is also noted that Cornog listed Parsons as a ref. in his application for employment at the Northrup.
John W. Parsons 1003 South Orange Grove Avenue Pasadena, Calif
A review of the Los Alamos files relative to Cornog reflects that whenever he was in Pasadena on official project business he usually resided with John W. Parsons at the above-listed address. It is also noted that Cornog listed Parsons as a ref. in his application for employment at the Northrup Aircraft Corporation.
Source B advised that Parsons upon interview admitted that he was a member of the Church of Thelema, which was in fact a small society, but because of the small size of the local organization could not become an official branch of the Temples. Parsons related that the Church of Thelema was a lodge or fraternity, as well as a church, and that they study philosophy as well as religion and attempt to inform themselves concerning all types and kinds of religion and further, that the Church of Thelema was dedicated to the freedom and liberty of the individual. Source B further advised that Parsons stated that they were anti-Communistic and anti-Fascist and that they were on hundred % in accord with the war effort. He stated he had first became affiliated with the organization approximately 3 yrs. ago; that it was entirely tolerant and was concerned with the brotherhood of all mankind and that the organization had no violent aims whatsoever but was teaching by example. He advised that he himself belonged to this organization because "it fulfills my religious needs" and that the organization was opposed to regimentation.
At this time Parsons indicated that he had registered on 10-16-40 with Local Board 84, Pasadena, Calif., and was presently classified 3-A.
Source A furnished the following description of Parsons: 6'1", 185 pounds, brown eyes and hair, ruddy complexion, occupation — aeronautics, rocket propulsion of planes.
The files of the Pasadena Police Dept. reflected substantially the same information concerning Parsons as that furnished by Source B.
In addition, it was ascertained that [Redacted], Pasadena, Calif., an explosive expert sometimes employed by the Pasadena Police Dept., was an acquaintance of John W. Parsons and could possibly furnish additional info. concerning him.
100-189320-1 Los Angeles Rept.; Made by Charles W. Kreager; LA File #: 100-17453- Captioned: Church of Thelma [sic], Internal Security — G
Church of Thelma was incorporated in Calif. April 14, 1934 as a religious organization by Wilfred Talbot Smith, who styles himself as the high priest of the society. Total active membership is approximately twenty, and headquarters of the organization is 1003 South Orange Grove, Pasadena, Calif. The foundamental [sic] principles of the Society are "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law", and its purpose appears to be preservation of individual liberty and freedom. Leaders of the organization state that they are anti-Communistic, and are in accord with the war effort, and are fully American. There is no indication of any subversive activity, and the organization appears to be religious and perhaps a cult.
John Parsons, at 1003 South Orange Grove Drive was interviewed. He advised that the Church of Thelema was in fact a small organization, modeled very much on the :order of Oriental temples, and English society", but that because of the small size of the local organization, could not become an official branch of the temples. Stated that the C.[hurch] of T.[helema] was a lodge of fraternity, as well as a church; that they studied philosophy, as well as religion, and attempted to inform themselves concerning all types and kinds of religion, and further that the C. of T. was "dedicated to the freedom and liberty of the individual".
Parsons advised that they were anti-Communists and anti Fascist, and that they were 100% in accord with the war effort. He advised that he had first become affiliated with the organization approximately 3 yrs. ago; that it was entirely tolerant, and was concerned with the brotherhood of all mankind; that the organization had no violent aims whatsoever, but was teaching by example. He advised that he himself belonged to the organization because if "fulfilled my religious needs"; that the organization was apposed to regimentation, but realizing the smallness of the organization, and realizing the need for unity and concerted effort in time of war, would make no effort whatsoever to bring their views and ideals into general practice until the conclusion of the present war; and finally, that the organization, the C. of T., was an appeal to free thinkers to come forward and act as leaders, and that through a ritualistic form of religious and philosophical training, attempted to develop its members.
|