National Library of Australia - Cooper Theosophy Collection

https://www.nla.gov.au/collections/guide-selected-collections/cooper-theosophy-collection

(Alfred) John Cooper (1930-1998) was born in Sydney and educated at Christian Brothers College, Manly, and the University of New England. His career was spent in the field of arts administration. He served as state administrator and director of the Arts Council of New South Wales, as chairman of the New South Wales Opera Council, and secretary of the Professional Drama Council. He was associated with the Australia Council as director of its Entrepreneurial Program, the International Program and the Special Services Program.

John Cooper had a lifelong interest in religions and taught courses in Hinduism, Buddhism, the Gnostic tradition and Indian thought. In 1987 he gained a Master of Arts degree at the University of Sydney with a thesis entitled ‘The Theosophical crisis in Australia: the story of the break-up of the Theosophical Society in Sydney from 1913-1923’. Shortly before his death, he completed his doctoral thesis on the letters of H.P. Blavatsky.

After his retirement Cooper and his wife bought a farm near Bega. It was here that he developed his great library and archives. He had travelled widely as a lecturer on Theosophy and invariably returned with books and documents. He was also helped by fellow-scholars throughout the world.