Skip to content

2026 RBMS Virtual Showcase

June 23-26, 2026

Have questions? Michael Laird Rare Books LLC is online now!
Call/Text (917) 747-5953
Virtual Book Fair Exclusive

[LGBTQ CAMPING]. "Oneida Camp Offers 95 Acres of Mountains, Woods and Meadows, Marked Nature Trails, Ponds and Access to a 50 Acre Lake [...] (promotional pamphlet)

Oneida Campground and Lodge

$750
Offered by Michael Laird Rare Books LLC
  • Condition: Very good
  • Location: New Milford, PA
  • Date: 1982
  • Seller SKU: 4598

New Milford, PA, 1982. Very good. Leaflet, folded once to create 4 pp. (8.5" x 6.75") printed in green on pale yellow paper (toning to outer margins of pp. 1 and 4; unobtrusive vertical fold). PROMOTING HEALTH, SAFETY AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE, THIS IS A RARE 1982 PROMOTIONAL PAMPHLET FOR THE OLDEST GAY-OWNED AND OPERATED CAMPGROUND IN THE NORTHEAST DEDICATED TO SERVING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE LONGEST-RUNNING CAMPGROUNDS OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD. INCREDIBLY, NO TRACE OF THIS QUEER COMMUNAL GROUP CAN BE FOUND IN WORLDCAT / OCLC. OURS THE ONLY EARLY RELIC OF IT CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET.

Founded in 1980 by John Bickell, the Oneida Campground and Lodge has a rich history. Originally a small campsite with only a few tent sites, our pamphlet demonstrates its tremendous growth and success in just two years. Owing to the formidable energies of the organizers and participants, the Oneida Campground provided a much-needed safe place for people to connect with nature and each other.

The present 1982 pamphlet shows that the mission in these early days incorporated a VERY significant component of New Age spirituality, as is attested by the extraordinary May-September Calendar which features for yoga, astral readings, pyramid power, Kundalini sex and magnetism, prophecies of the spiritual world, astrology, UFO, American Indian meditation, etc.

There are festivities beginning on Memorial Day weekend, with an "opening bashing including a seance and a visit to
a local cemetery." Regarding the New Age style of Yoga taught, the brochure announces that that programs were conducted by Yoga Master Carl Berky "who has studied Transcendental Meditation, Hatha and Krya[sic] Yoga" and "is a student of Dr. Vijayendra Pratap of Bombay, India." Tangential to his interests in yogic practice, he appears to have had deep interests in Krishnamurti and the Theosophists. The governing principle of the group was drawn from the New Thought maxim: "The Laws of Thought are the Laws of Destiny."

Judging from the 2026 Events Calendar on the Oneida Campground's own website, the original New Age components seem to have been largely abandoned.

Offered by Michael Laird Rare Books LLC

Sold
Reserved
$750

Or Contact the Exhibitor to Purchase:

Phone/Text: (917) 747-5953
See other items from this exhibitor
Michael Laird Rare Books LLC
Specializing in African-Americana, Ephemera, Fine And Historic Bookbindings, Illustrated Books, Latin Americana, Manuscripts, Oriental Printed Books And Manuscripts, Western Americana and Women's Studies.
Michael Laird is the sole proprietor of Michael Laird Rare Books. He has over thirty years' experience working with rare books and manuscripts. Mr. Laird earned his Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989. He has taught graduate level courses on Rare Books and Special Collections Librarianship at New York University (SCPS), Palmer School of Library and Information Science, and the University of Texas at Austin (School of Information). Michael Laird is a Certified member of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA) and is USPAP Compliant through October 2025. He is the principal appraiser of rare books, manuscripts, archives, and documents for Winston Art Group (New York) and Gurr Johns Inc. (New York), the largest art appraisal companies in the United States. He is an active member in the Grolier Club, and has published a number of scholarly articles and reviews, the most recent being a 3-part biography of Bernard Breslauer which appeared in the Gazette of the Grolier Club.

Available for general purpose appraisals

Available for appraisals for IRS/tax purposes

Contact the Seller
Michael Laird
PO Box 299
Lockhart, Texas 78644
Phone/Text: (917) 747-5953
http://michaellaird.com
  • Ask a Question
  • Book Fair Availability: Please feel free to call -- cheerful operators are standing by!
Sign up for Michael Laird Rare Books LLC’s Mailing List
Terms: 1. Everything we sell is unconditionally guaranteed to be as described. Returns cheerfully accepted within 14 days of receipt. Please advise us in advance. 2. Payments accepted by check or bank transfer (preferred) as well as major credit cards and Paypal. 3. We ship and bill to customers known to us, or to those who can provide ABAA trade references (net 14 days); others invoiced pro-forma. Reciprocal trade discounts apply. 4. We are known for "aggressively overpacking" our shipments; whenever possible we use recycled materials. Domestic shipments are sent signature required (USPS Media Mail or USPS Priority). Overseas shipments sent FedEX of USPS Global Express to insure door-to-door tracking; please inquire for shipping quotes. Thank you for reading our Terms! Order with confidence: we have been working with rare books and manuscripts full-time since 1986, and have been active in the trade since 1992.
tracking-