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In 1937, Theos Casimir Bernard (1908-1947), the self-proclaimed "White Lama," became the third American in history to reach Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. During his stay, he amassed the largest collection of Tibetan texts, art, and artifacts in the Western hemisphere at that time. He was an entrepreneur propelled by grandiose schemes, a handsome man who shamelessly used his looks to bounce from rich wife to rich wife in support of his activities. In 1947 Bernard disappeared in India and was never to be seen again. Photograph caption dated November 28, 1953 reads, "'White Lama's' father." Glen A. Bernard reads letter regarding the ruling of a Los Angeles Superior Court judge that his son Theos Casmir Bernard is now legally declared dead as of November 27, 1953. It is believed that Theos Bernard was shot to death in Northern India by Buddhists while on an expedition to Tibet in 1947.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Bernard, Theos,--1908--Family Men--California--San Fernando Valley Fathers of murder victims--California--San Fernando Valley Letters Reading--California--San Fernando Valley Cigars--California--San Fernando Valley Chairs--California--San Fernando Valley Doorways--California--San Fernando Valley Dwellings--California--San Fernando Valley Interiors--California--San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley (Calif.) Valley Times Collection photographs
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