Bare-Faced Messiah, FBI Archives TO: Mr. A. Rosen

From the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

OPTIONAL FORM NO 10

UNITED STATES GOVER[__]NT
Memorandum

TO: Mr. A. Rosen

DATE: July 2, 1963

FROM: Mr. G.H. Scatterday

SUBJECT: FOUNDING CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY
INQUIRY CONCERNING

[BLACKED OUT] Peace Corps [BLACKED OUT], on July 1, 1963, telephonically
contacted Assistant Director C.A. Evans and requested information as to
whether the FBI was conducting and investigation concerning the captioned
organization.  The matter was referred to the Name Check Section for
handling.

Bureau files were reviewed by Special Agent [BLACKED OUT] and [BLACKED
OUT] was subsequently telephonically advised in reply to his inquiry that
this Bureau has conducted no investigation concerning the Founding Church
of Scientology. [BLACKED OUT] was advised that according to information in
Bureau files the organization was founded by Lafayette Ron Hubbard
concerning whom there has been considerable publicity in the past.
[BLACKED OUT] was advised that if Hubbard's background was of interest to
him he might desire to review the December 5, 195[?], issue of "Look"
magazine which contained an article entitled "Dianetics - Science or
Hoax," and the April 24, 1951, issue of the "Times Herald," Washington,
D.C., newspaper, which contained an article concerning a divorce suit
against Hubbard wherein his wife charged that "competent medical advisors
recommended that Hubbard be committed to a private sanitarium for
psychiatric observation and treatment of a mental illness known as
paranoid schizophrenia."  He was also referred to the Food and Drug
Administration in view of publicity concerning a raid on offices occupied
by Hubbard by representatives of that administration on January 4, 1963.

[BLACKED OUT] was very appreciative of the information furnished and
stated that the foregoing fully answered his request.

It should be noted that Hubbard, who has a long history of participation
in organizations professing "cure-alls" for both physical and mental
illnesses, has corresponded

1 - Mr. Rosen
1 - Mr. Evans
1 - Name Check Section

DRR:bep
(4)

[page 2]

Memorandum to Mr. A. Rosen
Re: Founding Church of Scientology
Inquiry Concerning

with this Bureau and the Department on several occasions for various
reasons including complaints about his wife and about alleged
communists.

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For information.

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