Page 1 of 1

The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 13th, 2006, 8:05 pm
by Guest
Is anyone out there a member, at any level, of The Conjuring Arts Research Center? I am trying to figure out if its worth joining, and at what level. I live too far to take advantage of their library and in-house access too Alexander, their computer database.

They say you get various levels of online access to Alexander, but then say nothing about what exactly access means for each. Im always leery when someone doesnt clearly define one of the most important features of membership a non-resident (New Yorker) would be interested in.

I have sent an e-mail requesting clarification of each, and for it to be added to their website for the benefit of other potential members. It would seem to be in their best interested. Ill be interested in their response to my request.

How do others out there who have visited their website feel? How about you members who use Alexander online?

http://www.conjuringarts.org/index.shtml

I look forward to your views.

Mark Damon

P.S. Their journal "Gibeciere" was reviewed in the latest issue of Magicol (May 2006). A rather interesting last paragraph in the review?

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 13th, 2006, 8:51 pm
by Brad Henderson
I am very happy to be a member. The online tools I have at the Hofsinzer level are a boon to me as a performer, thinker, and writer. My only regret is my shedule has kept me from spending quality time on the site.

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 13th, 2006, 8:54 pm
by Jim Maloney_dup1
I'm a Hofzinser level member. I've previously posted a partial list of what I have access to. Do a search and you should be able to find it. I should note (as you'll see when you find the thread and read the other posts) that the list is constantly changing. I know there have certainly been some additions since that post.

I would highly highly recommend this service if you have any interest in magic history. Also, if you have any questions, don't hesitate in contacting them. I've talked with a number of their staff members (even visited the site in person) and have found all of them extremely helpful.

-Jim

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 14th, 2006, 9:30 am
by Guest
Originally posted by Jim Maloney:
I should note (as you'll see when you find the thread and read the other posts) that the list is constantly changing.
I spent the better part of an hour talking with Bill Kalush at the Gathering for Gardner in March on this subject. He talked me into joining and I've been very pleased to do so.

He said that the reason that they don't work at publicizing the exact list is that it is changing. Since I've joined, stuff has been added, and taken away. They don't want someone to sign up based on access to a particular advertised resource, and then have them get mad because they have to pull it (because of permission issues from the copyright holder, or other reasons).

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 14th, 2006, 9:36 am
by Jim Maloney_dup1
Yeah -- I actually visted the library in person to check it out and do some research back in January or early February. I was so impressed with Alexander and the staff in general that I signed up for a membership not long after. I can already say without a doubt that when it comes time to renew my membership next year, I won't hesitate to send the money.

-Jim

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 14th, 2006, 11:03 am
by Guest
A worthy cause to support, regardless of received benefits, and the access I have, even a the first level, is great.
A shame I have to waste time earning a living, when I could be pursuing Alexander all day.

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 14th, 2006, 6:27 pm
by Guest
Thanks to all for your input, youve convinced me to join. Now I have to decide on a level.

Does anyone know if the early MUMs are available online, and at what level?

Keep your thoughts and experiences with Alexander coming.

Mark

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 14th, 2006, 6:45 pm
by Guest
My main question is what is the difference between the Charlier, Hofzinser and Erdnase levels of Alexander access. Is it a limit to the time of online access or the documents that are available or what you can see of the documents or what?

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 14th, 2006, 7:18 pm
by James Kernen
I called them today, and the person who would be able to answer my question about the levels is out until Monday. They have a message to call me back.. Basically it does sound like the amount of materials does vary by level. I was told the the Charlier level gives access to some basic stuff, and the other 2 levels give more.. They asked me to wait until Monday in order to get more details than that.. Unless someone posts the answer before then, I will post a follow-up...

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 14th, 2006, 7:41 pm
by Jim Maloney_dup1
The Erdnase level give you access to the most documents. Hofzinser gives you a bit less, and Charlier allows you access to the least amount of material. There is no time limit to your access -- as long as you're a paid member, you can access Alexander from anywhere, at any time, for as long as you like. Also, for the documents that you do have access to, there is no limit to how much of it you can see.

If I recall correctly, MUM is available if you're accessing Alexander on-site (or at least it was when I visited). It's NOT available at the Hofzinser level. I can't say whether or not it's available at the Erdnase level.

-Jim

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 20th, 2006, 12:56 pm
by James Kernen
I spoke with Kenlynne, from the Conjuring Arts Research Center, this morning about the various membership levels. She was very helpful. All the current materials available at each level will change as new materials are added, but I was told the biggest difference (right now) between the Hofzinser and Erdnase levels with regards to the online access of materials via "AskAlexander" was that the Erdnase level provided a lot more Houdini materials.. The magazines, instruction sheets, and other documents are currently the same between the two levels, except for the Houdini materials.. As they are continuing to add more, this could change....

I went ahead and joined, and to answer an earlier question about MUM being available through AskAlexander online, I did not see it after logging on.

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 20th, 2006, 1:56 pm
by Bob Farmer
What do you get at the Harkey level?

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 20th, 2006, 2:19 pm
by James Kernen
Simply Harkey

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 20th, 2006, 6:29 pm
by Guest
Hello All,

I just received a response to my e-mail of last week to The CARC. Below is the e-mail. I will be joining shortly. It sounds great!!!

----------------------------------------

Hello, Mark.

Thank you for your interest in Conjuring Arts.

As far as clarifying the different levels of access, it is difficult
to be specific as the database is constantly changing, updating, and
expanding. To date, we have 680,000 pages in the database, but each
day it is growing. The synopsis below is sort of a moving target, but
I hope it will help answer your question.

At the Charlier level (our basic level) you have access to several
magazine archives and a few various periodicals. This is a small
example of what is in the entire database, but we want all of our
members to get a peek at one of the initiatives we are pursuing.

Charlier level of membership includes:
-Books (Bibliographies)
-Periodicals (Abracadabra, Bat, Billboard, Conjurer's Monthly
Magazine, Genii, Gibeciere, Goldston Annual, Goldston's Magician,
Locke's Conjuror's, Magical World, Mahatma, Sphinx, Stanyon's,
Thayers, Variety)
-Other (MK Ultra)

At the higher levels (Hofzinser and Erdnase) there is significantly
more material through which you may search.

Hofzinser level of membership includes all from Charlier level, over
35 more periodical files, plus a good portion of our instruction
sheet collection and much more. (A link to a catalogue of the
instruction sheets is
<http://www.conjuringlibrary.net/is/Egyptian_Hall_Instruction_Sheetslist.asp>http://www.conjuringlibrary.net/is/Egyptian_Hall_Instruction_Sheetslist.asp
)

Erdnase level of membership includes all from Hofzinser level, plus
over 30,000 pages of Houdini research and also other material.

Although some books are accessible (mostly very early English magic
books and some early Spanish gaming books), most of our books will
not be available off site for copyright reasons.

The best way to see the differences is to try them out, hands on.
Because this question arises quite a bit, we are allowing our members
to have a free 3 day trial upgrade to whichever level they would like
to sample. After test driving the higher level, they have the
opportunity to upgrade their membership. We have found this to be the
best way for users of AskAlexander to grasp the differences.

I hope I answered some of your questions, and I look forward to your
membership.

If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Kenlynne Rini
212-594-1033

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 22nd, 2006, 12:06 pm
by Tom Klem
I'm a Hofzinser level member also and have found many wonderful things in this archive. I originally joined because I thought it was a great thing for magic to have such a place in New York City. After using it I feel it was money very well spent.

Tom Klem
Chairman of the Archive Committee
of S.A.M. PA#1

Re: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Posted: June 24th, 2006, 1:00 pm
by Guest
I joined two days ago at the Hofzinser level, it is GREAT!!

Thanks again to all for your input, it was a big help.

Well, back to Alexander.

Mark