EUGENE,
Ore. -- (May 5, 2009) - From the German Christian colony in Aurora to
Rajneeshpuram in Antelope, Oregon has a long history with communes and utopian
communities. Author Jim Kopp will read from his book, "Eden Within Eden:
Oregon's Utopian Heritage," on
Monday, May 11, at 7 p.m. in University of Oregon's Knight Library Browsing
Room, 1501 Kincaid St.

In the
book, Kopp examines Oregon's communal history in the framework of utopian and
communal experiences across America."Eden Within Eden" is the first
to survey Oregon's utopian history, from religious and Socialist groups of the 19th
century to ecologically conscious communities of the 21st century. The book
provides detail about utopian communities-some realized, some only planned-many
of which reflect broader social, political, economic and cultural aspects of
Oregon's history.

From
the dawn of communal groups in Oregon, Kopp describes the range of attempts to
establish ideal communities in the state. These include the Jewish agrarian
colony of New Odessa in the 1880s, as well as the "new pioneers" of the 1960s
who captured the spirit of the counterculture and gave voice to growing
concerns about the environment. Kopp explores other areas of Oregon's utopian
heritage as well, including literary works and idealistic city planning.

Kopp
is director of the Aubrey R. Watzek Library at Lewis & Clark College in Portland.
He has been researching the utopian experience in America since his
undergraduate years at the University of Oregon and has made presentations on
Oregon's utopian heritage across the state.

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