Robert R. Hieronimus, Ph.D. has been an acknowledged pioneer in the "New Paradigm" movement for almost 50 years. His highly acclaimed symbolic artcars and murals include the 2,700 square foot prophetic "Apocalypse" at the Johns Hopkins University, which led to Hieronimus being called "one of this country's best muralists" ( Forecast Magazine ). Art historian and critic Alan Barnet noted, "Hieronimus has a talent for winning the cooperation of the establishment while he lives and works in the counter-culture." Some of his other 30-plus murals for the City of Baltimore and private commissions include the 100-foot-long Lexington Market mural called “E Pluribus Unum”, the 96-square-foot “Historic Views of Baltimore 1752-1858” in the Jury Room at the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse, and the 1500 square foot mural called “We the People” at St. Paul and Lafayette completed in 2013. A graduate of Towson State College in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in teaching, Hieronimus received his Ph.D. from Saybrook Graduate School in 1981 for the doctoral thesis, An Historic Analysis of the Reverse of the American Great Seal and Its Relationship to the Ideology of Humanistic Psychology. His research on the Great Seal has been used in the speeches, literature, and libraries of the White House (1976, 1982), the State Department (1978), and the Department of Interior (1982). His Independence Hall speech on the Great Seal's bicentennial was published in the Congressional Record (1983, 1984), and his research was shared in a personal meeting with the late Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat. Hieronimus’s most famous artcar, the Volkswagen bus “Light” (better known as “the Woodstock bus”), was photographed by the Associated Press and Rolling Stone and Life Magazine at the original 1969 Woodstock, and is still seen today regularly reprinted in media all over the world. A collectible diecast model of Hieronimus’s painted Woodstock bus was produced by Sunstar Diecast in 2009 in recognition of Woodstock’s 40th anniversary. Volkswagen featured Hieronimus and his Woodstock Bus in a 4-minute tribute film they produced at the end of the production line in Brazil in 2014, and a full length documentary about the Light Bus and its recreation in 2019 for the 50th anniversary of Woodstock is airing on HBOMax. His current artcar is a Mercedes called the “We the People.” About his unique artistic style, Dr. Mary Rose, Chairman of the Philosophy Department at Goucher College, noted: “His development isn’t scientific development, because there is a more profound development of the soul that comes through what I call a metaphysical religious commitment and discipline. Bob in the 20th Century is a superb example of that ancient truth.” Mitch Horowitz, author of Occult America , said: “In the same way that the artists of the Hudson River School captured the cathedrals of America's natural beauty, so does Robert Hieronimus capture the inner sanctions of our nation's greatness. His artwork is the silence between the notes of the national anthem -- the esoteric symbolism and ideals that undergird our country. Hieronimus is the artist of our inner life as a nation.” In 1969 Bob founded AUM, the first state-approved school of esoteric studies in the country, which granted certificates in the occult sciences, mystic arts and religious metaphysics. PBS documented his leadership and contributions in 1971 with the feature "The Artist of Savitria" produced by Maryland Public Television and seen nationwide. His book Founding Fathers, Secret Societies: Freemasons, Illuminati, Rosicrucians and the Decoding of the Great Seal was released in 2006 by Inner Traditions, a revision of his book America’s Secret Destiny , published in 1989, both based on his doctoral research. This book has been translated into German, French, Russian, and Spanish, and been featured on documentaries on the National Geographic, Discovery, and History channels as well as on BBC, Der Spiegel, Syfy, FOX, Canadian and German television. In 2008, his book United Symbolism of America: Deciphering Hidden Meanings in America's Most Familiar Art, Architecture and Logos gave an account of how the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, the flag, the eagle, the Great Seal, and Washington DC became American icons. His 2016 book The Secret Life of Lady Liberty: Goddess of the New World (co-authored with Laura E. Cortner) continues his advocacy for the separation of church and state, and revealing the right wing conspiracy theorists falsehoods about our Founding Fathers and their symbols. His book Inside the Yellow Submarine: The Making of the Beatles Animated Classic was published in 2002 with Krause Publications, and has been called “an indispensable companion to the movie.” ( Animation World Magazine ) Volume two of this research entitled It’s All In the Mind: Inside the Beatles Yellow Submarine was published in 2021 and further examines the powerful combination of symbols, music and color. His 21st Century Radio® program is now the longest-running radio show about the New Paradigm in the world, on the air continuously since January 1988. 21st Century Radio® started on WFBR in Baltimore, then moved to over 100 stations nationwide on the American Radio Network, and currently airs on WCBM 680 in Baltimore Sunday nights 8-10 PM Eastern. www.21stCenturyRadio.com. Together with his wife Zohara Meyerhoff Hieronimus, Dr. Bob incorporated Hieronimus & Co., Inc. to serve as a media research service, providing story and guest ideas and materials to television, newspapers and radio worldwide. They have spearheaded numerous advocacy and philanthrophic campaigns, including notable work in support of the Negro Leagues Baseball Players and their families. Their work has been featured on ABC World News Tonight, ABC Radio, ABCNews.com, CNN, C-SPAN, PBS, The Larry King Show, Strange Universe, and in dozens of leading publications like The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Denver Post, New York Post, and The Baltimore Sun. Robert R. Hieronimus, Ph.D. has numerous highly acclaimed symbolic artcars and murals, including the 2,700 square foot prophetic "Apocalypse" at the Johns Hopkins University, which led to Hieronimus being called "one of this country's best muralists,” the 100-foot-long Lexington Market mural called “E Pluribus Unum”, and the 1500 square foot mural “We the People” at St. Paul and Lafayette, and the 96-square-foot “Historic Views of Baltimore 1752-1858” in the Jury Room at the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse. Hieronimus’s most famous artcar, “the Woodstock bus” is seen regularly in media all over the world and was recreated in 2019 for the 50th anniversary of Woodstock. His current artcar is the “We the People Biodiesel Artcar.” His doctoral research into the symbolism of the U.S. Great Seal has made him a popular guest on documentaries on the National Geographic, Discovery, and History channels as well as on BBC, Der Spiegel, Syfy, FOX, Canadian and German television. His 21st Century Radio® program currently airs on WCBM 680 in Baltimore Sunday nights 8-10 PM Eastern.
