Robert R. Hieronimus, Ph.D. has been an acknowledged pioneer in the "New Paradigm" movement for over 40 years. After traveling with numerous rock and roll bands in the 1960s to share information about esoterica and design posters and album covers, Bob began a long career as a muralist and painter. His highly acclaimed occult and symbolic artcars and murals include the 2,700 square foot prophetic "Apocalypse" at the Johns Hopkins University, which led to Dr. Bob 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."
Dr. Bob’s most famous Artcar, the Volkswagen bus “Light” (better known as “the Woodstock bus”), was photographed by the Associated Press and Rolling Stone at the original 1969 Woodstock, and is still seen today regularly reprinted in media all over the world. A diecast model of Hieronimus’s painted Woodstock bus will be produced by Sunstar Diecast in 2009 in recognition of Woodstock’s 40th anniversary.
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.
Dr. Bob 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. Together with his wife, Zohara, Dr. Bob lobbied the House and Senate on the Great Seal Act (1982-1986). Inner Traditions published a popular version of Dr. Bob's doctoral thesis in 1989, entitled America's Secret Destiny: Spiritual Vision and the Founding of a Nation (which is now available exclusively from the Hieronimus & Co. Gift Shop). This book was revised and expanded in 2006 under the title Founding Fathers, Secret Societies: Freemasons, Illuminati, Rosicrucians and the Decoding of the Great Seal. As a result of this book, Dr. Bob was featured on documentaries on the National Geographic, Discovery and History Channels. “Secrets of the Dollar Bill” has been repeated dozens of times on the History Channel. Founding Fathers, Secret Societies has been translated into German, French, Russian, and Spanish.
In 2006, Dr. Bob painted his first Artcar in 20 years, transforming his Mercedes 300 SD into the Biodiesel-fueled “Founding Fathers Artcar” – the only Biodiesel Artcar in the state of Maryland and a popular feature in regional parades. In 2008, this car was transformed and repainted to be called the “We the People.”
In 2008, New Page Books released his latest book, United Symbolism of America: Deciphering Hidden Meanings in America's Most Familiar Art, Architecture and Logos, a page-turning account of how the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, the flag, the eagle, the Great Seal, and Washington DC became American icons. Each is examined from a humanistic psychological point of view with countless interpretations based on world cultures, religions, secret societies, archetypes and popular usage. Dr. Bob also makes a strong defense against the burgeoning anti-American mythology spun from dreamed-up conspiracies about our Founding Fathers and their symbols, based on a serious lack of education. This work was turned into a 2-hour special on the Discovery Channel called “Secret America,” a special on the History Channel called “Secrets of the Founding Fathers,” and was featured in a segment on Canada’s Vision TV called “Occult Architecture: Washington DC.”
Dr. Bob has been a frequent guest on radio and television talk shows across the country since 1967 sharing his research in metaphysical symbolism, the founding fathers, America's Great Seal, UFOs and the paranormal, and even synchronistic methods for picking winning lottery numbers. Dr. Bob's examination of numerology systems from dozens of cultures also resulted in two best sellers: How to Pick Your Personal Winning Lottery Numbers (1985, Crown), and Your Personal Winning Lottery Numbers (1986, Warner).
In January 1988 he launched 21st Century Radio, first on WFBR in Baltimore, then on over 100 stations nationwide on the American Radio Network and currently on WCBM 680 in Baltimore Sunday nights 8-10 PM Eastern. Dr. Bob's easy-going blend of humor and well-read background, cause most of the leading edge authorities he interviews to agree that 21st Century Radio is the best forum to present their unusual findings or opinions. Passionate about mythology and how it can provide for a special meaning in life, Dr. Bob seasons his programming with visits from cultural heroes and icons who help add humor and inspiration to the sometimes discouraging news of the future. He has made a special study of the Beatles’ animated classic film, “Yellow Submarine” which successfully blended mind-bending art design with archetypal symbology. In 2002, he published Inside the Yellow Submarine: The Making of the Beatles Animated Classic, which has been called “an indispensable companion to the movie.” (Animation World Magazine)
In 1990 Dr. Bob and Zoh incorporated Hieronimus & Co., Inc. to serve as a media research service, providing story and guest ideas and materials to television, newspapers and radio worldwide. 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, The Washington Post, The New York Times Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, The Denver Post, The New York Post, and The Baltimore Sun.
