Hofmann, Albert
Dates
- Existence: January 11, 1906 - May 1, 2008
Biography
Albert Hofmann was born on January 11, 1906 in Baden, Switzerland. He began studying science at the University of Zurich when he was twenty years old; four years later, he finished his doctoral thesis in chemistry. Hofmann’s thesis concerned vineyard snails and how they produce the carbohydrate, chitin. By the time he earned his Ph.D., Hofmann was already working for Sandoz Laboratories in Basel. He began working on a project at Sandoz, where he was deriving drug compounds from ergot. In the 1930s, he worked to fuse lysergic acid with other compounds in hopes to make the lysergic acid more stable. In November of 1938, Hofmann created that stable synthetic version, naming it “Lyserg-Saure-Diathylamid-25” (LSD-25) or “Lysergic-Acid-Diethylamide-25” in English. The “25” represents that it was Hofmann’s 25th compound for this Sandoz project. Eventually, the project finished and nothing further was done with LSD-25. It was not until April 16, 1943 when Hofmann accidentally handled the substance and then rubbed his eye; he began feeling the effects shortly thereafter. He left the laboratory and rode his bicycle home, which became known as his famous bicycle ride. The following work day, Hofmann deliberately ingested .25 milligrams (about ten times the “normal” amount unbeknownst to him) of LSD-25 and had to be taken home; the effects were too strong and Hoffman experienced some rather frightening hallucinations. Once he was checked by a doctor and told he was not, in fact, dying, Hofmann relaxed and eventually fell asleep. The next morning he felt reborn and his senses renewed. Hofmann reported what had happened to his supervisors at Sandoz, and LSD-25 was tested on three more employees. These results were shared with a researcher at the University of Zurich, where LSD-25 was identified as a non-toxic psychotropic compound. Sandoz began offering LSD-25 to qualified researchers and medical professionals after 1947, and many psychologists and psychiatrists were very excited about the promising effects LSD-25 had on troubled patients, especially those suffering from schizophrenia. The drug was then used by the CIA in a controversial covert project called MKULTRA, where it was used during the interrogation of enemy combatants and captured foreign intelligence agents. It is said that experiments were also conducted on U.S. military personal and civilian subjects in psychiatric hospitals. Unfortunately, the counterculture of the 1960s helped to demonize the potentially useful LSD-25; and by the late 1960s, LSD was outlawed in most countries, which hindered scientific studies of the drug. Hofmann was disappointed in the casual use of LSD-25 and wrote a book in 1983 titled "LSD, My Problem Child: Reflections on Sacred Drugs, Mysticism and Science". Hoffman asserted that LSD-25 should be a controlled substance, just as morphine. On April 29, 2008, Hofmann passed away from a heart attack; he was 102 years old.
Found in 27 Collections and/or Records:
Cerletti, A. and A. Hofmann. "Mushrooms and Toadstools," Letter to the Editor in The Lancet (reprint and photocopy), January 5, 1963
Two copies. Photocopy has underlining on second page.
Correspondence, 1979 - 2014
Contains Grof's correspondence concerning the Esalen Institute and the screenplay Brainstorm. The correspondence also documents Grof's achievements, as well as a letter from the Czech president. This series includes an email between Michael Horowitz and Ralph Metzner and a letter to Dr. Willis Harman from and signed by Albert Hofmann.
Heim, Roger, Albert Hofmann, and Hans Tscherter. "Phytochimie," Academie des Sciences. 257 (reprint), July 1, 1963
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Hofmann, A., A. Brack, H. Kobel, A. Frey, H. Ott, Th. Petrzilka, and F. Troxler. "Psilocybin und Psilocin, zwei psychotrope Wirkstoffe aus mexikanischen Rauschpilzen," Helvetica Chimica Acta. Vol. 42, No. 2 (reprint), 1959
Three copies.
Hofmann, A., A. Frey, H. Ott, Th. Petrzilka, and F. Troxler. "Konstitutionsaufklarung und Synthese von Psilocybin," EXPERIENTIA. Vol. 14, No. 11 (reprint), 1958
Two copies.
Hofmann, A. and A. Cerletti. "Die Wirkstoffe der dritten aztekischen Zauberdroge," Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift. Vol. 86, No. 18 (reprint), May 6, 1961
Two copies.
Hofmann, A. and F. Troxler. "Indetifizierung von Psilocin," EXPERIENTIA. Vol. 15, No. 3 (reprint), 1959
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Hofmann, A. and H. Tscherter. "Isolierung von Lysergsaure-Alkaloiden aus der mexikanischen Zauberdroge Ololiuqui," EXPERIENTIA. Vol. 16, No. 9 (reprint), 1960
Two copies.
Hofmann, A. and H. Tscherter. "Isolierung von Lysergsaure-Alkaloiden aus der mexikanischen Zauberdrogr Ololiuqui." Separatum Experientia. Vol 16, No 9., 1960
Contains dated and undated article reprints that Savage used for research, as well as his article reviews. Some of the article reprints are written by him, or they are articles he may have reviewed. The materials are arranged chronologically.
Hofmann, A. "Chemical Aspects of Psilocybin, The Psychotropic Principle from the Mexican Fungus, Psilocybe Mexicana Heim," Neuro-Psychopharmacology. Proceedings of the 1st International Congress of Neuro-Psychopharmacology. (reprint), September 1958
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Hofmann, A. "Chemical, Pharmacological and Medical Aspects of Psychotomimetics." J. Expt. Med. Sc. Vol 5, No 2., September 1961
Contains dated and undated article reprints that Savage used for research, as well as his article reviews. Some of the article reprints are written by him, or they are articles he may have reviewed. The materials are arranged chronologically.
Hofmann, A. "Die Erforschung der mexikanischen Zauberpilze." (reprint), undated
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Hofmann, A. "Die psychotropen Wirkstoffe der mexikanischen Zauberpilze," CHIMIA. 14 (reprint), 1960
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Hofmann, A. "Die psychotropen Wirkstoffe der mexikanischen Zauberpilze," Verh. Naturf. Ges. Basel. Vol. 71, No. 2 (reprint), December 1960
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Hofmann, A. "Die Wirkstoffe der Mexikanischen Zauberdroge Ololiuqui." Planta Medica. Vol 9, No 4., December 1961
Contains dated and undated article reprints that Savage used for research, as well as his article reviews. Some of the article reprints are written by him, or they are articles he may have reviewed. The materials are arranged chronologically.
Hofmann, A. "Die Wirkstoffe der mexikanischen Zauberdroge Ololiuqui," Planta Medica. Vol. 9, No. 4 (reprint), December 1961
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Hofmann, A. "Psychotomimetic Agents" in A. Burger’s Chemical Constitution and Pharmacodynamic Action. Vol. 2. New York: M. Dekker (reprint), 1968
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Hofmann, A. “Psychotomimetic Drugs: Chemical and Pharmacological Aspects,” Acta Physiol. Pharmacol. Neerlandica. 8, 1959
Two copies, one reprint and one photocopy.
Hofmann, A. "Psychotomimetica. Chemische, Pharmakologische und Medizinische Aspekte," Svensk Kemisk Tidskrift. Vol. 72, No. 12, 1960
Two copies, one reprint and one photocopy.
Hofmann, A., R. Heim, A. Brack, and H. Kobel. "Psilocybin, ein psychotroper Wirkstoff aus dem mexikanischen Rauschpilz Psilocybe Mexicana Heim," EXPERIENTIA. Vol. 14, No. 3 (reprint), 1958
Two copies.
Hofmann, A., R. Heim, A. Brack, and H. Kobel. "Psilocybin, ein psychotroper Wirkstoff aus dem mexikanischen Rauschpilz Psilocybe Mexicana Heim," EXPERIENTIA. Vol. 14, No. 3 (reprint), 1958
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Hofmann, A. "The Chemistry of LSD and Its Modifications" in D. V. Siva Sankar’s LSD – A Total Study. New York: PJD Publications Ltd. (photocopy), 1975
Includes published and unpublished preprints, reprints, abstracts, and drafts of articles on the use of psychotropic substances as a therapeutic agent. It also includes book chapters, letters to the editor, and conference presentations.
Albert Hofmann correspondence and other materials
The Albert Hofmann correspondence and other materials contains correspondence with Ralph Metzner and Rolf von Eckartsberg, a photocopy of Hofmann's patent for LSD, photographs of Hofmann, a brochure for U.C. Santa Cruz Symposium (1982), and clippings on Hofmann.
Hofmann, Albert. "Die Wirkstoffe der mexikanischen Zauberdroge ‘Ololiuqui’." Planta Medica: Zeitschrift für Arzneipflanzenforschung 4, December 1961
Reprint. Inscribed and signed by Albert Hofmann. Article in German.
Horowitz, Michael. "Interview: Albert Hofmann." High Times, undated
Reprint. Publishing information not discernible.
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- Archival Object 25
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- LSD (Drug) 2
- Articles 1
- Ayahuasca ceremony 1
- Ayahuasca--Therapeutic use 1
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