Pahnke, Walter
Person
Dates
- Existence: Jan 18, 1931 - July 10, 1971
Biographical Information
Walter Norman Pahnke (1931-1971) was born on January 18, 1931, in Harvey, Illinois, to Ferol (Helfrich) and Walter Dorance Pahnke (1896-1985). He earned his Artium Baccalaureus (magna cum laude) from Carleton College in 1952, his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1956, his BD (cum laude) from Harvard Divinity School in 1960, and his PhD from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1964. He designed and conducted the well-known “Good Friday Experiment” in April 1962 as part of his PhD research under advisors Timothy Leary ad Richard Alpert. This controlled experiment evaluated the potential of psilocybin to catalyze religious experiences. During his PhD work, he received a Sheldon Travelling Fellowship from Harvard, which allowed him to travel to Europe to train with Hanscarl Leuner at the University of Göttingen in Germany. In 1964, he undertook his psychiatric residency at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center in Boston, where he continued his research with psilocybin. In 1966, he joined the team at the Spring Grove State Hospital as a research psychiatrist in psychedelic therapy, where he oversaw the treatment of terminal cancer patients. In 1969, he was promoted to director of clinical sciences research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, where he conducted sessions with LSD and DPT on terminal cancer patients, alcoholics, and those diagnosed with severe neurosis. His primary research interests included psychopharmacology (especially psychedelic drugs in regard to psychotherapeutic usefulness, sociological abuse, and religious implications), psychiatric and ethical issues in the care of the dying patient, and the psychology of religion. Pahnke wrote extensively on the therapeutic use of LSD, including his seminal 1969 article "The Psychedelic Mystical Experience in the Human Encounter with Death." He was a Phi Beta Kappa member, a Kent Fellow, and an Ingersoll Lecturer at Harvard University. Pahnke was an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine when he passed away at the age of forty in a scuba diving accident in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine on July 10, 1971, leaving behind his wife, Eva, and three children. Pahnke was "admired by his friends for his boundless energy and enthusiasm and for the diversity of his interests."
Found in 28 Collections and/or Records:
Academic writings, 1963 - 1971
File — Box: 1, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 68, File 2
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The William Richards Collection on Walter Pahnke (1952-1972; 0.2 cubic feet) contains materials collected and donated by William Richards that document the life and work of his close colleague, Walter Pahnke. It includes some of Pahnke's important academic writings, copies of personal manuscripts, some biographical information, writings by his wife (Eva Sontum Pahnke), and materials memorializing his untimely passing.
Dates:
1963 - 1971
Articles, 1966 - 1980
File — Box: 1, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 67, File 2
Scope and Contents
This file contains "Implications of LSD and Experimental Mysticism" by Walter N. Pahnke and William A. Richards, "LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy with Terminal Cancer Patients" by Walter H. Pahnke, M.D., Ph.D. Albert A. Kurland, M.D., Louis E. Goodman, M.D., and William A. Richards, S.T.M. (Psychology), "Psychedelic Drug-Assisted Psychotherapy with Persons Suffering from Terminal Cancer" by William A. Richards, "DPT as an Adjunct in Brief Psychotherapy with Cancer Patients" by William A. Richards,...
Dates:
1966 - 1980
Bonny, Helen L. and Walter N. Pahnke. "The Use of Music in Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy," Journal of Music Therapy. Vol. 9, No. 2 (photocopy), Summer 1972
Item — Box: 2, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 2, Item 32
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
Summer 1972
Stephen Hancoff papers
Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MSP 103
Abstract
This collection documents Belle Hancoff’s two LSD sessions guided by Walter Pahnke along with the help of Helen Bonny, as well as Pahnke’s discussion of Belle Hancoff’s battle with cancer in a letter to Lewis Hancoff. Stephen Hancoff discusses his mother’s illness in a response to Alexander Zaitchik’s article "lashback! Psychedelic Research Returns," and he also mentions his relationship to William Richards and Stanislav Grof.
Dates:
1968 - 2011
“Implications of LSD and Experimental Mysticism” by Walter N. Pahnke and William A. Richards, (Photocopy of a reprint from the Journal of Religion and Health, Volume 5, Number 3), 1966
Item — Box: 1, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 69, File 2, Item 6
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The Sanford Unger papers (1961-1974; 0.2 cubic feet) contains writings exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances. The collection also contains the correspondence between Aldous and Laura Huxley and Sanford Unger, and an excerpt from the 1966 CBS Reports feature, “LSD The Spring Grove Experiment.”
Dates:
1966
Kurland, A., C. Savage, W. N. Pahnke, S. Grof, and J. E. Olsson. "LSD in the Treatment of Alcoholics," Pharmakopsychiatrie Neuro-Psychopharmakologie. Vol. 4, No. 2 (reprint), March 1971
Item — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 11, Item 43
Scope and Contents
Two copies, one in each location.
Dates:
March 1971
Kurland, Albert A., Walter N. Pahnke, Sanford Unger, Charles Savage, and Louis E. Goodman. "Psychedelic Psychotherapy (LSD) in the Treatment of the Patient With a Malignancy." , April 24 - 27, 1968
Item — Box: 6, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 70, Series 4, File 2, Item 10
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
Contains manuscripts and undated manuscripts documenting Savage’s research, as well as miscellaneous manuscripts possibly created by Savage, his patients, or his colleagues. Materials are arranged chronologically when possible. Undated materials are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name.
Dates:
April 24 - 27, 1968
Kurland, Albert A., Walter N. Pahnke, Sanford Unger, Charles Savage, and Stanislav Grof. "Psychedelic LSD Research," Psychotropic Drugs in the Year 2000. (photocopy), 1971
Item — Box: 20, Folder: 3
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 11, Item 44
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
1971
Pahnke, Walter and Helen Bonny. "The Use of Music in Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy," Journal of Music Therapy. Vol. 9, No. 2 (photocopy), Summer 1972
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 28
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
Summer 1972
Pahnke, Walter and William Richards. "Implications of LSD and Experimental Mysticism," Journal of Religion and Health. Vol. 5, No. 3, July 1966
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 21
Scope and Contents
Two copies, one reprint and one photocopy.
Dates:
July 1966
Pahnke, Walter et al. "LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy with Terminal Cancer Patients." Current Psychiatric Therapies. Vol 9, 1969
Item — Box: 5, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 70, Series 3, File 4, Item 11
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
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.
Dates:
1969
Pahnke, Walter (et al). "LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy with Terminal Cancer Patients," Psychedelic Drugs (reprint), 1969
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 26
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
1969
Pahnke, Walter, et al. "The Experimental Use of Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy." Presented at the American Medical Association Annual Meeting, July 17, 1969
Item — Box: 6, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 70, Series 4, File 2, Item 13
Scope and Contents
Two copies.
Dates:
July 17, 1969
Pahnke, Walter N., et al. "The Experimental Use of Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy," The Journal of American Medical Association. Vol. 212 (reprint), June 15, 1970
Item — Box: 20, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 9
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
June 15, 1970
Pahnke, Walter N. "Psychedelic Drugs and Mystical Experience," Clinical Psychiatry and Religion (photocopy), 1969
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 27
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
1969
Pahnke, Walter N. "Psychedelic Drugs and Mystical Experience," International Psychiatry Clinics. Vol. 5, No. 4 (reprint), 1969
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 25
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
1969
Pahnke, Walter N. "The Psychedelic Mystical Experience in the Human Encounter with Death," Harvard Theological Review. Vol. 62, No. 1 (reprint), January 1969
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 24
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
January 1969
Pahnke, Walter. "The Contribution of the Psychology of Religion to the Therapeutic Use of the Psychedelic Substances." (photocopy), 1960
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 20
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
1960
Pahnke, Walter. "The Mystical And/Or Religious Element in the Psychedelic Experience." (photocopy), 1967
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 22
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
1967
Pahnke, Walter. "The Psychedelic Mystical Experience in the Human Encounter with Death," Presented at Harvard University (photocopy), June 12, 1968
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 4
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 3, Sub-Series 2, File 16, Item 23
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
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.
Dates:
June 12, 1968
William Richards collection on Walter Pahnke
Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MSP 68
Scope and Contents
The William Richards Collection on Walter Pahnke (1952-1972; 0.2 cubic feet) contains materials collected and donated by William Richards that document the life and work of his close colleague, Walter Pahnke. It includes some of Pahnke's important academic writings, copies of personal manuscripts, some biographical information, writings by his wife (Eva Sontum Pahnke), and materials memorializing his untimely passing.
Dates:
1950 - 2009; Majority of material found within 1964 - 1971
"Psychedelic Therapy (Utilizing LSD) with Cancer Patients." Based on a presentation originally made by Dr. Pahnke at the American Psychiatric Association Meeting in Detroit, May 11, 1967
Item — Box: 6, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 70, Series 4, File 2, Item 8
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
Contains manuscripts and undated manuscripts documenting Savage’s research, as well as miscellaneous manuscripts possibly created by Savage, his patients, or his colleagues. Materials are arranged chronologically when possible. Undated materials are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name.
Dates:
May 11, 1967
“The Experimental Use of Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy” by Walter N. Pahnke, Albert A. Kurland, Sanford Unger, Charles Savage, and Stanislav Grof (Reprint from the Journal of the American Medical Association, Volume 212, Number 11), 1970
Item — Box: 1, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 69, File 2, Item 10
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The Sanford Unger papers (1961-1974; 0.2 cubic feet) contains writings exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances. The collection also contains the correspondence between Aldous and Laura Huxley and Sanford Unger, and an excerpt from the 1966 CBS Reports feature, “LSD The Spring Grove Experiment.”
Dates:
1970
"The Experimental Use of Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy," International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapy, and Toxicocology, Vol. 4, 1971
Item — Box: 1, Folder: 2
Identifier: MSP 1, Series 1, Sub-Series 2, Item 51
Scope and Contents
Co-authored with Walter Pahnke, A.A. Kurland, Sanford Unger, and Charles Savage.
Dates:
1971
The R. M. Bucke Memorial Society for the Study of Religious Experience, Third Annual Conference with talks by Walter Pahnke and Charles Savage, 1967
Item — Box: 1, Folder: 8
Identifier: MSP 72, File 5, Item 1
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The Marlene Dobkin de Rios papers contains correspondence, biographical clippings, papers, conference materials, and article reprint request cards and documents de Rios' professional involvement with anthropological research on hallucinogens.
Dates:
1967