Psychoactive Substances. Betsy Gordon Psychoactive Substances Research Collection
Collecting Area
Identifier: Psychoactive Substances
This collecting area documents the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, and is particularly relevant given the re-emergence of psychedelic research that is happening today. The materials in this area document how psychedelic research in the United States was carried out and facilitated (particularly from the 1950s to the 1970s), how doctors administered these substances, how patients responded to these treatments, how policy and culture affected the research, and how this area of study has been slowly emerging as a valid form of inquiry and a several-decades long period of dormancy.
Highlights include the papers of Charles Savage, William Richards, and Stanislav Grof, psychiatrists who were involved in major psychedelics research studies at the Spring Grove State Hospital in the 1960s; the papers of David Nichols, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicinal Chemistry who taught at Purdue from 1974 until 2012 and is internationally recognized for his work on psychedelics and MDMA as well as for playing a key role in the psychedelic renaissance; and other smaller collections which document various aspects of psychedelic research spanning a variety of disciplines. The collecting area is complemented by a large collection of rare and unique books.
Found in 51 Collections and/or Records:
Anesthetic Inspiration manuscript
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 192
Scope and Contents
This manuscript, written by John Hannon, is an unpublished, forty page account of the author's experiences while experimenting with nitrous oxide. Hannon compares his experiences while using nitrous oxide to those while under the influence of cannabis, LSD, ketamine, and psilocybin. He also provides some historical context for the use of hallucinogenics and experiences while under their influence.
Dates:
circa 1995
Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program collection
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSO 1
Scope and Contents
The Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program collection documents the history of Purdue University. The collection consists of recordings and transcripts of oral history interviews conducted with individuals associated with Purdue University.
Dates:
2006-
Charles Savage papers, addition 04
Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20191121
Dates:
1961 - 2008
Dennis and Terence McKenna papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 213
Scope and Contents
The Dennis and Terence McKenna papers (1943-2016; 2.5 cubic feet) document the lives and intellectual pursuits of Dennis J. McKenna and Terence K. McKenna. Subjects include shamanism, eschatology, and plant hallucinogens. The collection includes but is not limited to unpublished manuscripts, field reports, journals of personal reflections, term papers, correspondence, photographs, and article reprints. As much as the materials in this collection reflect the McKenna’s scientific and technical...
Dates:
1943 - 2016
Gary Fisher papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 84
Scope and Contents
The Gary Fisher papers contains a notebook of Fisher's anecdotes including recollections of his colleague Joyce Martin, patient notes pertaining to LSD psychotherapy treatments for children suffering from mental illness, articles and reports, his doctoral thesis, academic transcripts, his curriculum vitae, correspondence, and photographs.
Dates:
1948 - 2000
Gathering of the Elders audio recordings
Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20190816.1
Dates:
1998-11-20 - 1998-11-21
George Greer papers
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 66
Scope and Contents
The George Greer papers documents his research on MDMA. The collection contains a questionnaire, article, notes, graphs, and several case reports on his research subjects. The case studies are transcriptions from handwritten notes on the 29 subjects who are mentioned in Greer’s published papers. According to Greer, there are approximately 50 handwritten reports on other subjects still in his possession, which may be donated in the future.
Dates:
1980-1986
Grof Celebration Dinner & Program
Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20150508
Dates:
undated
Stanislav Grof papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 1
Scope and Contents
Papers and related materials documenting the life and career and of psychiatrist and author Dr. Stanislav Grof (Stan Grof). The papers consist primarily of published research articles and clippings discussing the therapeutic effects of psychoactive substances, as well as some first-hand accounts of transcendental experiences.
Dates:
1931 - 2014; Majority of material found within 1950 - 1980
Collection on Belle Hancoff
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
Harvard Psilocybin Project records
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 98
Abstract
The Harvard Psilocybin Project memos, reports and meeting minutes (1 folder; circa 1961-1962) documents the therapeutic use of psilocybin on inmates at the Concord Prison with Ralph Metzner, Richard Alpert, George Litwin, James Ciarlo, Mike Kahn, Gunther Weil, and Timothy Leary.
Dates:
circa 1961-1962; Other: Majority of material found in 1961-1962; Other: Date acquired: 09/10/2012
Milan Hausner booklet
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 76
Scope and Contents
The Milan Hausner collection contains a photocopy of his self-published booklet on LSD therapy in Czechoslovakia entitled "Psyche In Statu Nascendi, LSD Behind the Iron Curtain, Czechoslovakia, 1954-1974".
Dates:
1992
Abram Hoffer correspondence
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 88
Scope and Contents
The Abram Hoffer correspondence contains a typed letter from Abram Hoffer to Ralph Metzner concerning the use of Hoffer's Berkeley LSD paper by Metzner. It also includes Hoffer's opinion of the Liangs and Berkes' ideas on schizophrenia.
Dates:
January 9, 1967
Albert Hofmann correspondence and other materials
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 89
Scope and Contents
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.
Dates:
1948 - 2006
Hollywood Hospital program and lecture notes
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 90
Scope and Contents
The Hollywood Hospital program and lecture notes contains an original typescript of talks delivered by Al Hubbard, U. P. Byrne, D. C. MacDonald, J. Ross MacLean and R. L. Skwarok for a panel discussion on LSD-25.
Dates:
1959; Other: Date acquired: 2011-06-01
Aldous Huxley papers
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 83
Scope and Contents
This collection contains three letters. Two letters concern Huxley’s novel Island, and are addressed to L. Rust Hills, who was the fiction editor at Esquire magazine from 1956 until 1963. One letter concerns the clinical availability of LSD and references the pharmaceutical companies that were manufacturing LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin in 1961.
Dates:
1961
Jan Irvin manuscript
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 65
Scope and Contents
The Jan Irvin manuscript contains the article "Wasson and Allegro on the Tree of Knowledge as Amanita" by Michael Hoffman and Jan Irvin.
Dates:
2006
Jean Millay papers
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 63
Scope and Contents
The Jean Millay papers (1964-2001; 0.2 cubic feet) contains a DVD of the 2001 film The Psychedelic Experience by Millay and Allen Willis and an article by Millay. The collection also documents Millay's friendship with Timothy Leary and contains photocopies of pictures, correspondence, and an article on Leary.
Dates:
1964-2001; Other: Majority of material found in 1964-1980; Other: Date acquired: 03/12/2009
John W. Allen digital images and writings
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 73
Scope and Contents
The John W. Allen digital images and writings (2001-2002; 0.2 cubic feet) documents Allen's research on entheogenic fungi.
Dates:
2001-2002; Other: Majority of material found in 2001-2002; Other: Date acquired: 05/01/2010
Darrell Lemaire papers
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 64
Scope and Contents
The Darrell Lemaire papers contains two documents pertaining to the creation of novel psychedelic substances.
Dates:
1986 - 1990; Other: Date acquired: 2009-03-12