Psychoactive Substances. Betsy Gordon Psychoactive Substances Research Collection

Collecting Area

Identifier: Psychoactive Substances

Staff Only

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 52 Collections and/or Records:

Maryland Psychiatric Research Center LSD Professional Training Program Study files

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSP 170

Scope and Contents The Maryland Psychiatric Research Center LSD Professional Training Program Study files (1970 – 1974) are composed of the scientific records of the study, organized by subject identification number. Each file contains some combination of psychological profile reports, personal narratives of the LSD session experience, follow-up survey results about how the sessions affected the subject’s life, and written narratives reflecting on the experience as a whole. The files are identified only by...

Dates: 1970 - 1974

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

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

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

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

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

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-

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Psychoactive Substances Research Collection clippings

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSP 61

Scope and Contents

The Psychoactive Substances Research Collection clipping files contain clippings and print-outs of online postings of relevance to psychoactive substances, psychoactive substances research, and those involved in this field of study.

Dates: circa 1976 - 2017

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Psychedelic Summit "50th Anniversary Celebration of LSD" video recording

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSP 203

Scope and Contents The Psychedelic Summit VHS tape captures the fiftieth anniversary celebation of Albert Hofmann's discovery of LSD. The Summit took place in Santa Cruz, California from April 16th to April 18th, 1993, and featured nearly fifty talks from distinguided individuals on the therapeutic value of LSD. Footage inludes a dinner in Santa Cruz, a Psychedelics and Cannabis exposition at the Unitarian Church in San Francisco, and a rave in Golden Gate Park. Speakers include Bruce Eisner, Island Group; Dr....

Dates: 1993; Other: Date acquired: 09/03/2017

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

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

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Charles Savage papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSP 70

Scope and Contents The Charles Savage papers document Savage’s work as a psychiatrist, specifically his research on the therapeutic use of LSD-25 and marijuana during the 1960s. Materials range from correspondence between Savage and his colleagues and Savage and his patients, article reprints written by Savage or used by Savage for his research, as well as Savage’s manuscripts and miscellaneous manuscripts, some of which appear to have been created by patients. Patient notes, accounts and transcripts of LSD...

Dates: 1936 - 2003; Majority of material found within 1960 - 1970

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

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

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

David E. Nichols papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSF 468

Scope and Contents The David E. Nichols papers document David E. Nichols’s career as a medicinal chemist and pharmacologist at Purdue University from 1974 until 2012, as well as his subsequent professional and public activities. The collection features materials pertaining to Nichols’s groundbreaking research on hallucinogens (psychedelics), serotonin receptors, dopamine agonists, MDMA neurotoxicity, and MDMA analogues. The collection also features documents pertaining to the founding and proceedings of the...

Dates: 1920-2012; Other: Majority of material found in 1990s

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

William Richards papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSP 67

Scope and Contents The William Richards papers is a collection of articles and article reprints written by William Richards and other colleagues including Stanislav Grof and Walter Pahnke. The articles discuss the use of LSD, DPT, psilocybin, and other psychedelics for treating terminal cancer patients and alcoholism, as well as for the study of religious and spiritual experiences. A collection of writings and clippings related to Timothy Leary and his research at Harvard University are also included. There is...

Dates: 1962 - 2014

Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections