The Foundation’s Role in the World of Parapsychology

PF founder Eileen J. Garrett was noted for her pioneering work in psychical research. In the 1920s and 1930s, she recognized that psychical research was disregarded by a large segment of the academic community. She also knew that practical aid for scholars and scientists would be unavailable from most universities or other foundations. Up to the moment of her death in 1970, she remained intellectually curious concerning psychic phenomena and the ramifications for humankind.

True to Garrett’s vision, PF has supported academicians and researchers in psychical research. With PF support, scientists and scholars from many disciplines can now bring to the laboratory, the classroom and the public at large new concepts and new understanding of the psychical elements in our lives.

Since its inception in 1951, PF has funded hundreds of research products, individuals and organizations the world over. Recipient institutions, to name just a few, include: University of Edinburgh, Scotland; Syracuse University, New York; Tel Aviv University, Israel; Stanford Research Institute, California; The Institut Métapsychique, France; Rhine Research Center, North Carolina; Madras Christian College, India; University of California at Santa Barbara and other UC campuses; University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene in Freiburg, Germany; and John F. Kennedy University, California.

“Garrett and the Foundation have done more to foster parapsychology in other countries as well as cooperation between researchers of different nationalities than any other organization. Parapsychology would not be nearly as advanced as it is today were it not for Garrett and the Foundation.”

Rhea A. White, Director
Exceptional Human Experience Network
http://www.ehe.org

Parapsychology Foundation is eager to expand explorations and welcomes those who would join in the quest. The Foundation has long served the public as a clearinghouse for parapsychological information.

It is a long way from the combative early years (the formal acceptance of parapsychology by the AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) in 1969 but still there is a long way to go. Parapsychology Foundation looks past its 50th anniversary celebrated in 2001 which was a time for taking stock of its remarkable achievements — but now is the time for looking forward. Who knows what lies ahead? Who knows what important discoveries are yet to be made about the potential of the human mind: The mystery, however is part of the quest; the uncertainty, part of the excitement. As Allan Angoff in his biography of Garrett, Eileen J. Garrett and The World Beyond the Senses (Available here), fondly recalls of her unbridled enthusiasm: “You never know,” she used to say, “there might be something, and we musn’t miss it, must we?”

Whatever the future brings, one thing is certain, scholars and scientists and dedicated researchers will continue to probe these mysteries (there’s no limit to human curiousity), and the vision of the extraordinary women who founded the Parapsychology Foundation will continue to play an absolutely vital role, fostering and encouraging tomorrow’s visionaries, and providing a worldwide forum supporting the scientific exploration of psychic phenomena.

To download “Parapsychology at Utrecht, The First International Conference of Parapsychological Studies” an address given by Dr. Carlos S. Alvarado at Parapsychology Foundation’s 2008 International Conference, “Utrecht II: Charting the Future of Parapsychology”, co-hosted with the Het Johan Borgmanfonds Foundation. Click Here.

To download “Fifty Years of Supporting Parapsychology: The Parapsychology Foundation (1951-2001)”, an article written to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Foundation, presented at the Annual Convention of the Parapsychological Association held in New York City in August of 2001, and later published in the International Journal of Parapsychology, click here.