{"id":4474,"date":"2026-08-17T21:09:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T21:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.umbc.edu\/specialcollections\/finding-aids\/coll331\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:11:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T15:11:32","slug":"coll331","status":"publish","type":"finding_aid","link":"https:\/\/library.umbc.edu\/specialcollections\/finding-aids\/coll331\/","title":{"rendered":"Eileen J. Garrett Parapsychology Foundation collection"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Overview<\/h1>\n
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Title:<\/td>\nEileen J. Garrett Parapsychology Foundation collection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Call Number:<\/td>\nColl331<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Creator:<\/td>\nGarrett, Eileen J.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dates:<\/td>\n1930-2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size:<\/td>\n1548 Linear feet (42 archival boxes and library)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Abstract:<\/td>\nThis collection contains monographs, Masters and PhD dissertations, presented research and papers from the Parapsychological Association, Society for Psychical Research, American Society for Psychical Research, and Parapsychology Foundation international conferences. Journals, audiovisual items, and archival materials are related to the study of dreams, altered states of consciousness, shamanism, religious practices, paranormal experiences and the study and work of psychics and mediums in a historical, psychological, and anthropological approach. Non-english language journals are primarily in Italian, French, Spanish and German.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Citation:<\/td>\nEileen J. Garrett Parapsychology Foundation collection, Collection 331, Special Collections, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
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Administrative\/Biographical Note<\/h1>\n

The Parapsychology Foundation was founded in 1951 by trance medium, Eileen J. Garrett (1893-1970) and Republican congresswoman from Ohio, Frances P. Bolton (1885-1977) in order to fund the study of paranormal phenomena through academic and scientific research. It is one of the world\u2019s largest research libraries and collections dedicated to the study of parapsychology and psychical research. Since 1951, the Parapsychology Foundation has funded hundreds of research projects and academics from across the world. The materials were assembled to support impartial scientific inquiry into psychical aspects of human nature such as telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and psychokinesis which were largely ignored by the academic community. After Garrett\u2019s passing in 1970, her daughter, Eileen Coly, and granddaughter, Lisette Coly, also joined the organization in 1969. Since 2012, Lisette Coly serves as the current Foundation President with Garrett\u2019s great-granddaughter, Anastasia Damalas, who serves as the Executive Director.<\/p>\n

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Scope & Content<\/h1>\n

Arrangement<\/h2>\n\n
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Provenance Information<\/h1>\n

Provenance and Acquisition Information<\/h2>\n

Accession MSS2022-08, MSS2022-11, MSS2024-12.<\/p>\n

Processing Note<\/h2>\n

Collection was donated to Special Collections by Lisette Coly in August 2022.<\/p>\n

Descriptive Rules Used<\/h2>\n

Describing Archives: a Content Standard (DACS)<\/p>\n

Archives Processing Manual: Description (2015)<\/a><\/p>\n

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Access & Use<\/h1>\n

Finding Aids<\/h2>\n

Finding aid available.<\/p>\n

Access Conditions<\/h2>\n

This collection is open for research.<\/p>\n

Conditions Governing Reproductions and Use<\/h2>\n

Permission is required for all reproduction requests. Copyright is maintained by the creator.<\/p>\n

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Subject Headings<\/h1>\n

Creators<\/h2>\n

Garrett, Eileen J.<\/p>\n

Subjects<\/h2>\n

American Society for Psychical Research. Apparitions. Clairvoyance. Consciousness. Extrasensory perception. Ghosts. Mediums. Metaphysics. Mysticism. Occult. Paranormal phenomena. Parapsychological Association. Parapsychology Foundation, New York. Parapsychology. Psychical research Psychics. Psychokinesis. Remote viewing (Parapsychology) Rhine Research Center Seances Shamanism. Society for Psychical Research (Great Britain) Spiritualism. Supernatural. Survival. Telepathy. Trance<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Series Description & Container List<\/h1>\n

Series I: Manuscript<\/h2>\n
Date: <\/strong>1922-2010<\/div>\n
Description: <\/strong><\/p>\n

This series contains the manuscript collection of the Parapsychology Foundation records, which is still in processing. The series inventory contains box level descriptions of various topics and archival materials, as Special Collection staff works through proper arrangement, description, and preservation needs of this section of the collection. The materials arrived in labeled number and letter boxes. A file level description, although not entirely arrranged, has been provided.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n