The parapsychology foundation as a funding organisation - Brief Article

Journal of Parapsychology, The, Dec, 2001 by Carlos S. Alvarado

ABSTRACT: When the social history of parapsychology is written, it will be important to include a discussion about funding and its sources. At the risk of being called immodest because of my current affiliation, I would argue that a significant chapter of this history is comprised of the funding contributions of the Parapsychology Foundation (PF). A search through some of the main parapsychology journals and the PF's Annual Reports supports this view, showing the magnitude of PF's funding as well as the variety of topics funded over the years.

From its beginnings, the PF was interested in a broad view of the field. That is, there was interest in funding virtually any area or approach that presented the potential of helping the field of parapsychology. This included experimental work, spontaneous case research, philosophical and theoretical writings, historical investigations, and education. In addition, the PF grant program had, and still has, an international orientation.

The roster of grants given to conduct experimental research on ESP and psychokinesis reads like a who's who in parapsychology. This includes the work reported from Rhine's laboratory and from such investigators as Margaret Anderson, Esther Foster, Winifred Nielsen, Karlis Osis, Robert Van de Castle, and Rhea White. Investigators from other laboratories that were funded by the PF include George Fisk, Betty Humphrey, J. Fraser Nicol, J. Gaither Pratt, Gertrude Schmeidler, and Donald J. West. Some important projects or lines of research include the work of Grad regarding psychokinetic effects on the growth of plants, Stanford and his associates' work on cognitive correlates of ESP mentation, and Giesler's psi testing in Brazil considering myriad cultural variables.

The study of spontaneous cases also received much support. Some examples include Hornell Hart's out-of-body experience research, Ian Stevenson's reincarnation and ESP work, Louisa E. Rhine's work, as well as grants given to the American Society for Psychical Research and to Freiburg's Institute which funded the collection of spontaneous cases. Two important projects deserving special mention are Donald J. West's study of so-called miraculous healings in Lourdes and John Palmer's now classic survey of psychic experiences.

Funding a variety of students has furthered education, which is the function of the current Eileen J. Garrett's Scholarship. In addition, the PF has supported individuals to teach parapsychology, such as the grants given to John Palmer and Robert L. Morris. Other areas include the funding of historical and conceptual work, as well as funding for writers and travel expenses.

While it is clear from this brief survey that the PF has been a significant contributor to the funding of parapsychology, it may be argued that more than this has been accomplished. The PF has been an important force in shaping the field. Its support of virtually all aspects of the field--from the technical to the popular, from the quantitative to the qualitative, from the experimental to the experiential, from the practical to the theoretical--has been an important force in the development of parapsychology. A complete social history of the field should pay more attention to such contributions, as those of the PF.