Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Melton, J. Gordon.
- Abstract:
- A project started in 1975 at Institute for the Study of American Religions to gather materials relating to the large Chicago area community engaged in the study and practice of paranormal phenomena. The files contain newsletters, flyers and posters, newspaper articles, business cards, correspondence, promotional materials, and other relevant items.
- Extent:
- 2.5 linear feet (2 boxes)
- Language:
- Collection materials in English
- Preferred citation:
-
Chicagoland Psychic Archives. ARC Mss 9. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Chicagoland Psychic Archives was a project started in the fall of 1975 at Dr. J. Gordon Melton's Institute for the Study of American Religions. The city of Chicago, Illinois was home to a large community engaged in the study and practice of paranormal phenomena, including psychics, astrologers, readers, mediums, graphologists, ghosthunters, and devotees of the occult, nonconventional healing, UFOs, and parapsychology. Assisted by psychic card reader David Techter, astrologer Elinor Jaksto, and others, Dr. Melton sought to compile whatever material was available to document this distinct subculture.
Although the "Chicagoland" psychic community reached as far as Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Gary, Indiana, the archive is limited primarily to individuals and organizations operating within Cook County, Illinois, and directly adjacent counties. The files contain newsletters, flyers and posters, newspaper articles, business cards, correspondence, promotional materials, and other relevant items.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Gordon Melton, n.d.
- Physical location:
- Annex 2
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
None.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
- Preferred citation:
-
Chicagoland Psychic Archives. ARC Mss 9. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Location of this collection:
-
UC Santa Barbara LibrarySanta Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
- Contact:
- (805) 893-3062