Important Links:
Libraries with Existing Collections on Parapsychology and Related subjects:
Archival Collections on Parapsychology and Related Subjects:
The Coalition for the Preservation of Extraordinary Human Experience Collections (CPEHEC) was created by the World Institute for Scientific Exploration (WISE) in order to monitor at risk collections of literature and materials on scientific anomalies, consciousness, parapsychology, alternative and complementary medicine, alternative energy, historical mysteries, paranormal subjects, and all other subjects related to unexplained phenomena. The current Director of this Coalition is internationally known professional archivist, Walter Meyer zu Erpen, with years of archival experience dealing with library special collections around the world.
One of WISE's missions is to help preserve collections on the above subjects by digitizing them, especially periodicals, research materials, papers, and other unpublished items that are rare or unique. And this is especially urgent, if an organization or periodical has become defunct or if a private collection owner passes away or otherwise no longer wants to or is able to maintain his or her collection. In such cases, if the owner wants the collection preserved, WISE will preserve the physical collection intact itself for the owner, or else find a suitable university, public, or other library to preserve the owner's collection.
WISE has made arrangements with a number of university libraries, public libraries, and financially stable private nonprofit organizations, who have agreed to consider receiving collections of materials on the above subjects and maintain them in their library Special Collections departments. These include the following: 1) University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) Library; 2) Ohio State University; 3) University of Manitoba; 4) University of Maryland 5) several others. And we are contacting additional libraries around the United States and other countries of the world, so that there are potential repositories near anyone who may wish to have their collection preserved.
In addition, we are making arrangements with trusted individuals who will temporarily house and care for collections until a suitable permanent location has been found. As an example, Dr. Michael Swords agreed to temporarily house the huge collection of the Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained (SITU), which had been rescued after being at risk for loss for nearly 20 years. We urge other individuals with spare space in their garages, warehouses, basements, office spaces, or other areas to contact Walter or John at the addresses below, if you would be willing to temporarily house collections, small or large, until a permanent home can be found. One benefit, of course, is that you will be able to use the materials in the collection for your own research.
The CPEHEC is also working closely with the International Coalition of Periodical Digitizing Organizations and Individuals (ICPDOI), which WISE created in order to help organize and coordinate the digitization of the hundreds of journals and periodicals, books, and other materials that have been published and created on the above subjects. Digitization and posting online will help reduce the need for physical space of collections, which frequently have the same books, periodicals, and other materials.
If you would like your collection preserved, know of collections and materials that are at risk for loss, or would like to help in some way, if only moral support, please contact the Coalition Director, Walter Meyer zu Erpen, at: wmze (at)islandnet.com; or WISE President, John H. Reed, M.D. at: joreed43 (at) gmail.com or 443-858-0757