Between 1979 and 1985, the Southern California Society for Psychical Research published three issues of its Journal.
Founded in 1961, the Southern California Society for Psychical Research was dedicated to education and research in parapsychology. Through lectures and classes, the Society’s programs offered both members and non-members exposure to all aspects of the field of parapsychology. The Society promoted and supported parapsychological research. Members of its Research Committee investigated spontaneous cases of alleged paranormal phenomena. In addition, the Society offered financial support for parapsychological research. The Journal was established “to present research proposals and results, and other discussions regarding parapsychology written by members of its research committee.” The Society ceased operation in 1988.
There were seven articles published in the Journal:
- Raymond Bayless, “Low-amplitude, Acoustical, Tape-Recorded PK with Target Objects: Experiments Conducted by Wesley Frank and Raymond Bayless,” Volume 1 (1979): 1-17.
- Raymond Bayless, “An ‘Electronic Poltergeist,'” Volume 1 (1979): 18-24.
- Elizabeth E. McAdams, “The Wide Range of Survival Evidence,” Volume 1 (1979): 25-30.
- Michael J. Nanko, “Use of Goal-Oriented Imagery Strategy on a Psychokinetic Task with “Selected” Subjects,” Volume 2 (1981): 1-5.
- Raymond Bayless, “Marian Apparitions at Zeitun, Cairo,” Volume 2 (1981): 6-34.
- Michael J. Nanko, “A Report on the Case Investigation of Natuzza Evolo,” Volume 3 (1985): 5-19.
- Raymond Bayless, “General Observations,” Volume 3 (1985): 20-27.
The seven articles published in the Journal were written by Raymond G. Bayless, Elizabeth E. McAdams, PhD, and Michael J. Nanko. Following are a few biographical notes:
Parapsychologist Raymond Gordon Bayless (1920-2004) was a colleague and friend of George and Iris Owen and an Associate of the New Horizons Research Foundation. He contributed two articles about the psychokinetic production of taped sound, including some voices, to the New Horizons Journal (available on this site; see vol. 2, no. 2; and vol 2, issue 8).
With Raymond Bayless, Elizabeth E. McAdams (born 1945), PhD, published The Case for Life after Death: Parapsychologists Look at the Evidence (Chicago: Nelson-Hall Inc., Publishers, 1981). Elizabeth was a member of the SCSPR Board from 1976-1983, and President from 1978-1983. In 1983, Elizabeth founded the International Foundation for Survival Research to “foster public awareness of personal experiences and research suggesting consciousness beyond death”; Elizabeth is also the founder of the Life after Life Club that holds monthly meetings in Laguna Woods, California.
Michael J. Nanko (born ca. 1954), PhD, later Chief Operating Officer of Portals Mental Health Rehabilitation Services, worked with the SCSPR as a parapsychology researcher. The SCSPR raised funds from its members to support Nanko’s travel costs in his investigation of the Italian healer and stigmatist Natuzza Evolo.
To make the articles more generally accessible for research and educational purposes, the Survival Research Institute of Canada has undertaken to digitize and make them freely available. They have been scanned from copies borrowed from survival researcher and former SCSPR President Elizabeth McAdams.
Following is the list of issues of the Journal of the Southern California Society for Psychical Research that may be downloaded for educational and research purposes only.
- Volume 1 (1979) (4.3 M)
- Volume 2 (1981) (4.4 M)
- Volume 3 (1985) (3.8 M)
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