Abstract

The author divides the history of parapsychology at Duke University into 4 periods. Period I (1927-1934): Parapsychology went on trial as an integral part of the Department of Psychology. Attention was focused on the question of membership and survival. The "trade-book" Extrasensory Perception was published. Period II (1935-1949) saw the creation of the Parapsychological Laboratory and the Journal of Parapsychology. Reactions from psychologists to newly published books and articles were vigorously critical and stimulated research, particularly in the fields of psi phenomena (clairvoyance, telepathy, precognition, psychokinesis). The search for psychological states or traits associated with psi phenomena performance began in 1930. Period III (1950-1956) was marked by the "anspi -project," the search for evidence of psi in nonhuman species; a return to spontaneous psi experiences, and the experimentation with Dutch-school -work. Period IV (1957 until present) witnessed the birth of the Parapsychological Association and the Parapsychology Scholarship Fund. Research emphasized the study of physiological correlates of psi, school -room tests, and precognition.