.
By Kristin Leaman
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The William Richards papers (1962-2009; 0.2 cubic feet) is a collection of articles and article reprints by William Richards and Walter Pahnke. The articles discuss the use of LSD, DPT, psilocybin, and other entheogens for treating cancer patients and alcoholism, as well as for the study of religious and spiritual experiences. The collection also includes a file of information on Timothy Leary.
Collection Historical Note
William A. Richards earned his BA (cum laude) in Philosophy and Psychology from Albion College in 1962 and his M.Div. from Yale University in 1965. In 1966, he graduated with an Master of Sacred Theology (cum laude) in Psychology from Andover-Newton Theological School and later obtained a PhD in Counseling from the Catholic University in Washington DC in 1975. He has also completed graduate work at Georg-August University in Göttingen, Germany and Bradeis University. Richards has held several impressive positions as a research assistant to Hanscarl Leuner, an interim minister, a research fellow, a psychotherapist, a research associate, an assistant professor, an associate professor, and a clinical supervisor. He researched the use of entheogens in the treatment of alcoholism, severe neuroses, narcotic addiction, and the psychological distress associated with terminal cancer, and also their use in the training of religious and mental-health professionals from 1967 to 1977. Currently, Richards is a psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry, Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the senior fellow for the Council on Spiritual Practices. He is widely published in the field of psychoactive substances research and has collaborated with scholars such as Walter Pahnke, Stanislav Grof, R. R. Griffiths, Ralph Metzner, and several others.
Biographical Note
William A. Richards earned his BA (cum laude) in Philosophy and Psychology from Albion College in 1962 and his M.Div. from Yale University in 1965. In 1966, he graduated with an Master of Sacred Theology (cum laude) in Psychology from Andover-Newton Theological School and later obtained a PhD in Counseling from the Catholic University in Washington DC in 1975. He has also completed graduate work at Georg-August University in Göttingen, Germany and Bradeis University. Richards has held several impressive positions as a research assistant to Hanscarl Leuner, an interim minister, a research fellow, a psychotherapist, a research associate, an assistant professor, an associate professor, and a clinical supervisor. He researched the use of entheogens in the treatment of alcoholism, severe neuroses, narcotic addiction, and the psychological distress associated with terminal cancer, and also their use in the training of religious and mental-health professionals from 1967 to 1977. Currently, Richards is a psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry, Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the senior fellow for the Council on Spiritual Practices. He is widely published in the field of psychoactive substances research and has collaborated with scholars such as Walter Pahnke, Stanislav Grof, R. R. Griffiths, Ralph Metzner, and several others.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections
Alternate Extent Statement:
1 mss box
Access Restrictions:
This collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions:
To the extent that he owns the copyright, the donor has assigned the copyright of his works to the Archives; however, copyright of some items in this collection may be held by their respective creators. Consult the reference archivist for details.
Acquisition Source:
William Richards
Acquisition Method:
Donation.
Preferred Citation:
MSP 67, William Richards papers, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries
Processing Information:
All materials have been placed in archival housing.
Finding Aid Revision History:
2/21/2013
Other URL:
http://collections.lib.purdue.edu/fa/pdf/richards_w.pdf
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Folder:
[
Folder 1: Various article reprints, 1966-2008],
[
Folder 2: Savage, Charles. Review of LSD and Alcoholism by Ludwig, Levine, & Stark, undated.],
[
Folder 3: Various article reprints, 2004-2009],
[
Folder 4: Clippings, 2009],
[
Folder 5: File of materials pertaining to Timothy Leary, 1962-1976],
[
Folder 6: Media, 1976],
[All]
- Folder 1: Various article reprints, 1966-2008
"Implications of LSD and Experimental Mysticism" by Walter N. Pahnke and William A. Richards
"Die Toxische Ekstase" by H. Leuner
"LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy with Terminal Cancer Patients" by Walter H. Pahnke, M.D., Ph.D. Albert A. Kurland, M.D., Louis E. Goodman, M.D., and William A. Richards, S.T.M. (Psychology)
"Psychedelic Drug-Assisted Psychotherapy with Persons Suffering from Terminal Cancer" by William A. Richards
DPT as an Adjunct in Brief Psychotherapy with Cancer Patients" by William A. Richards, Ph.D., John C. Rhead, Ph.D., Stanislav Grof, M.D., Louis E. Goodman, M.D., Francesco Di Leo, M.D., and Lockwood Rush, Ph.D.
"Entheogens in the Study of Religious Experiences: Current Status" by William A. Richards
"The Phenomenology and Potential Religious Import of States of Consciousness Facilitated by Psilocybin" by William A. Richards
"Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance" by R. R. Griffiths, W. A. Richards, U. McCann, and R. Jesse
- Folder 2: Savage, Charles. Review of LSD and Alcoholism by Ludwig, Levine, & Stark, undated.
- Unpublished draft.
- Folder 3: Various article reprints, 2004-2009
"Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later." by R. R. Griffiths, W. A. Richards, M. W. Johnson, U. D. McCann, and R. Jesse
"Navigation within Consciousness: Insights from Four Decades of Psychotherapy Research with Imagery, Music, and Entheogens" by William A. Richards
"Human Hallucinogen Research: Guidelines for Safety" by M. W. Johnson, W. A. Richards, and R. R. Griffiths
"The Rebirth of Research with Entheogens: Lessons from the Past and Hypotheses for the Future" by William A. Richards
- Folder 4: Clippings, 2009
- Hughes, Michael M. “Inside the Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Studies,” [Baltimore] City Paper, October 8, 2008, pages 14-20.
- Folder 5: File of materials pertaining to Timothy Leary, 1962-1976
File of materials pertaining to Timothy Leary:
- Text of lecture, untitled, undated
- Articles, reprints, photocopies about or authored by Timothy Leary, circa 1973-circa 1976
- Newsletters:
Research Program on Consciousness- Altering Substances, Newsletter No. 1, February 1962
International Federation for Internal Freedom, Number 1, May 1963
International Federation for Internal Freedom, Volume 1, Number 3, November 1963
- Programs:
Harvard Law School Forum, “LSD Methods of Control,” November 4, 1966
The Illumination of the Buddha, A Psychedelic Celebration presented by the League for Spiritual Discovery, undated
- Clippings concerning psilocybin research at Harvard, 1962-1967
- Subscription advertisements for the Psychedelic Review, undated
- Folder 6: Media, 1976
Sixty Minutes "LSD" interview with William Richards, January 4, 1976 [DVD]
Summary of the Sixty Minutes interview written by William Richards, August 2011
