Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Kenneth J. Batcheldor fonds
General material designation
- Textual record
- Records in electronic form
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Fonds
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Physical description area
Physical description
0.07 metres of textual material and 1 DVD
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Kenneth J. Batcheldor, born in Britain in 1921, was a clinical psychologist who conducted a series of table tilting experiments in the 1960s and 1970s. Initially experimenting with the idea of table tilting sessions as a means of amusement, Batcheldor became intrigued when one such session resulted in the table lifting off the floor, seemingly by itself. He continued to experiment with the process and determined that one’s psychological attitude directly affected one's chance of successfully causing a table to tilt using psychokinesis (PK). He developed the concepts of “witness inhibition” – not wanting to see paranormal events – and “ownership resistance” – a refusal to believe that one is responsible for a paranormal happening such as a sudden table movement – and determined that these two psychological attitudes must be overcome to increase a sitter group’s chance of success. Two of Batcheldor’s experimental sessions were described in psychical researcher Guy Lyon Playfair’s book “If this be Magic” and his psychological concepts were used by Iris M. and A.R.G. (George) Owen in their “Conjuring Philip” experiment. Batcheldor died in 1988.
Custodial history
The fonds was donated by Walter Meyer zu Erpen of the Survival Research Institute of Canada in 2011. He acquired the typeset from Guy Lyon Playfair in 2008. The typeset is dated as having been amended in 1981.
Scope and content
The fonds was created by the donor himself. His donated material was divided into different fonds and collections in accordance with specifications he himself provided. This particular fonds consists primarily of a typeset of Batcheldor’s “Macro-PK in Group Sittings: Theoretical and Practical Aspects”, as well as a brief biographical description created by Walter Meyer zu Erpen, the donator, and a DVD containing a digitized version of the typeset.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Acquired by the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections in 2011.
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script note
English
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no restictions on this material
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
A finding aid can be generated from this description
Generated finding aid
Associated materials
This fonds is one of a series of fonds and collections donated by Walter Meyer zu Erpen related to survival and parapsychology research. Other such fonds and collections donatd by Meyer zu Erpen are the Survival Research Institute of Canada fonds (MSS 372; A11-60), A.R.G. (George) and Iris Owen fonds (MSS 373; A11-61), Survival Research Newsletters and Periodicals Collection (MSS 374; A11-62), Debra Barr and Walter Meyer zu Erpen Research and Publication Collection (MSS 375; A11-63), Jenny O'Hara Pincock fonds (MSS 376; A11-64), Spiritualist Hymnals and Manuals Collection (MSS 377; A11-65), Albert Batten fonds (MSS 379, PC 329, EL 40; A11-67), Olga Park fonds (MSS 380; A11-71), Howard Reed fonds (MSS 381, EL 41; A11-107). Also related, but not donated by Meyer zu Erpen, is the Hamilton Family fonds (Mss 14, Pc 12, Tc 70; A.79-21, A.79-41, A.79-52, A.79-56, A.79-65, A.80-08, A.80-25, A.81-09, A.86-56).
Accruals
Further accruals are possible.
Alternative identifier(s)
Electronic Collection
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Inventory and finding aid prepared by Jarad Buckwold on February 19, 2013.