Register of the Gertrude Raffel Schmeidler Papers, 1943-1983
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleGertrude Raffel Schmeidler Papers, 1943-1983
Creator
Schmeidler, Gertrude Raffel
Extent
Linear ft. of shelf space occupied: 30.8
Approximate number of items: 24,000
Repository
Approximate number of items: 24,000
Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185
Language
English.
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Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of
Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using
this collection.
All or portions of this collection may be housed
off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center.
Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining
these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before
visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections
Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
Because of the nature of some of the research data contained in the Research Files: Subject
Subseries, release of certain information contained in it may give rise to liability (e.g. for
defamation or invasion of privacy). Use of names of living individuals mentioned in the data is
prohibited without their consent. Duke University assumes no responsiblity for infringement of
literary property rights and copyrights, or for liability to any person for defamation or invasion of
privacy.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Gertrude Raffel Schmeidler Papers,
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Gertrude Schmeidler Papers were given to the Duke University Library by Dr.
Schmeidler in 1987. Copyright interests in these papers have not been transferred to the
University.
Processing Information
Processed by Janie C. Morris
Assisted by: Lynne Derhammer and Carlos Alvarado
Date Completed: March 15, 1991
Encoded by Alvin Pollock and Stephen Miller
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Biographical Note
| 1912, July 15 | Born Long Branch, New Jersey |
| 1932 | B.A. magna cum laude Smith College, Northampton, Mass. |
| 1932-1933 | Statistical assistant at Foundation for Neuro-Endocrine Research |
| 1933 | M.A. Clark University, Worcester, Mass. |
| 1935 | Ph.D. Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. |
| 1935-1937 | Instructor at Monmouth College, Long Branch, New Jersey |
| 1937 | Married Robert Schmeidler |
| 1942-1944 | Research Associate at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. |
| 1945-1985 | Taught in the Department of Psychology, City College of the City University of New York |
| 1945-1946 | Research Officer at the American Society for Psychical Research, New York |
| 1945 | Published article, "Separating the Sheep from the Goats," in the Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research |
| 1949-1955 | Consultant at Barnard College, New York |
| 1958 | Co-author of the work ESP and Personality Patterns, with Dr.Robert A. McConnell |
| 1959 | President, Parapsychological Association |
| 1964 | Earned the William McDougall Award for Distinguished Work in Parapsychology, established by the Parapsychology Laboratory at Duke University |
| 1969 | Edited Extrasensory Perception |
| 1971 | President, Parapsychological Association |
| 1976 | Edited Parapsychology: Its Relation to Physics, Biology, Psychology and Psychiatry |
| 1977 | Associate Editor of Wolman's Handbook of Parapsychology |
| 1981-1985 | President, American Society for Psychical Research |
| 1988 | Published book Parapsychology and Psychology: Matches and Mismatches |
Collection Overview
The Gertrude R. Schmeidler Papers span the period 1943-1983. The
bulk of the collection consists chiefly of Research Files but also includes
Correspondence and Writings. The research data located in the Research
Files consists primarily of information which Schmeidler gathered
through her work with students and colleagues as an experimental
psychologist and parapsychologist. This data formed the basis of her
published journal articles and books about how various factors and traits
affect a person's extrasensory perception (ESP) abilities. There are very
few personal papers located in the collection.
The value of the collection may be viewed from several perspectives.
One is able to see how researchers collaborate with each other; to
evaluate the value of networking and mentoring; to study the role of
women in parapsychology; and to become aware of groups and institutes
interested in the study of ESP, such as the American Society for
Psychical Research, the Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory,
and the Parapsychology Foundation, Inc.
Reflected in much of the research is the work for which Schmeidler is
most notable, the development of the metaphor of the sheep and goats.
She determined through several cycles of ESP card-guessing experiments
that "sheep" (persons who believed that success was possible in ESP
tasks) scored higher than "goats" (those who rejected the possibility of
success). Later documentation in the sheep/goat research includes data
and correspondence by Murray Melnick and Christopher Scott pertaining
to their study of earlier tabulations of Schmeidler's sheep/goat
research.
The following correspondents, researchers, and subjects are generally
represented throughout the Correspondence and Research Files Series.
Included are: Gardner Murphy, Schmeidler's mentor and the person who
first interested her in psychical research; Ingo Swann, who studied PK
(psychokinesis) effects on temperature; Caroline Chapman, a psychic
with whom Schmeidler conducted proxy settings; Eileen Garrett, a
psychic who was president of the Parapsychology Foundation Inc., and
with whom Schmeidler conducted proxy settings; Steve Heyman, who
studied the effect of time and impatience on ESP abilities; Betty
Humphrey, who worked in the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory in the
late 1940s and early 1950s and used drawings as her ESP targets; Larry
Lewis, who attempted to find out if ESP hones into a target like sonar;
and Thelma Moss, who studied a house haunting. Schmeidler
collaborated with Swann, Heyman, Lewis, and Moss on the research
topics listed above and co-authored journal articles which were published
as a result of their research. Schmeidler also published an article about
her proxy settings with Chapman. The research data relating to the
Garrett settings was never published. There is scattered correspondence
between Schmeidler and J. B. and Louisa Rhine, but not a substantial
amount. There are several letters between J. G. Pratt, who was working
at the Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory, and Schmeidler
pertaining to the Chapman proxy settings in the mid 1950s. There are
numerous letters between Schmeidler and Humphrey, some describing
the working environment at the Duke University Parapsychology
Laboratory; others relate to Humphrey's research. Other topics are
represented primarily in the Research Files Series, including data about
how various attitudes, conditions, traits, and surroundings affect ESP
abilities. Among them are frustration, utilizing Saul Rosenzweig's Picture
Frustration Study; Rorschachs and ESP scores of patients suffering from
cerebral concussions; background stimuli; Rorschachs and ESP scores in
maternity patients; ESP and memory; ESP scores following
psychotherapy; and mood and attitude as predictors of ESP performance;
telepathic rapport based on personality traits; and others such as long
distance experiments in telepathy, precognition, poltergeists, and
clairvoyant medical diagnosis based on the Silva Mind Control
method.
The data for experiments, both successful as well as unsuccessful, are
in the collection. The results of some were never reported in the
literature. Because of the amount of data in the collection, it is possible
that some of the experiments could be replicated and/or studied for new
results.
The Writings Series primarily consists of information pertaining to
the work she co-authored with Robert A. McConnell, ESP and
Personality Patterns.
Folders throughout the collection contain Schmeidler's typed notes
which describe the data, list the name of the researcher with whom she
collaborated, and in some cases the article or articles which resulted from
the research. Others indicate the nature and subject of the
correspondence and include information pertaining to her various
writings.
Through Schmeidler's correspondence with colleagues world-wide
and her collaboration with fellow scientists, one is able to gain an
understanding of the vast range of experiments and topics studied in the
parapsychological field. One is also able to study the difference in
research styles between Americans and Europeans. Since the research
files span a period of forty years, the collection also reflects the various
methods, materials, and equipment used for research in the field.
Related collections in the Department include the Parapsychology
Laboratory Records and the Louisa Rhine Papers.
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Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
- Schmeidler, Gertrude Raffel. ESP and personality patterns.
- Murphy, Gardner, 1895-1979.
- Swann, Ingo, 1933-
- Garrett, Eileen Jeanette Lyttle, 1893-1970.
- Heyman, Steve.
- Humphrey, Betty, M.
- Pratt, J. Gaither (Joseph Gaither), 1910-1979.
- McConnell, Robert A.
- Scott, Christopher.
- Melnick, Murry.
- Chapman, Caroline.
- Moss, Thelma.
- Lewis, Larry.
- American Society for Psychical Research (1906- ).
- Duke University. Parapsychology Laboratory.
- Parapsychology Foundation.
- Extrasensory perception--Research.
- Parapsychology--Research.
- Psychical research.
- Mediums.
- Ghosts.
- Rorschach test.
- Telepathy.
- Precognition.
- Poltergeists--Case studies.
- Clairvoyance.
- Psychokinesis.
- Rosenzwieg picture-frustration test.
- Women parapsychologists.
- Women college teachers--New York.
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Correspondence Series | ||||||
| | Writings Series | ||||||
| | Research Files Series | ||||||
| | Miscellaneous Series | ||||||
 | | Oversize Materials | ||||||
Detailed Description of Collection
Correspondence Series
1943-1968
(6 folders)
Box 2
1969-1970
(6 folders)
Box 3
1971-1972
(6 folders)
Box 4
1973-1974
(6 folders)
Box 5
1974, July-1983, undated
Garrett, Eileen,
1953-1955, undated
Murphy, Gardner,
1951-1974, undated
(2 folders)
Ozanne, Charles E.,
1953-1956
Writings Series
ESP and Personality Patterns
ESP and Personality Patterns: Response to Criticism
"Personal Values and ESP Scores"
1953-1972, undated
(2 folders)
Research Files Series
Rorschach Tests
1944-1945
(5 folders)
Box 8
1945-1946, Mar.,Murphy
(3 folders)
Box 9
1946, Mar., schmeidler-Hunter,
1946, Summer
(4 folders)
Box 10
1946, Summer-Fall
(5 folders)
1946-1951 and undated
Box 11
1946-1951
(3 folders)
1947, Spring
(4 folders)
Box 12
1947, Spring-Fall
(7 folders)
Box 13
1947, Fall
(3 folders)
1947-1950, undated
(3 folders)
Box 14
1948-1949, Spring
(5 folders)
Box 15
1949, Spring/Fall-1950, Spring
(7 folders)
Box 16
1950, Spring-Fall
(4 folders)
Box 17
1950, Feb.,Inspection Records: Sheep and Goats
(2 folders)
1951, Spring
(2 folders)
1951, Feb.,Inspection Records: Sheep and Goats
(2 folders)
1951-1956
Box 18
1951-1956
(4 folders)
Box 19
1955-1956, Fall
(4 folders)
Box 20
1956, Fall-1958, Spring
(5 folders)
Box 21
1958, Spring/Fall-1960
(5 folders)
Box 22
1959-1961, Fall
(5 folders)
Box 23
1961-1966, Fall
(6 folders)
Box 24
Various dates, and undated
(3 folders)
Chase and Wladkowsky,
undated
Erkstein,
undated
Inspection Records,
1943, 1946, undated
Miscellaneous data,
undated
Box 25
Miscellaneous:
Preselected on Basis of ESP Scores,
1945-1947, 1970
(2 folders)
TAT analysis,
undated
Sheep/Goat
ESP Record Sheets:
1941, Aug.-1946, Mar.
(7 folders)
Box 26
ESP Record Sheets:
1946, Apr.-1946, July
(7 folders)
Box 27
ESP Record Sheets:
1946, July-1947, Spring
(8 folders)
Box 28
ESP Record Sheets:
1947, Sept.-1948, Dec.
(6 folders)
Box 29
ESP Record Sheets:
1949, Apr.-1951, Apr.
(9 folders)
Box 30
ESP Record Sheets:
1951, May
Various dates and undated
(2 folders)
Sheep/Goats,
undated
(2 folders)
undated
(3 folders)
Box 31
ESP Record Sheets:
n.d
(6 folders)
Box 32
ESP Record Talley Sheets:
1948-1949, undated
(4 folders)
Box 33
ESP Record Sheets and Related Materials,
1946, Nov.
1954-1956, Fall
(5 folders)
Box 34
ESP Record Sheets and Related Materials,
1959-1960, undated
(6 folders)
Box 35
ESP Record Sheets and Related Materials,
undated
(5 folders)
Box 36
Rorschach Tests:
1948, Fall-1949, Spring
(5 folders)
Box 37
Rorschach Tests:
1949, Spring
Various dates
Rorschach Tests: Inspection Records:
1946, Sept.(Hunter)
1947, Feb.-1948(Sheep/Goats)
(5 folders)
Box 38
Rorschach Tests: ESP Scores, Pairs:
1946-1955
(6 folders)
Box 39
Student Responses:
1946, July-1949, Fall
(8 folders)
Various dates and undated
(2 folders)
Box 40
Student Responses:
undated
(8 folders)
Box 41
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
Extra Scores and extra subjects, undated.
(2 folders)
Gimore-Melnick Data
Pictures,
undated
Research data from ESP work on Sheep/Goats--Cohen,
1959
Schmeidler, City College--Eckstein's Class on Abnormal,
Apr. 5, 1946
Sheep/Goat Classification Response to Christopher Scott
(2 folders)
Subjects
Agent: ESP Data,
undated
Agent: Percipient Experiment Instructions
Agent: Percipient Experiment
Agent: Percipient Experiment:
Agent: Attempts at objective Rorschach classification
Agent: ESP Data,
1959-1960
(2 folders)
Allen - TAT
American Society for Psychical Research,
1946
American Society for Psychical Research: Pictures
Box 43
American Society for Psychical Research: Pictures
(2 folders)
Background stimuli and ESP responses,
1983
(3 folders)
Box 44
Bainow - TAT,
undated
Barry, H., MacKinnon, P. W., Murray, H.A.: Experimenter Files
Bickman, Leonard: Honors Research
Blaustein Targets,
1944
Booklets of Values,
1952
(3 folders)
Box 45
Bridge to ESP target: tests
Brier, Robert and Barry Savits: Silva Mind Control, three Experiments in Clairvoyant Diagnosis
(4 folders)
Bullen,
undated
Card guessing experiment (letters to people about)
1963
Census of some unusual experiences
Box 46
Chapman, Caroline (Proxy Sessions)
(5 folders)
Box 47
Chapman, Caroline (Proxy Sessions)
Chase, Stanley: Data
Chi Square Test
Children and reincarnation
Clairvoyant, Kykeshoorn, M.B.
Clock cards,
1982
(3 folders)
Box 48
Cognition class: City College of the City University of New York
Concussion Patients and Hospitalized controls data, Rorschachs and ESP scores
Crystal Images: data
Drawings
1946, July 31
(2 folders)
Clairvoyance
(2 folders)
Box 49
Drawings:
Clairvoyance
Moonfaces
(2 folders)
Moonfaces and interest tests
Moonfaces--Duke--1946 and City College of the City University of New York, 1947 United States of America
Ehrenwald, Jan: PSI: Questionnaire
Ehrlich, Data
Eilbert, L.'s MA thesis: published with Schmeidler,
1950
(2 folders)
Box 50
ESP:
Card type experiment
Contest
Data,
1951, 1955 and undated
(4 folders)
Scores in maternity patients
Memory test
(2 folders)
Box 51
ESP: Memory test
(2 folders)
ESP Records: Confidence check and scored,
1958
(3 folders)
Feedback in ESP
(2 folders)
Box 52
Feedback in ESP
(4 folders)
Feedback paper test data
(2 folders)
Box 53
Feedback paper test data
(2 folders)
Feedback with ESP symbols: A Failure to Replicate
Free Association
(2 folders)
Box 54
Friedneberg, William and P. Males: Data
Friedman, Ronald M. and E. D. Dean: Mood and ESP Correlation
Garrett, Eileen (Proxy Sessions)
(4 folders)
Box 55
Garrett, Eileen (Proxy Sessions)
Goodrich, Joyce: Psychic Healing
Grady tests/interpretation
Group experiments: Extra results,
undated
Hand Test Protocols,
1974
Haunted House: Data,
1966
Heyman, S.:
Data for Paper,
1976
Data for Time Metaphors and ESP,
1965
Box 56
Heyman, S.: Data for Time Metaphors and ESP,
1965
(5 folders)
Box 57
Heyman, S.: Data for Time Metaphors and ESP,
1965
(3 folders)
Hudesman, J.:
Clock Card Data
(2 folders)
Box 58
Hudesman, J.: Clock Card Data
(5 folders)
Box 59
Hudesman, J.: Clock Card Data
Hudesman, J. and G. Schmeidler: ESP scores after psychotherapy sessions
Humphrey, Betty:
Data
Scoring of 4-picture clairvoyance tests,
1947, Dec.
Introversion and ESP
Jensen, Donald: Psychical abilities,
1974
Box 60
Kopler: TAT and ESP Data,
1945
Korn: Data
Kornfeld: TAT
Kreiman records,
1978
LeShan, L.: Boby Image related to ESP scores
Lewis, Larry:
Data
Data for EEG-ESP research paper
(2 folders)
Box 61
Lewis, Larry: Feedback in ESP, Part II
Lowy, Grace: Data
Lutzky: Data on children
Memory tests: Word lists
Metaphor Research,
1962-1963
(2 folders)
Mind-reading interpretations
Box 62
Mood-in-group study
(2 folders)
Moods and ESP (Canada):
Correspondence
Group 1-3:
1971, Feb.-Mar. 8
(3 folders)
Box 63
Moods and ESP (Canada): Miscellaneous
Moss, Thelma: ESP records and letters
Moss, Thelma and Schmeidler: Haunting investigation
(2 folders)
Murphy, Gardner:
Creativity: ESP Project
Rorschach interpretations,
1944
Names as target: Research,
1984
O'Keefe, Eileen: Data
Osis, Karlis: ESP,
1955
Out of body experiences: Questions and data
Box 64
Perception "in mind's eye"
(7 folders)
Box 65
Perception "in mind's eye"
(8 folders)
Box 66
Personality of PSI experiments: Student Evaluations,
1981
(2 folders)
Picture-Frustration Records,
1946-1948
(6 folders)
Box 67
Picture-Frustration Records,
1948-1949
(5 folders)
Box 68
Picture-Frustration Records,
1949
(5 folders)
Box 69
Picture-Frustration Records
Spring, 1950-1951
(2 folders)
1st Group experiment,
1945
2nd Group experiment,
1945
Chase and Wladkowsky,
1946
Female,
1948
Spring, Hunter group experiment,
1946
Picture and A-S reaction studies
Pictures used for testing,
Fall, 1956
Box 70
PK effects on temperature
(7 folders)
Box 71
PK effects on temperature
PK effects on temperative: further analysis
Poltergeists:
Beck case, correspondence
Case studies
Case study, projective tests
Precognition: dream data
Precognitive clairvoyance, Part I
Box 72
Precognitive clairvoyance, Part I and II
(2 folders)
Precognition experiment (data of first),
1961, Fall
(3 folders)
Precognition subjects record sheets, 2nd experiment
Precognition test,
1974
Psychics
Psychokinesis on water,
1974
Psychometry tests
Random vs Pseudorandom targets: Data,
1981
Rasch, W. D.: Handwriting analysis,
1953
Retkinski data: ESP,
1964, Spring
Box 73
Retkinski-data, ESP:
1964, Spring
Retkinski-Replication, ESP:
1964, Gall
Retkinski: Work before going to Duke,
1964
Salience-Group experiments
Sensory deprivation test
Box 74
Sensory deprivation test
Short Story: various test scores
Soal, S. G.: ESP tests,
1956
Steelman, J: Data
(2 folders)
Streber, K: Data
Subject record sheets and tabulations
Subject record sheets and testing specifications
Survival research questionnaires
(2 folders)
Box 75
Tanagras: Telepathy research,
1946-1947
(3 folders)
Tarot card readings: Unpublished data
TAT: ESP scores
(3 folders)
Box 76
TAT: ESP scores
TAT scores
Telepathy in Dyads: Data
Time estimates by psychics
Time metaphor test
Training subjects to judge free responses
Ruth Reinsel for N. Sondow's Ganzfeld
(2 folders)
Janet's non-blind list of correspondences: F, G, H
Visual imagery and creativity
Box 77
Windholz, George:
ESP data
(3 folders)
Intercultural comparisons of expressive movements
Word association
Miscellaneous
1970-1971
undated
(2 folders)
Box 78
undated
(3 folders)
Tests
Unidentified data
(2 folders)
Miscellaneous Series
1952-1974 and undated
Colleagues' opinions about parapsychology,
1976
Coursework assignments,
1973-1977
Coursework exams,
1972-1979
Oversize Materials
Contains research files, including sheep/goat and topical research data
Oversize Cabinet
OC:IV:9:
Contains subject research file: Precognition Clairvoyance
