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The Psychedelic History Archive
About
Audio/video
Early modern (1500-1800)
1800-1950
1950s
1960s
Researchers
Users/Patients
Personal histories
Further reading
Search
About
Audio/video
Folder: Text
Back
Early modern (1500-1800)
1800-1950
1950s
1960s
Folder: Bios
Back
Researchers
Users/Patients
Personal histories
Further reading
Search
1893: Consciousness under the influence of cannabis indica
Academic articles, 1800s Ben Breen 3/27/24 Academic articles, 1800s Ben Breen 3/27/24

1893: Consciousness under the influence of cannabis indica

“The drug finally produced faint illusions, chiefly ceiling as decorated with colored designs, and finally sleep.”

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1857: The Hasheesh Eater
Printed books, 1800s Ben Breen 3/26/24 Printed books, 1800s Ben Breen 3/26/24

1857: The Hasheesh Eater

Excerpt from one of the earliest published book-length accounts of cannabis intoxication.

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1969: Timothy Leary testifies at the chicago seven trial
1960s, Testimony Ben Breen 3/22/24 1960s, Testimony Ben Breen 3/22/24

1969: Timothy Leary testifies at the chicago seven trial

Timothy Leary's testimony during the Chicago Seven trial highlighted his controversial stance on psychedelics as tools for consciousness expansion.

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Ben Breen 3/22/24 Ben Breen 3/22/24

1600 test

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1750: Padre Veigl encounters Ayahuasca
Academic articles, 1700s Ben Breen 3/21/24 Academic articles, 1700s Ben Breen 3/21/24

1750: Padre Veigl encounters Ayahuasca

An 18th-century Jesuit’s account of ayahuasca usage in the Amazon basin.

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1882: William James on Nitrous Oxide
Academic articles, 1800s Ben Breen 3/21/24 Academic articles, 1800s Ben Breen 3/21/24

1882: William James on Nitrous Oxide

The psychologist William James takes a high dose of nitrous oxide and thinks about Hegel. A fascinating and hilarious early foray into the “trip report” genre.

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1946: “Let there be Light”
Documentary film, 1940s Ben Breen 3/20/24 Documentary film, 1940s Ben Breen 3/20/24

1946: “Let there be Light”

John Huston’s 1946 film about recovery from wartime trauma, which was produced by the US government but never released. Portrays narcosynthesis, a precursor to psychedelic-assisted therapy,

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1957: “Psychoanalysis and LSD-25: Foundations for a combined therapeutic technique”
Academic articles, Argentina, 1950s Ben Breen 3/20/24 Academic articles, Argentina, 1950s Ben Breen 3/20/24

1957: “Psychoanalysis and LSD-25: Foundations for a combined therapeutic technique”

Luisa de Álvarez de Toledo discusses the use of LSD in "combined therapy,” focusing on how LSD facilitates psychological insights.

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1966: Sidney Cohen’s UCLA Speech on Psychedelics
Audio recordings, 1960s Ben Breen 3/20/24 Audio recordings, 1960s Ben Breen 3/20/24

1966: Sidney Cohen’s UCLA Speech on Psychedelics

Cohen’s 1966 UCLA speech on LSD in which he calls for “using the anthropological approach of insinuating a valuable drug of this sort into our culture.”

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1965: Recording of the dolphin Peter after being given LSD
1960s, Audio recordings Ben Breen 3/19/24 1960s, Audio recordings Ben Breen 3/19/24

1965: Recording of the dolphin Peter after being given LSD

A recording of John C. Lilly's research on dolphins. Features sounds of Peter the dolphin after being given LSD.

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1963: “In a drug-filled chalice, total love”
Newspaper articles, 1960s Ben Breen 3/12/24 Newspaper articles, 1960s Ben Breen 3/12/24

1963: “In a drug-filled chalice, total love”

Article in the January 3, 1963 issue of the News Call Bulletin about a Menlo Park woman’s positive experience with LSD-assisted psychotherapy.

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1965: Sidney Cohen’s UCLA Speech on ESP
Audio recordings, 1960s Ben Breen 3/7/24 Audio recordings, 1960s Ben Breen 3/7/24

1965: Sidney Cohen’s UCLA Speech on ESP

Sidney Cohen’s 1965 UCLA speech on ESP and psychedelics.

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1962: “Dolphin’s Voice May Be Key to Communications”
1960s, Newspaper articles Ben Breen 3/11/19 1960s, Newspaper articles Ben Breen 3/11/19

1962: “Dolphin’s Voice May Be Key to Communications”

Newspaper article from 1962 describing John C. Lilly’s research at the Communications Research Institute, where Lilly would later dose his dolphins with LSD.

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