Oxford Phasmatological Society

The Oxford Phasmatological Society was an organisation from Oxford that investigated paranormal phenomena. It lasted from 1879-1885.Oppenheim, Janet. (2002).The Other World: Spiritualism and Psychical Research in England, 1850-1914. Cambridge University Press. p. 123. It is considered to have been the first psychical research society.Haileybury Register, 1862-1887. Edited by L. S. Milford, M. A. Hertford: Stephen Austin and Sons, 1887. p. 58

It was founded by Edward Ridley and F. C. S. Schiller, with Charles Oman, who served as one of its four presidents.Samuel, Lawrence R. (2011). Supernatural America: A Cultural History. Praeger. p. 27. Schlossberg, Herbert. (2009). Conflict and Crisis in the Religious Life of Late Victorian England. Transaction Publishers. p. 271. Arthur Headlam also served as president. Similarly to the Society for Psychical Research formed in 1882, it collected and investigated reports of ghosts, hauntings, and psychic phenomena.Hearnshaw, Leslie Spencer. (1964). A Short History of British Psychology: 1840-1940. Barnes & Noble. p. 158

Meetings were held in the rooms of Schiller at Balliol College.Anonymous. (1885). The Phasmatological Society. The Oxford Magazine. p. 258

Publications Selections from the Papers of the Phasmatological Society (1882)

References

Further reading Charles Oman. (1946). The Old Oxford Phasmatological Society. Journal of Society for Psychical Research 33: 208-216.