Melton, J. Gordon

The Chicagoland Psychic Archives was a project started in the fall of 1975 at Dr. J. Gordon Melton's Institute for the Study of American Religion. The city of Chicago, Illinois was home to a large community engaged in the study and practice of paranormal phenomena, including psychics, astrologers, readers, mediums, graphologists, ghosthunters and devotees of the occult, nonconventional healing, UFOs, and parapsychology. Assisted by psychic card reader David Techter, astrologer Elinor Jaksto, and others, Dr. Melton sought to compile whatever material was available to document this distinct subculture. Although the "Chicagoland" psychic community reached as far as Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Gary, Indiana, the archive is limited primarily to individuals and organizations operating within Cook County, Illinois, and directly adjacent counties.

This collection contains files used by J. Gordon Melton while compiling his book,"Reigious Leaders of America: A Biographical Guide to Founders and Leaders of Religious Bodies, Churches, and Spiritual Groups in North America", first published in 1991.