Rhine, Louisa E., 1891-1983

Scientist, Ph. D. from University of Chicago. Worked with her husband Joseph Banks Rhine in parapsychology field. Published several works on the topic.

From the description of Papers, 1890-1983. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 15672068

• 1891, Nov. 9: Born, Louisa Ella Weckesser, on an island in the Niagara River, New York State.
• 1919: Bachelor of Science in botany, University of Chicago.
• 1920: Married Joseph Banks Rhine.
• 1921: Master of Science in botany, University of Chicago.
• 1923: Earned Ph.D. in botany, University of Chicago.
• 1923 - 24 : Research fellow in plant physiology at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research in Yonkers, N.Y.
• 1924 - 26 : Taught Latin at West Virginia University, Morgantown.
• 1927: Moved to Durham, N.C.
• 1930 - 48 : Involved in raising her family and civic affairs.
• 1948: Began active research at the Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory.
• 1948 - 83 : Research resulted in the publication of 18 scientific reports in the Journal of Parapsychology and 6 books.
• 1961: Published Hidden Channels of the Mind.
• 1980: President of the British Society for Psychical Research.
• 1983, Mar. 17: Died, Durham, N.C.
• 1983: Something Hidden, detailing the history of J.B. Rhine's research, published posthumously.

• 1895, Sept. 29: Born, Waterloo, Juniata County, Pennsylvania.
• ca. 1915 - 1917 : Attended Ohio Northern University and the College of Wooster as a preministerial student.
• 1919: Discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps.
• 1920: Married Louisa Ella Weckesser.
• 1922: Bachelor of Science in botany, University of Chicago.
• 1923: Master of Science in botany, University of Chicago.
• 1923 - 24 : Research fellow in plant physiology at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Yonkers, New York.
• 1924 - 26 : Taught plant physiology, West Virginia University in Morgantown.
• 1925: Ph.D. in botany, University of Chicago.
• 1926 - 27 : Worked with Dr. Franklin Prince at the Boston Society for Psychical Research.
• 1927: Came to Duke University to work with Dr. William McDougall, who had just been named head of the Psychology Dept.
• 1928: Offered an instructorship in philosophy and psychology at Duke with understanding he could do psychical research as well.
• 1930: Under sponsorship of McDougall, founded Parapsychology Laboratory which at first was part of Duke Psychology Department.
• 1934: Published Extra-Sensory Perception.
• ca. 1935: Laboratory was set apart from the Dept. of Psychology, given some financial support and became known as the Parapsychology Laboratory of Duke University.
• 1937: Launched the Journal of Parapsychology.
• 1962: Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man was established under Rhine's guidance.
• 1965: Retired from Duke and the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory was transferred into the Institute of Parapsychology under the sponsorship of the Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man.
• 1980, Feb. 20: Died, Hillsborough, N.C.

From the guide to the Louisa E. Rhine Papers, 1890-1983, (Duke University. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library)