Hereward Carrington
Encyclopedia
Hereward Carrington, Ph.D. (born Hubert Lavington) (17 October 1880 – 26 December 1958) was a well-known British investigator of psychic phenomena and author. His subjects included several of the most high-profile cases of apparent psychic ability of his times, and he wrote over 100 books on subjects including the paranormal
and psychical research, conjuring and stage magic, and alternative health issues.
in 1880. He emigrated to the USA in 1899 and settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked initially as a journalist. Initially a sceptic about psychic abilities, his interest grew from reading books on the subject and at the age of 19 he joined the American branch of the Society for Psychical Research
(S.P.R.). In 1905 he joined the staff of the American Society for Psychical Research, now constituted as an independent body, and worked as assistant to the director James Hyslop
until 1908.
An important early case Carrington investigated and described was that of the medium Eusapia Palladino in 1908. Carrington and two companions went to Naples
to see her on behalf of the English S.P.R., an experience which strengthened his belief in the reality of psychic phenomena. He described her in his 1909 book Eusapia Palladino and Her Phenomena, invited her to the USA and helped arrange a tour for her, but was shaken when fraud was twice detected at sittings during her visit. He also made a detailed enquiry into the case of Esther Cox (the Great Amherst Mystery
) in 1910. The events surrounding Cox had occurred more than thirty years previously, but Carrington contacted surviving witnesses for statements and published a detailed account of the Amherst phenomena.
Among Carrington's best known subjects was Mina "Margery" Crandon
whom he observed in 1924 on behalf of the Scientific American
as part of an enquiry into Spiritualism
, sitting on a committee alongside Harry Houdini
, Malcolm Bird, William McDougall
, Walter Franklin Prince
and Daniel Frost Comstock
. The committee had differing opinions on Crandon, and eventually only Carrington inclined to the belief that her powers were genuine, although subsequent evidence of possible fraud again led him to express doubts about her, writing that he maintained a "perfectly open mind" about such phenomena pending the arrival of better evidence one way or the other.
Carrington gained his Ph.D.
in 1918 from William Penn College, Iowa
. In 1921 Carrington founded the American Psychical Institute. It operated for only two years, but he later reconstituted it in 1933 in New York
with the assistance of his wife Marie Carrington, Among other researches he made a detailed study of the medium Eileen J. Garrett
. Carrington's 1957 book The Case for Psychic Survival is devoted to Garrett, and he appears to have found in her convincing evidence for, as he put it, "the existence of mental entities independent of the control of the medium".
Carrington kept extensive records of his research and investigations, and corresponded with notable figures of the day including Israel Regardie
, Nandor Fodor
and Aleister Crowley
. A large collection of his writings and correspondence is held by Heidieh Croce the heir to Marie Carrington's Estate. As well as the Princeton University
library.
He can be heard as a contestant on the 7th October 1953 radio edition of You Bet Your Life
.
Carrington's novel The Mysteries of Myra was made into a 15-episode silent movie series in 1916.
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
and psychical research, conjuring and stage magic, and alternative health issues.
Life and career
Carrington was born in St Helier, JerseyJersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
in 1880. He emigrated to the USA in 1899 and settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked initially as a journalist. Initially a sceptic about psychic abilities, his interest grew from reading books on the subject and at the age of 19 he joined the American branch of the Society for Psychical Research
Society for Psychical Research
The Society for Psychical Research is a non-profit organisation in the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is to understand "events and abilities commonly described as psychic or paranormal by promoting and supporting important research in this area" and to "examine allegedly paranormal phenomena...
(S.P.R.). In 1905 he joined the staff of the American Society for Psychical Research, now constituted as an independent body, and worked as assistant to the director James Hyslop
James Hyslop
James Hyslop , was a Scottish poet.Hyslop was early put out to farm-work, but managed to teach himself English, Latin, French, mathematics, and algebra...
until 1908.
An important early case Carrington investigated and described was that of the medium Eusapia Palladino in 1908. Carrington and two companions went to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
to see her on behalf of the English S.P.R., an experience which strengthened his belief in the reality of psychic phenomena. He described her in his 1909 book Eusapia Palladino and Her Phenomena, invited her to the USA and helped arrange a tour for her, but was shaken when fraud was twice detected at sittings during her visit. He also made a detailed enquiry into the case of Esther Cox (the Great Amherst Mystery
Great Amherst Mystery
The Great Amherst Mystery was a notorious case of reported poltergeist activity in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada between 1878 and 1879. It was the subject of an investigation by Walter Hubbell, an actor with an interest in psychic phenomena, who kept what he claimed was a diary of events in the...
) in 1910. The events surrounding Cox had occurred more than thirty years previously, but Carrington contacted surviving witnesses for statements and published a detailed account of the Amherst phenomena.
Among Carrington's best known subjects was Mina "Margery" Crandon
Mina Crandon
Mina "Margery" Crandon was the wife of a wealthy Boston surgeon and socialite, Dr. Le Roi Goddard Crandon. She became well known as a medium who claimed that she channeled her dead brother, Walter Stinson.-Biography:...
whom he observed in 1924 on behalf of the Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
as part of an enquiry into Spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
, sitting on a committee alongside Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
, Malcolm Bird, William McDougall
William McDougall
William McDougall may refer to:*William McDougall , Canadian lawyer and politician from Ontario*William McDougall , Canadian shipbuilder and politician from Nova Scotia...
, Walter Franklin Prince
Walter Franklin Prince
Walter Franklin Prince was Investigating Officer of the Boston Society for Psychical Research in Boston during the years Harry Houdini served as an agent of the organization while investigating reportedly corrupt spiritualist mediums. Prince was an Episcopal minister, earning his two B.D.'s from...
and Daniel Frost Comstock
Daniel Frost Comstock
Daniel Frost Comstock was an American physicist and engineer....
. The committee had differing opinions on Crandon, and eventually only Carrington inclined to the belief that her powers were genuine, although subsequent evidence of possible fraud again led him to express doubts about her, writing that he maintained a "perfectly open mind" about such phenomena pending the arrival of better evidence one way or the other.
Carrington gained his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1918 from William Penn College, Iowa
William Penn University
William Penn University is a private, liberal arts university in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. It was founded by members of the Religious Society of Friends in 1873 as Penn College...
. In 1921 Carrington founded the American Psychical Institute. It operated for only two years, but he later reconstituted it in 1933 in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with the assistance of his wife Marie Carrington, Among other researches he made a detailed study of the medium Eileen J. Garrett
Eileen J. Garrett
Eileen J. Garrett was an Irish medium, founder of the Parapsychology Foundation in New York City, and a leading figure in the scientific study of paranormal phenomena during the mid-20th century.-Ireland:...
. Carrington's 1957 book The Case for Psychic Survival is devoted to Garrett, and he appears to have found in her convincing evidence for, as he put it, "the existence of mental entities independent of the control of the medium".
Carrington kept extensive records of his research and investigations, and corresponded with notable figures of the day including Israel Regardie
Israel Regardie
Israel Regardie, born Francis Israel Regudy was an occultist and writer, author of books on the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.-Early life:...
, Nandor Fodor
Nandor Fodor
Nandor Fodor was a British and American parapsychologist, psychologist, author and journalist of Hungarian birth, one of the leading authorities on poltergeists, haunting and all kinds of paranormal phenomena usually associated with mediumship...
and Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
. A large collection of his writings and correspondence is held by Heidieh Croce the heir to Marie Carrington's Estate. As well as the Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
library.
He can be heard as a contestant on the 7th October 1953 radio edition of You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life is an American quiz show that aired on both radio and television. The original and best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show debuted on ABC Radio in October 1947, then moved to CBS Radio in September...
.
Published work
Carrington published more than 100 books and pamphlets; the following is a selection of some of his major works (in date order):- The Physical Phenomena of Spiritualism (Boston : H. B. Turner & co., 1907)
- The Coming Science (Boston : Small, Maynard, 1908)
- Vitality, Fasting, and Nutrition (New York, Rebman company, 1908)
- Eusapia Palladino and her Phenomena (New York : B.W. Dodge & Co., 1909)
- Death Deferred
- Death, its Causes and Phenomena (1911)
- Hindu Magic (Kansas City, Mo.: The Sphinx, 1913)
- Personal experiences in spiritualism (including the official account and record of the American Palladino séances) (London, T. W. Laurie, ltd, 1913).
- The Problems of Psychical Research (New York, Dodd, Mead, 1914)
- True Ghost Stories (New York: J. S. Ogilvie Pub. Co., 1915)
- Zenobia; (a dream of ancient Egypt). A psychic drama in seven scenes (1916).
- Personal Experiences in Spiritualism (1918)
- Psychical Phenomena and the War (New York : Dodd, Mead, 1918)
- Modern Psychical Phenomena (London, Paul, 1919)
- Higher Psychical Development (New York : Dodd, Mead, 1920)
- Your Psychic Powers, and How to Develop Them (1920)
- Death: the Causes and Phenomena, with Special Reference to Immortality (1921)
- Life: It's Origin and Nature (1923)
- Spiritualism (with James Joseph WalshJames Joseph WalshJames Joseph Walsh, M.D., LL.D., Litt.D., Sc.D. was an American physician and author, born in New York City. He graduated from Fordham College in 1884 and from the University of Pennsylvania in 1895...
) (1925) - The Projection of the Astral Body (with Sylvan MuldoonSylvan MuldoonSylvan Muldoon was an American writer on the subject of Astral projection, a paranormal or occult term which usually refers to a consciously induced out-of-body experience or OBE....
) (1929) - The Story of Psychic Science (1930)
- Fasting For Health and Long Life (1953)
- Hints on Fasting Well
- Houdini and Conan Doyle (with Bernard M. L. Ernst) (1932)
- A Primer in Psychical Research (1933)
- The Hygienic Way Of Life (1956)
- The Fruitarian Diet, Kila, Mont.: Kessinger Pub., 1963, 2005
- Save Your Life By Fasting (1969)
- The History of Natural Hygiene
- The Natural Food Of Man Whitefish, Mont.: Kessinger Pub
Carrington's novel The Mysteries of Myra was made into a 15-episode silent movie series in 1916.