Various (Alpert, Richard; Leary, Timothy et al.)

The LSD Conference (June 13-18, 1966)

Berkeley, CA: University of California, 1966. First Edition. Single Sheet Folded into Pamphlet. "The controversy over LSD and related drugs such as mescaline (peyote) and psilocybin has been heated and widespread; but the issues and the facts are seldom made clear. The purpose of The LSD Conference is to clarify the factual background of the controversy, and to present major research findings on various aspects of the use of these drugs. The aspects to be discussed include the psychological, social, anthropological, philosophical, pharmacological, legal, religious, scientific, artistic and therapeutic. LSD and related drugs, sometimes called psychedelic or hallucinogenic, are not generally considered to be physiologically habit-forming. Whether they are psychologically habit-forming is more open to question. Estimates of the number of persons who have taken them in this country (USA) range from 100,000 to over a million. Intellectuals and persons in the professions are thought to constitute a majority of those who have used the psychedelic drugs. Other users include persons who are interested primarily in religious experiences. Still another group is said to be young people who use the drugs in order to experience an unusual state of consciousness." (from first panel of text) An original mailer-pamphlet published by the Lifelong Learning University Extension program of the University of California at Berkeley, announcing & offering applications for enrollment in "The LSD Conference" held during June 13-18, 1966 at the UC Berkeley campus. First-listed among the "Advisory Committee" is "Richard Alpert, Ph.D., Consultant in Educational Research, Solco, Menlo Park, / California." Alpert (1931-2019) later became Baba Ram Dass & was associated with the legendary Timothy Leary (1920-1995) in the study of psychedelics at Harvard University since several years earlier. Alpert also participated in the Conference on its second day with his presentation "LSD and the Art of Conscious Living," as noted on the schedule, & is the first subject of the "Speakers" biographical section. Leary himself is noted as a participant with his lecture "The Molecular Revolution" delivered during the fourth day of the Conference & is a subject of the "Speakers" biographical section. Single oblong mailer-sheet folded vertically into four panels/ eight pages to form a pamphlet. From the collection of Richard Eichele (b. 1941), a noted Mimeograph Revolutionary poet who co-founded the Detroit Artists' Workshop with John Sinclair, not long before the time of this Conference. A fascinating & extremely rare relic of the "academic" side of psychedelic exploration from the year in which LSD & other hallucinogenics were illegalized even as they were beginning to burst into the American counterculture that would reach its apex the following year. In relatively quite fine condition with light rubbing, faint creasing across lengths of panels; very slight wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges, corners & folds; one small spot-stain (appropriately in the rough form of a question mark) from lower right edge of front (title) panel. Fine. [Item #6512]

Price: $100.00