Collections

Take a look at our amazing collections

For the past ten years, the Dutch foundation Stichting Het Johan Borgman Fonds (HJBF) is actively involved in the preservation of the heritage of 20th-century Dutch academic Parapsychology and Spiritualism.

HJBF has gathered and processed a large collection of historical documents, books, journals and artefacts. Despite the historical relevance of all these materials, they were often mistreated, neglected and not conserved in the manner they deserved.

Given the relevance for future historians regarding these collections, the HJBF aims to preserve and promote these collections to sustain Borgman’s legacy. After processing and indexing these materials, they are typically handed over to public archival institutions (universities) and libraries both in the Netherlands and abroad.

Our donations to the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (National Library of the Netherlands) is one of the many examples that shows how our efforts contribute to the preservance of these collections. 500 new books and magazines on the subject of parapsychology were handed over between 2009 and 2014, rising to over a thousand in the present day. Our substantial contribution is also recognized in one this KB blog.

If you’d like to contribute in preserving the history of Dutch Spiritualism and academic Parapsychology, we’d gratefully welcome any relevant documents, journals, photographs, audiotapes and artefacts!

See below for examples of our (processed) collections. To explore some of our fascinating historical artefacts, some of which were used during spiritualistic seances, follow us on Instagram.

Publicly Accessible

Many already preserved collections are transferred by HJBF to the following archives and are publicly accessible.

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Jacoba C Calkoen

Jacoba C. Calkoen

Introduction

Jacoba Calkoen (1866-1944), well known medium and mediumistic painter at the ‘Association of Spiritists Harmonia’ chapter in Nijmegen.

Contents

Contains book manuscripts and handwritings, varying from written down preparations for readings to poems, letters, concepts of articles and storytelling about her life.

Location

Literatuurmuseum.

Information

www.literatuurmuseum.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Jan Valckenier Suringar

Jan Valckenier Suringar

Introduction

Dr. Jan Valckenier Suringar (1864-1932), biologist and professor at the University of Wageningen.

Contents

Contains handwritten notes that were made and utilities that were used during seances (1920-1924) held at his home with various mediums (mrs. Van Oort and mrs. Akkeringa).

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds.

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Karel HE de Jong

Karel H.E. de Jong

Introduction

Karel H.E. de Jong (1872-1960), philosopher and lecturer in Philosophy and Parapsychology at Leiden University.

Contents

Contains correspondence, documentation, various (newspaper)articles, publications, reviews, a description of an attended séance.

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds.

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

Other collections of de Jong can be found at the Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis (IISG) and the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB). For more information, see the websites below:

IISG: www.socialhistory.org

KB:   www.kb.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - George AM Zorab

George A.M. Zorab

Introduction

George A.M. Zorab(1898-1990), Dutch parapsychologist and author of many articles and books.

Contents

Contains correspondence, research notes and bibliographies, publications, reviews, manuscripts, inheritance documentation, a videotape and audio cassettes.

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds.

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

After Zorab died, his library and correspondence were divided into two different collections. The first collection is available at foundation HJBF and the second collection can be found at the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB). The last collection contains books and manuscripts, but also the original letters from international correspondence of Zorab. These letters can be found in the KB catalogue on their website.

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Gerard Croiset

Gerard Croiset

Introduction

Gerard Croiset (1909-1980), world famous psychic and natural healer.

Contents

Personal correspondence, manuscripts of his books, files on police cases, missing person cases, experimental research (chair tests) and healing cases, etc. The total archive consists of over 1500 folders.

Film footage: a large collection of original 16 MM film cans about Croiset and his experiments and healing practice are handed over to the Dutch institution ‘Beeld en Geluid’ in Hilversum.

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

Read about the Croiset Archive on the website of the PSI Encyclopedia (in English), or watch archive footage of Croiset healing a young boy and a dog. Dutch TV-Programme Andere Tijden has an episode dedicated to Gerard Croiset that is available to watch here.

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Nederlands Spiritueel Kerkgenootschap

Nederlands Spiritueel Kerkgenootschap

Introduction

Nederlands Spiritueel Kerkgenootschap (1945-1993), the Amsterdam congregation based on Christian and spiritual principles, founded by K.H.G. Spee.

Contents

Material concerning the organization and foundation, documentation of gatherings, services and activities, documentation of lessons and courses, poems, publications, pieces concerning the I.S.F. World Congress and added archives of the Belgian and Swiss chapter of NSK.

Location

Stadsarchief Amsterdam

Information

See here the index of the NSK collection on the website of Stadsarchief Amsterdam.

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Johan C van Busschbach

J.G. (Johan) van Busschbach

Introduction

J.G. van Busschbach (1896-1974), was a primary school inspector and he conducted research on telepathy among schoolchildren.

Contents

Documents about his personal life and correspondence and research papers about his research in Parapsychology with telepathy between primary schoolchildren and their teachers.

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Nederlandse Vereniging van Spiritualisten Harmonia

Nederlandse Vereniging van Spiritualisten Harmonia

Introduction

Nederlandse Vereniging van Spiritualisten Harmonia (1888-present), a federation founded on the conviction that life does not end after death and with interest in paranormal activities. 

Contents

Material concerning the ideas and convictions of the federation, material concerning the main board, commissions, mediums, magazines, activities, contacts, members and public relations of all the past and existing chapters of Harmonia, publications of the federation, drawings and pictures, documentation on related federations and students.

The archive represents the spiritualistic movement in the Netherlands of the 20th-century. The collection consists of over 5500 files.

Location

Het Utrechts Archief

Information

www.hetutrechtsarchief.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Stichting Spiritueel Centrum Nederland

Stichting Spiritueel Centrum Nederland (SSCN)

Introduction

Stichting Spiritueel Centrum Nederland (1983-present). A spiritual centre with the goal of gaining knowledge of spiritual and parapsychological phenomena.

Contents

Material concerning the organisation of SSCN and functioning of the board, correspondence around events of SSCN, transcriptions of readings and seances and audio cassettes.

 

Location

Het Gelders Archief

Information

www.geldersarchief.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Vakwerkgroep Parapsychologie

Vakwerkgroep Parapsychologie

Introduction

Vakwerkgroep Parapsychologie (1968-1971). A student study group on parapsychological phenomena.

Contents

Publications and articles of the study group, correspondence, meeting minutes, member lists, documentation on the denomination of a new full professor in parapsychology, audiotapes.

 

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Nederlandse Vereniging voor Parapsychologie

Nederlandse Vereniging voor Parapsychologie (NVP)

Introduction

Nederlandse Vereniging voor Parapsychologie (1964) 1974-2001, was a semi-professional association of parapsychologists and was a result of a schism within the Dutch Studievereniging voor ‘Psychical Research’(SPR). Initially the schism led to several study circles for parapsychological research, but by 1980 these circles united into the NVP.

Contents

Documentation on the organisation of the NVP, the different NVP chapters and members, a newspaper article about the foundation of the NVP, published magazines of the NVP, and materials concerning the Jan Kappers stichting and the J. Kleijne-Frankfort stichting.

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Studiecentrum Experimentele Parapsychologie photo 2

Studiecentrum Experimentele Parapsychologie (SCEPP)

Introduction

Studiecentrum Experimentele Parapsychologie (1969-1977), was a study group of students of the University of Amsterdam that were interested in parapsychological research.

Contents

Documentation of the organisation of SCEPP, experiments of SCEPP, articles and conference materials, published magazines.

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Ph B Ottervanger

Ph. B. Ottervanger

Introduction

 Ph. B. Ottervanger (1890-1963), was a procurator and a hardcore sceptic against claims of the paranormal. Ottervanger spent a substantial part of his time debunking these ideas, leaving him occupied with various polemical encounters throughout his life.

Contents

Correspondence, notes, newspaper articles, etc. about a broad range of Parapsychological topics. The archive is ordered alphabetical files, not yet specified.

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Studievereniging voor Psychical Research Nederland

Studievereniging voor ‘Psychical Research’ Nederland (SPR)

Introduction

Studievereniging voor ‘Psychical Research’ Nederland (1 april 1920- present), is a study association for the academic research on parapsychological phenomena.

Contents

Documentation on the organisation and history of the association, publications of articles and the magazine ‘Tijdschrift voor Parapsychologie’ (TVP), correspondence with related associations and documentation on the special chair of Parapsychology.

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - JMJ Kooy

J.M.J. Kooy

Introduction

J.M.J. Kooy (1902-1983), was a professor at the Technische Universiteit Delft  and the Koninklijke Militaire Academie (KMA) and a specialist on the area of ballistics.  His whole life he has been interested in Parapsychology and he was one of the first in the Netherlands who researched the paranormal aspects in predictive dreams (Dunne effects).

 

Contents

Contains the original correspondence on the Dunne-effects dream experiments.

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds

Information

Info@hjbf.nl

Het Johan Borgman Fonds - Collections - Henri van Praag

Henri van Praag

Introduction

Henri van Praag (1916-1988), was, among many other things, the founder of the International University of Lugano (IUL) and successor of W.H.C. Tenhaeff on the special chair of Parapsychology.

Contents

The archive consists of documents related to his interest in Parapsychology.

Location

Het Johan Borgman Fonds

Information

Info@hjbf.nl