A growing collection of archival materials housed in Fondren Library, The Archives of the Impossible is a joint project of the Woodson Research Center and the Department of Religion at Rice University. The goal of this archive is to preserve and make available for research significant document collections related to the study of paranormal experiences.
These are collections are open to the public for research. Many are stored offsite and therefore appointments are necessary.
Please contact the archives staff at woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586 for more information.
Search the collection guides by clicking the links below, or by searching all the Woodson Research Center's archival collection guides at http://archives.library.rice.edu.
Related research guides:
Archives of the Impossible oral histories available online with recordings and transcripts as a group.
Links to specific interviews:
The Larry W. Bryant UFO research collection contains personal papers such as correspondence, photographs, and articles written by Larry Bryant, as well as papers from his participation in UFO organizations like MUFON and CAUS, including board meeting minutes, budget notes, and quarterly reports. A large section of the collection is devoted to Bryant’s research into ufology using court cases against the government and Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain files kept from the public, as well as extensive news clippings, website printouts, articles, magazines, journals, and newsletters.
Paola Leopizzi Harris Ufology research collection (4 boxes, plus books, processing to begin Summer 2023)
Clifford Stone Ufology research papers (processing to begin Summer 2023)
Wendelle Stevens Ufology research papers (9 boxes, processing to begin Summer 2023
Letters written to Stevens regarding UFOs, and including recordings, notes, reports, and publications. These materials had been owned previously by the organization "Open Minds."
Dennis Stillings Ufology research papers (digital collection, processing to begin Summer 2023)
Karen Everett source materials for documentary "AMERICAN VISIONARY: THE STORY OF BARBARA MARX HUBBARD"
(Per donor requirement, will be open for research Jan. 1, 2025)
Born digital video-based materials
John E. Mack archives (physical processing to begin Summer / Fall 2023)
Large primarily print collection of circa 200 boxes, with a companion archive located at Harvard University (also unprocessed as of Summer 2023). More descriptive information to come as processing begins. This collection is being digitized, and access will be explored as part of a rigorous Internal Review Board process due to the extensive amounts of sensitive and private data in the archives.