Fortean Society

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Fortean Society

Founded by author Tiffany Thayer to honor Charles Fort, chronicler of the unexplained, promote the study of his books, preserve his notes and papers, and continue the work of collecting "Fortean data." Founded January 26, 1931, the society was the forerunner of organizations studing unidentified flying objects and other bizarre phenomena. The first issue of the Fortean Society Magazine appeared in September 1937. With the eleventh issue (Winter 1944-45) the title was changed to Doubt, emphasizing Fort's characteristic preoccupation with healthy skepticism toward dogma. Thayer died in 1959 and the society languished. Doubt owed much to Thayer's indefatigable enthusiasm, and issue no. 61 was the last.

Although the society was never officially dissolved, its work was superseded by INFO, the International Fortean Organization, headed by Paul and Ron Willis, which publishes INFO Journal (P.O. Box 367, Arlington, VA 22210-0367). A related journal of Fortean curiosities is the Fortean Times (originally The News ), published by Robert J. M. Rickard and Paul Siev-king. A one-act play, The Great Caper, dealing with Fortean mysteries, was written by Ken Campbell and produced at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in October 1974.

Sources:

Fort, Charles. The Complete Books of Charles Fort. New York: Henry Holt, 1941. Reprint, New York: Dover, 1974.