AFU Newsletter - No 52 - 2008

Magazine Overview

Title: AFU NEWSLETTER
Issue: 52
Date: October 2008
Publisher: Archives for UFO Research Foundation (AFU), Sweden
ISSN: 0283-6378

This issue of the AFU Newsletter focuses on the significant acquisition of the Bill Caulfield UFO collection and provides updates on AFU's operational status, new projects, and recent events in the UFO research community.

The Bill Caulfield UFO Collection

The AFU proudly announces its first major acquisition of an American UFO-related collection, belonging to the late Bill Caulfield. The collection was contacted through Mrs. Cherie Lowe, Bill Caulfield's daughter, who wished to sell her father's extensive research materials intact. Bill Caulfield was an avid UFO investigator for over 45 years, amassing a large collection of books, magazines, journals, tapes, interviews, and photographs. He was involved in significant UFO cases and knew many prominent figures in the field. The acquisition was made possible through a collective fundraising effort organized by Clas Svahn of UFO-Sweden, with contributions from Scandinavia and the UK, demonstrating a broad willingness to support AFU's preservation goals. The collection was shipped from Missouri, USA, via Halifax, Canada, on the Atlantic Conveyor, arriving in Gothenburg, Sweden, on September 28th. AFU is currently dealing with customs fees and taxes, deeming them unreasonable for a historical collection. The materials will be transported to Stockholm for sorting and cataloguing by Clas Svahn.

Cherie Lowe provided a personal portrait of her father, William "Bill" Caulfield (December 19, 1925 – January 17, 2007). He was an airline executive and businessman who became interested in UFOs after hearing a story about alien bodies from Roswell from a woman whose father was an Air Force general. His interest was further fueled by George Adamski's books. He was involved with UFO organizations in Los Angeles and attended events with Adamski. He met John Otto in Chicago in 1961 and became friends. Bill Caulfield was passionate about discovering the truth about flying saucers and researched extensively, knowing many UFO pioneers like George Adamski, Dr. Frank Stranges, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Jacques Vallée, and John Keel. Cherie recalled childhood experiences of visiting people with sightings and reading FATE Magazine. Bill Caulfield's last major investigation was the Donna Butts/Scott Corder story, and he consulted on a Japanese documentary. He also researched the Guido Franch case. After retiring, he lectured on UFOs, wrote articles, a booklet, and a book, and produced an audio tape on end times and ufology, feeling an urgency to share his knowledge.

Back in business!

AFU announces its return to full operation after a three-year period (2006-2008) of extensive renovations and relocation of its physical premises and archives. This involved moving approximately 700 shelf meters of archives and library collections. The facilities have been updated with new paint, floors, plumbing, and steel doors, reducing risks of flooding and fire. AFU is now better positioned to focus on its core mission: archiving, preserving, and making old data accessible. The main work facilities are located within 200 meters of each other. AFU is contemplating renting out its oldest archive facility, which might become home to a non-UFO Swedish library under future AFU management.

AFU Archive and Library Updates

AFU has secured funding (82,000 SEK) from the Swedish National Archives for compact-type shelves, installed in December 2006, which have been crucial for managing the collection during the move. Support was received from Swedish folklorists Ebbe Schön and Bengt af Klintberg, Sandra Lindström, and David Clarke. The compact-shelf archive can hold over 500 meters of materials.

Approximately 25,000 magazine issues from around the world occupy about half of the new shelves. Original "master" copies are on the upper shelves, with surplus back issues on the lower shelves. A database of these serial issues is available as a PDF, with plans to renew the downloadable catalogue annually.

The AFU library has been renovated into fresh working facilities with six work tables, a new kitchen area, and a new toilet. The space is now brighter and more secure. Håkan Blomqvist has decorated the walls with posters and memorabilia.

The previous cable-connected phone has been replaced by a mobile phone, with the new number being +46 703 68 32 21. The old line will soon be terminated.

The previous working facility has been transformed into a new book and media library with 60 book shelves, covering 75 square meters and secured by two steel doors.

Work is ongoing to organize the book and document collection using the Ufocode classification system. A new computer has been purchased for the Access database, facilitating book searches and shelf code assignments. AFU aims to develop a media library beyond just printed books. Future plans include a photo tour series, a new documentary for potential donors, and a new information leaflet on access policies.

New AFU Librarian

Anders Liljegren introduces Ingrid Collberg as the new AFU librarian, starting in late October. Ingrid is a professional librarian who previously headed cataloguing at the Norrkoping community library. She contacted Håkan Blomqvist, a co-founder of AFU, seeking a useful way to spend her retirement. Ingrid's expertise in cataloguing will be invaluable, and she will take over the cataloguing of incoming books from Anders Liljegren. The team now includes Sven-Olov Svensson, Sandra Aronsson, Anki Mårdh, Håkan Blomqvist, and Anders Liljegren, with Monica Perralta and Patrik Loreman as work trainees.

The Jan Ove Sundberg Collection

Swedish journalist Jan Ove Sundberg has sold most of his UFO-related collections to AFU, funded by Anders Liljegren and the AFU acquisition fund. Sundberg, an early field researcher for UFO-Sweden in the 1970s, edited UFO and fortean magazines and wrote books like "Fantomubåtarna" and "Storsjöodjuret, Nessie, Seljordsormen och andra sjömonster." He founded GUST (Global Underwater Search Team) in 1995, which has conducted searches for lake monsters. AFU previously acquired his UFO-related audio cassette interviews and materials for a projected book on Swedish abductions. The latest acquisition in August included Sundberg's writings for UFO and fortean magazines, correspondence files (including with John A. Keel), and clippings related to the submarine project. Sundberg has been battling cancer since 2001 but maintains a high driving force. He was reportedly told by an Indian astrologer that he would reach the age of 83.

Book Reviews:

Extraordinary encounters by Jerome Clark

Anders Liljegren reviews Jerome Clark's "Extraordinary encounters," an encyclopedia of extraterrestrials and otherworldly beings. He describes Clark as an intellectual authority in ufology with a broad and credible research approach, comparable to J. Gordon Melton. The book contains almost 300 search terms and covers various aspects of UFO folklore, including abductions, contactees, and channeled messages. Liljegren notes that Clark's knowledge is primarily focused on the Anglo-American world. He expresses admiration for Clark's ability to sift through channeled messages, which he finds boring, but acknowledges their preservation value for AFU. The review suggests that Clark's summaries provide valuable insights into complex UFO-related ideas and philosophies.

Need to know: UFOs, military and intelligence by Timothy Good

Håkan Blomqvist reviews Timothy Good's "Need to know," a chronology of how military and intelligence communities have handled UFO phenomena. He notes that Good's earlier book, "Above top secret," established him as a prominent figure in ufology. Blomqvist praises Good's documentation of classic UFO reports and close encounters, including an Australian airforce pilot's sighting in 1942. The book covers topics like ghost rockets, Roswell, aircrashes, underwater UFOs (USOs), and alleged secret military operations involving crashed saucers. Good believes we are visited by extraterrestrial civilizations and that they have been on Earth for a long time, citing a source claiming secret alien bases. Blomqvist's main criticism is Good's occasional naivety regarding witness trustworthiness and the lack of psychological or sociological explanations. He finds it peculiar that Good, while documenting cover-ups, believes governments should not reveal all they know about alien visitors, citing the risk of social chaos.

Landing cases from Italy

This section discusses the book "When saucers came to Earth" by Maurizio Verga, which catalogues Italian UFO landings from 1912-1954, focusing on the "Golden Age" of the 1950s. Verga, involved in ufology and the Italian fashion industry, previously edited the "Computer UFO Newsletter." The book contains 61 cases from the 1954 wave and is a specialized catalogue with limited market appeal. The review notes that about half the book is a chronological compilation of Italian landings, with cases classified and rated conservatively, often deemed "insufficient information" or "unreliable." Six cases are listed as hoaxes, including staged photos and an enacted event by a local theatre group. The Rosa Lotti humanoid case from November 1, 1954, is detailed. The review suggests that many early humanoid cases from Southern Europe have Catholic-Christian interpretations. It highlights that many UFO cases surface or are investigated decades after the event, allowing for potential re-interpretation or "phenomenologization" by witnesses. The section also mentions the early generation of Italian ufologists in the 1970s who investigated old cases, sometimes finding it too late to ascertain objective truth.

The PREP project

Barry Greenwood has initiated the Periodical Restoration Project (PREP) with collaborators Mary Castner, Jim Klotz, and Rod Dyke. The project aims to scan and digitize rare, out-of-print UFO magazines and newsletters, primarily from the 1950s, making them available to researchers. The project operates without a budget, relying on donated time, and has no strict schedule for posting. AFU has committed to scanning early publications for the project. A donated copier/scanner failed upon production, prompting a search for alternative solutions.

Collections from two Magnussons

The newsletter reports the passing of two Swedish ufologists: Sven Magnusson, who edited the paranormal and religious publication "Sökaren" for 45 years, and Barbro Magnuson, a respected investigator known for her work in the Hessdalen valley. AFU has acquired Sven's collection of publications and correspondence, saving them from being burned as per his testament. Barbro's extensive UFO archive, including interviews and investigator notes, has also been taken over by AFU. Information on Barbro's materials can be found at www.afu.info/recdons08.htm.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The AFU Newsletter consistently emphasizes the importance of archiving and preserving UFO-related materials for future research. The editorial stance is one of dedicated, methodical research, aiming to build a comprehensive international UFO library. There is a clear commitment to making information accessible while maintaining a critical yet open-minded approach to the subject matter. The newsletter also highlights the collaborative nature of UFO research, with contributions and support coming from various international individuals and organizations. The return to core operations after renovations signifies a renewed commitment to these goals. The newsletter also touches upon the historical context of UFO research, acknowledging the pioneers and the evolution of the field, while also addressing the challenges of verification and the potential for misinterpretation or hoaxes.