Researchers specializing Anomalous Phenomena Research
Below is a list of researchers whose focus is on anomalous phenomena. So that these names don’t get lost amongst the noise, I have listed them separately from UFO researchers and cryptoterrestrial and cryptozoology researchers.
William R. Corliss
William R. Corliss (1926-2011) was a professional physicist and technical/scientific author who wrote many books for NASA, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the National Science Foundation. Interestingly, he also wrote prolifically on the subject of anomalous phenomena. According to Wikipedia, Arthur C. Clarke referred to Corliss as “Fort’s latter-day – and much more scientific – successor.” Corliss authored many books in the genre, the collection of which was termed the Sourcebook Project. One that I have come across is Handbook of Unusual Natural Phenomena (1977). A good entry on William Corliss can be found on Robert Barrow’s blog, and one that made me laugh to read is on Scott Locklin’s blog.
Charles Fort
Charles Fort (1874-1932) is the American author known for popularizing the cataloging and pondering of anomalous phenomena, thereby ushering such subject matter into the public’s consciousness. His surname has even become a term to describe anomalous phenomena or its study , with “Forteana” and “Fortean” now part of the modern English language. Perhaps his most well-known book is The Book of the Damned (1919). This is the book in which he theorizes that mankind is someone’s property: “…I think we’re property. I should say we belong to something: That once upon a time this earth was No-man’s Land, that other worlds explored and colonized here, and fought among themselves for possession, but that now it’s owned by something: That something owns this earth — all others warned off…”