In the first half of the 1950s, Henry Beecher of Harvard Medical School oversaw a series of experiments, sponsored by the U.S. Army Research Council, that were designed to test “truth sera” using various drugs, including LSD. The drugs were tested on volunteers, some of them Harvard students. Now Beecher professor of anesthesia James Rathmell is preparing an historical article on Beecher and his research. If you—or anyone you know—volunteered for Beecher’s experiments, Rathmell would like to hear from you: rathmell.james@mgh.harvard.edu. Confidentiality will be assured for those who wish it.
Research Query: LSD Testing in the 1950s
Research Query: LSD Testing in the 1950s
A researcher hopes to contact volunteer participants in “truth sera” experiments.
You might also like
250 Years Ago, Harvard Was Home to a Revolution
A look at the sights, sounds, and characters that put the University on the frontlines of history
The Woman Who Penned the Case for War
Mercy Otis Warren’s poetry and plays incited the Patriot movement.
The Harvard-Trained Doctor Who Urged a Revolution
Before his heroic death, General Joseph Warren was dubbed “the greatest incendiary in all of America.”
Most popular
Explore More From Current Issue
Harvard-trained lawyer fights for the rights of chickens
Alene Anello wants to apply animal cruelty laws to birds raised for meat.
AI Hunts For Stolen Harvard Coins
A museum curator and a computer scientist track down ancient coins taken in a legendary heist.