Introduction to the Harvard Psilocybin Project Course
Step into the transformative era of the early 1960s with “The Harvard Psilocybin Project, 1960 to 1963,” an immersive course designed to unravel one of the most groundbreaking and controversial studies in modern academic history. Led by Ed Reither of Beezone Library’s Learning Division, this course invites you to explore the cultural and scientific revolution sparked by pioneering researchers Timothy Leary, Frank Barron, and Richard Alpert (later known as Ram Dass) at Harvard University. In just three years, the Harvard Psilocybin Project would not only challenge the boundaries of psychology and spirituality but would also become emblematic of the larger cultural revolution that defined the 1960s.
The Harvard Psilocybin Project marked an unprecedented chapter in the university’s history as it explored the therapeutic and consciousness-expanding potential of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound derived from mushrooms. With close to 400 documented sessions, Leary and Alpert brought the hidden realms of human consciousness to the academic forefront, sparking curiosity and controversy alike. Artists, intellectuals, students, and professors engaged in these sessions, offering Harvard a unique opportunity to wrestle with what Leary and Alpert described as “the educational potentialities of consciousness-expanding drugs.”
As Alpert and Leary wrote in the Harvard Crimson in 1962, “It is fitting and natural that the Harvard intellectual community be the first to grapple with this new philosophic and practical issue and that the University of William James be given the first chance to accept or reject the educational potentialities of consciousness-expanding drugs.” However, this bold academic exploration soon drew intense scrutiny and alarm from within the institution, leading to the dismissal of both Leary and Alpert amid widespread media attention and controversy.
This course will investigate not only the rise and abrupt closure of the Psilocybin Project but also the larger tensions it stirred within academia and the far-reaching impact on the social, psychological, and legal landscapes of America. As participants dive into this period, they will uncover the historical and philosophical factors that influenced the project’s trajectory—factors that were deeply intertwined with a burgeoning cultural movement. “When Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945, it is said, the first living thing to emerge from the blasted landscape was a … mushroom,” reflects Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, capturing the resonance of psilocybin’s symbolic role as both a disruptor and an agent of renewal in human understanding.
More than sixty years later, the legacy of the Harvard Psilocybin Project resonates anew as institutions such as Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Law School return to psychedelic research with renewed interest and rigor. Through a multidisciplinary lens, students will explore how psychedelics intersect with fields as diverse as mental health, legal policy, and religious studies. The Harvard Divinity School’s Center for the Study of World Religion has also become an essential part of this dialogue, exploring how psychedelics reshape our conceptions of spirituality and consciousness.
Reawakening of Psychedelic Research
In recent years, educational, medical, and scientific communities have revisited psychedelics, driven by promising new studies on their potential benefits for mental health, therapy, and spirituality. By examining the Harvard Psilocybin Project’s early findings, participants in this course will gain insight into how foundational this period was for today’s research advancements. From clinical trials addressing PTSD, depression, and addiction to philosophical inquiries into consciousness, this renewed focus on psychedelics highlights an evolving recognition of their role in healing and self-understanding.
The course will enrich this reawakening by providing historical context to the present resurgence in psychedelic research, encouraging participants to connect past explorations with current trends. Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, for instance, now run active research initiatives, investigating psilocybin’s efficacy as a treatment for various psychological conditions. Similarly, the Harvard Law School’s Psychedelics Law and Regulation Program explores the evolving legal frameworks around psychedelic substances, reflecting society’s shift toward therapeutic and integrative uses of psychedelics.
In a recent interview between Harvard-trained ethnobotanist Mark J. Plotkin and The Immortality Key author Brian C. Muraresku, both reflect on the long hiatus in psychedelic studies following Leary and Alpert’s departure from Harvard. Muraresku notes that Leary’s shadow still lingers in campus discussions today, acknowledging that while his influence was groundbreaking, the controversy surrounding his methods delayed psychedelic research for decades. “I don’t know why it’s taken 60 years,” Muraresku remarks, “but [people are now] reapproaching it with a real sober lens. And it’s been really interesting to witness.”
A Personal Invitation from Ed Reither
I am pleased to introduce, for your consideration, The Harvard Psilocybin Project, 1960-1963, an in-depth exploration of one of the most significant and controversial chapters in modern psychological research. I initially taught this course at the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement during the Fall of 2023, drawing upon a wealth of materials sourced from Harvard University’s prestigious collections, including the Harvard University Archives, Houghton Rare Book Library, Widener Library, the Botany Library, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard Yenching Library, and the New York Public Library Archives & Manuscripts.
The materials included in this course have been carefully curated to provide a comprehensive examination of the research conducted by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, under the auspices of Harvard’s Social Relations Department. Focusing on the groundbreaking psilocybin research conducted between 1960 and 1963 and the profound implications of these experiments for modern psychology, neuroscience, and the study of human consciousness, this course offers a rigorous and academically valuable exploration of the topic.
Through this course, participants are given a unique opportunity to trace the origins and historical trajectory of the Harvard Psilocybin Project, situating it within the broader scientific, cultural, and psychological debates of the time. By revisiting the transformational—and at times contentious—experiments conducted at Harvard, the course invites participants to discover the pioneering discoveries that today’s researchers are rediscovering through contemporary psychedelic studies and therapeutic applications.
Below, you will find a 48-page preview of the course content, providing a detailed look into its structure and key topics. I invite you to explore it at your convenience and am confident that this course will inspire a thoughtful, balanced exploration of psychedelics’ role in shaping modern psychological research. It offers valuable insights for future academic pursuits in this field.
Thank you for considering this course. Should you wish to discuss the material further or have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out using the contact information provided below.
Sincerely,
Ed Reither
Course Preview
The Harvard Psilocybin Project 1960-1963 Course Promo
Preview Session 1