International Society of Cryptozoology

The International Society of Cryptozoology (ISC) was a former professional organization founded in 1982 in Washington, D.C. It ceased to exist in 1998.

It was founded to serve as a scholarly center for documenting and evaluating evidence of unverified animals; that is, animal species or forms which have been reported in some manner but which have not been scientifically proven to exist.[1][2] The study of such animals is known as cryptozoology, and Cryptozoology was also the title of its journal.[1] The President was Bernard Heuvelmans, and the Vice-President Roy Mackal. The Secretary was J. Richard Greenwell (died 2005), of the University of Arizona.[2][3] Loren Coleman, John Willison Green, and several other prominent cryptozoologists were either Life Members, Honorary Members, or Board Members.

The official emblem of the society was the Okapi, which was chosen because, although it was well known to the inhabitants of its region, it was unknown to the European scientific community until the English explorer Harry Johnston[4] sent to London an Okapi skin which received international attention in 1901.[5]

The journal Cryptozoology was published from 1982 to 1996.[6] The Society also published a newsletter ISC News.[7]

The ISC ended its activities in 1998 due to financial problems,[7] though a website continued until 2005.[8]

According to the journal Cryptozoology, the ISC served "as a focal point for the investigation, analysis, publication, and discussion of all matters related to animals of unexpected form or size, or unexpected occurrence in time or space."[2]

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 G. G. Simpson (1984) Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 128, No. 1 (Mar. 30, 1984), pp 1-19 "Mammals and Cryptozoology"
  2. 1 2 3 Cryptozoology: Interdisciplinary Journal of the International Society of Cryptozoology Vol.12, 1993-1996. ISSN 0736-7023.
  3. ↑ BioScience, Vol. 31, No. 11 (Dec., 1981), page 804 "Cryptozoology Group Forming"
  4. ↑ Shaw, Albert, ed. (January–June 1918). "The African Okapi, A Beast Unknown to the Zoos". The American Review of Reviews. 57: 544.
  5. ↑ Wilford, John Noble (January 19, 1982). "Society formed to bring them back alive". New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  6. ↑ British Library Catalogue
  7. 1 2 Institut Virtuel de Cryptologie Associations et publications de cryptozoologie
  8. ↑ The site name internationalsocietyofcryptozoology.org is registered to the International Society of Cryptozoology in Tucson, Arizona, with administrative contact listed as Richard Greenwell. Domain name was created on "19-Mar-2004", with expiration date of "19-Mar-2007". See Internet Archive link. Only two entries in the archive are relevant: the first entry on July 30, 2004 and the September 29, 2004 update entry. All other entries are duplicates or consist of the placeholder page. The last entry containing society content is listed as November 30, 2005, with the placeholder page appearing as the next entry, dated December 10, 2005.
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