Address of the ISSGA: Penthouse North, 29 Washington Square West, NYC, NY 10011-9180, USA, E-mail: The President
Above: Three photographs of the haunted Asolorata cemetery in Paola, Malta
The ISSGA has an interesting history dating back to the early 1980's when, on a visit to Chicago, the founder of the society, DR. JEANNE KEYES YOUNGSON, met professional ghost hunter, HOWARD HEIM. Upon learning of Youngson's interest in the spirit world, Heim invited her on a personally-conducted tour of Chicagoland's haunted areas, which included a side trip to Al Capone's gravesite. Heim took a photo of Youngson standing next to the gangster's tombstone but when the picture was developed, much to everyone's amazement, a misty apparition seemed to be hovering to Youngson's right. No reason has ever been found for the strange ghostlike specter that appeared on the film, nor did Heim see anything unusual when taking the photograph.
Youngson's fascination with ghosts increased while attending a conference at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, England. Having arrived at the college early, she was alone in the Old Court when, at about 2 A.M. she was awakened by a sharp rapping on the wall next to her bed. The following day university porters told her about the college resident ghost, a former Master and Vice Chancellor, named Dr. Henry Butts who, in the 1700's, had hanged himself. Oddly enough, the porters claim (and this has never appeared in any book about Cambridge College ghosts), that Dr. Butts only raps on the walls of "ladies"!
Although Youngson has had no personal contact with ghosts in Greenwich Village where she resides, her apartment house is allegedly haunted by the spirit of Eleanor Roosevelt, a former tenant.
Youngson founded the ISSGA in 1986 and since 1990 has researched ghostlore in Malta, England, Ireland, France, Italy and Mexico, as well as many places in the U.S.A..
Closer to home, she leads Mini-ghost tours in Greenwich Village which feature such personalities as John Barrymore, Maxwell Bodenheim, "Romany Marie" and of course members of the group are taken to see the haunted firehouse in the very heart of the Village.
Membership in the ISSGA is offered without cost to registered members of THE VAMPIRE EMPIRE. (See website http://www.benecke.com/vampire.html for information on how to join the Empire). The ISSGA can also be reached directly by contacting theghostpost@yahoo.com
OFFICERS OF THE INTL. SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF GHOSTS AND APPARITIONS
President & Founder: DR. JEANNE KEYES YOUNGSON
Vice President (East Coast): Rosemary Ellen Guiley
Vice President (Mid-West): Martin V. Riccardo
Vice President (West Coast): Dr. Stanley Krippner
Executive Director: Nigel Watson (England)
Assoc. Exec. Director: Thierry Breque (France)
Special Advisors: Eric Held, Betsy K. Bell, Jim Martin, Dr. Fred Francis & Dr. Jerome Dillon, Stephen M.Grogan and Gerry E. Kerrigan
WEB FRIENDS OF THE ISSGA:
The Transylvanian Society of Dracula (Canada)
Picture: The late Vincent Hillyer, former East Coast Vice President and
Dr. Jeanne Keyes Youngson