Discipline Mathematics Institution Columbia University | Institutions Columbia University | |
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Full Name James Malcolm Bird Born September 2, 1886 ( 1886-09-02 ) Brooklyn, New York Occupation Mathematician, editor, parapsychologist Died 30 October 1964, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States Books Einstein's theories of relativity and gravitation, "Margery" the Medium, My Psychic Adventures | ||
James Malcolm Bird (September 2, 1886 – October 30, 1964) was an American mathematician and parapsychologist.
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Career
Bird was born in Brooklyn to James Gedney Bird and Eliza (Baltz) Bird on September 2, 1886. He trained in mathematics and taught as a Professor at Columbia University, he later became an associate editor for the Scientific American, upon quitting in 1925 he became the research officer of the American Society for Psychical Research from 1925-1931.
Bird investigated spiritualist mediums such as Mina Crandon, John C. Sloan, Gladys Osborne Leonard, William Hope and Maria Vollhardt. His experiences are mentioned in his book My Psychic Adventures (1924).
Bird has drawn criticism from magician Harry Houdini and the psychical researcher Walter Franklin Prince for his conduct in the investigation of Mina Crandon. Houdini and Prince strongly suspected that Crandon was fraudulent, but Bird had endorsed some of her phenomena as genuine.
Historian Ruth Brandon has described Bird as a biased and unreliable witness. More recently, authors William Kalush and Larry Sloman have suggested that Bird had conspired with Crandon in "stage managing the séances and achieving a positive vote from the majority of the committee." Bird died October 30, 1964.