Updated August 9th: The memorial will be at 1 to 3 pm at the Attic which is located at 931 Pacific Ave. in Santa Cruz. Please see this new post for more updates:
Updated August 7: The date of the memorial will be held on August 26 rather than August 25thh. I will have more information later.
Updated August 3: A Memorial Celebrating the Life of Peter Stafford will be held in Santa Cruz on August 26. Lynn Fancis, who is organizing the event has asked that you send your remembrances or thoughts about Peter to be read during the memorial. You can either email them to me at bruce@mindmedia.com or put them into comments on this post.
I will update this page with more information as it becomes available.
Links for this Post:
Peter Stafford’s Psychedelics 101
Updated Sunday July 22: Peter died of an accidental fall from a ladder while climbing down from a loft where he lived. He is survived by his son Sasha who saw him last Sunday before leaving on a vacation in New Zealand. When his son returns, a memorial celebration remembering Peter’s life will be held in Santa Cruz California where he lived for 43 years. When I get more information as to the exact date and place, I will post it as an update.
______________________________________.
Peter Stafford (1939-2007) author of Psychedelics Encyclopedia, and LSD in
Action died last night in Santa Cruz, California. Peter was a friend of mine since we met in Canada back in 1971 and I will miss him.
Update: As I started to write about Peter, I suddenly remember that I actually had not met Peter in 1971 but rather in 1973 (it was right around the time of the Watergate scandal). I had been invited to Regina, Canada for a presentation at the Northern Institute of Psychotronic Research by Professor Duncan Blewett, sometimes called the "Timothy Leary" of Canada for his transpersonal psychological perspective, which is described in his book, New Realms of Being. It was there that I met one of the heroes of my youth, a genuine East Village, acid-dropping, pot-smoking, book publishing then youthful appearing psychedelic writer named Peter Stafford.
At the opening meeting of the conference, held in an abandoned sanitarium in Fort San near Regina, I was introduced mistakenly as "Dr. Bruce Eisner" and the crowd was informed I would be giving a talk on the "enlightening effects of LSD. " Peter approached me enthusiastically, but because of his short hair, unusual in a day when long hair denoted "being cool," and a T-shirt which read "US Narcotics Squad," I was put off at first.
But when Peter introduced himself as" Peter Stafford," I immediately knew that he was "cool." Peter’s first book, LSD – The Problem-Solving Psychedelic (published in the Shaffer Library) had served as a guidebook for my psychedelic first experiences.and I was probably Peter’s biggest fan, I had even written him a fan letter afer finding his Stuyvesant Station Post Office Box listed at the end of an article he wrote called "Yage in the Valley of the Fire", which first appeared as a bright colored tabloid newspaper in the East Village and was later published in Humprehy Osmond’s anthology, Psychedelics.
Peter who always like to describe himself as a Psychedelic Investigator took LSD while a student at Reed College in the early Sixties and became the archetypal hippie. He moved to New York in 1964 and began hanging out in the East Village, editing the first rock publication, Crawdaddy, together with author Paul Williams. It was there he wrote LSD The Problem-Solving Psychedelic which was publshed in 1967. His co-author was Bonnie Golightly, a writer of pulp fiction who was portrayed as Hollie Golightly in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The book came out in England as LSD in Action in 1969 in England and became a best seller there as the psychedelic movement was all the rage on Carnaby street that year.
Living in California, I had visited Santa Cruz a wonderful town filled with trees and beaches many times. I began regularly traveling to work with Peter on various writing projects, including my "LSD Purity, Cleanliness is Next to Godliness" and his Peter’s third book, Psychedelics Encyclopedia
Also during that time, Peter and I wrote an article which was part of a series I was doing for a magazine which had started up in New York that year, High Times. We called the article Who Turned On Whom — a history of the psychedelic "turn on."
During the last few years of the Sixties, I had turned on, tuned in and dropped out of college. In early 1977, I moved to Santa Cruz to abandon my goal-less hippy life to study psychology. I was 28 when I started college again at Kresge, an experimental college of the university which then comprised eight colleges. Ten years older than the freshman at the dorms, I quickly got tired of the noisy life here and moved into an old Victorian house which I shared with Lynn Francis and Peter. During the eight months I lived there, Peter’s father who had lived in a convalescent hospital in Santa Cruz for most of his life came to live with us. He died while I was there and his son Alexander (Sasha) Stafford was born. My VW bus served as the ambulance for their ride to the hospital.
In October of that year, I collaborated with Peter and Lynn on brining Albert Hofmann who discovered LSD and who I had met the previous year in Basel to Santa Cruz. We put together the first psychedelic conference since the Sixties called LSD a Generation Later. It was Hofmann’s first public account of the discovery of LSD, which had served as a catalyst of the Sixties counterculture. The conference held at the University of California in October of 1977 was the first event focusing on psychedelics since 1967. The turbulence and hysteria of the Sixties had made it almost impossible for scientific meetings to be held on the subject. It brought together many of the scientific researchers and counterculture figures for the first time. These included Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert, Ralph Metzner, Albert Hofmann, John Lilly, Oscar Janiger, Allen Ginsberg and many others.
That was literally and metaphorically a high point of my life and all of it never would have happened if I had not met Peter. I could tell you many more stories, maybe someday I will. Right now my thoughts are with Peter. He had his dark side as most of us do but was as close as I have ever got to meeting a saint or holy man. He was friendly to a fault and helped me and many others in numerous large and small ways and I know that most of those who met him are feeling sad now that he is no longer with us.
RIP Peter Stafford
Peter Stafford, author of the fascinating Psychedelics Encyclopedia died on July 20, 2007. Bruce Eisner, his friend, writes: Peter Stafford (1941-2007) author of Psychedelics Encyclopedia, and LSD in Action died last night in Santa Cruz, California. Pe…
My condolences, Bruce. I only met Peter, once, briefly, but I enjoyed our time together. I’m saddened by this news.
I worked with Peter at the Homeless Garden Project in the 90′s. I’ve always remembered that he taught me that, “You can’t make an ugly bouquet.”
Thanks for sharing the news~RIP Peter.
What does this say, I know it’s english, but I don’t understand a word of this? My brain got lost half way through the first sentence of this blog, your brain was probably a long time before this.
Were you high when you wrote this? Try doing something more constructive than writing gibberish about a druggie.
I have not met Peter, but am going to mention him on my BLOG.
@Tyler Warrender:
1. Troll
2. Learn English
RIP Peter.
I knew peter in the late 70′s early 80′s, and he was an intellegent copassionate person. It is uncanny, that I was speaking to someone about him last night. I had not seen him, or been in conntact since 1984. I told a student from bulgaria to look up his site psyc. 101. One fine memory of Peter is the night MDMA became illegal. We posted signs all over Santa Cruz to be the first ones to break the law. We entered a large gatering naked and gave away doses of MDMA arr..the good old days. To greater understanding of the human psych..Alandickson
Peter was a great human being. I first met him in the early 80′s when I was developing chips for stereo sat. tv. The day MDMA became illegal we went around Santa Cruz and put up posters.. Be the first ones to break the law at our party. We arrived and entered naked. We handed out Adam as we called it then, for free. I had not thought about him for quite a long time, and out of the blue I googled his name this morning. I was sad to learn of his death last night. With LOVE Alan
My condolences to you, Bruce, and to all in the psychedelic community who knew Peter. I never had the opportunity to know him well, and only met him once that I recall. But he was a nice fellow, and his contribution to psychedelic literature and scholarship stands on its own. Another legendary figure from back in the day passes from the stage; and he will be missed.
According to Capote, Bonney Golightly was not an inspiration for the character although she sued Capote for invasion of privacy and libel and lost. “I have never met nor seen this lady . . . It’s ridiculous for her to claim she is my Holly. I understand she’s a large girl nearly 40 years old. Why. it’s sort of like Joan Crawford saying she’s Lolita.’- Truman Capote
Thanks for a moving blog. Peter touched a lot of lives. I’m sad, but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one.
I believe, if we take the habitual drunkards as a class, their heads and their hearts will bear an adventagious comparison with those of any other class. There seems ever to have been a proneness in the brilliant and warm-blooded to fall into this vice.
– Abraham Lincoln
R.I.P. Dear One
R.I.P Peter. I know your up there looking down on us now. You came here and enlightened many and done your job well. You helped others understand so much about the mind. Strangely enough the first time I heard about you was on the day you passed over, when I took home your book ‘Psychedelics‘, and I finished it in one day, as it was so fascinating I could not put it down. Even though I am new to your work, its already brought me a lot of understanding and clarity on this subject. Keep up the good work where ever you may be now.
Faeden
Bruce–Please remove the entirely ignorant and considerably stupid comment of “Tyler Warrender”. Your additional removal of both this request and the “Manuel” critique would then complete the restoration of a peace that Peter ultimately sought.
I’m not going to remove Tyler Warrender’s comment because he was half right. The original version of this post had a lot of typos and I cleaned them up slowly.
Peter used to edit everything I wrote until about 7 or eight years ago. He worked as a typesetter for years and had a good editing eye.
I have a difficult time proofing my own work and Peter used to say that it wouldn’t be sm authentic Eisner essay without at leas two or three typos a page.
So there was some problems with readability that later readers do not see.
The reason I say that he is half right is that I was not “drugged up” when I wrote the post. I’m sure Peter would be smiling when he ssw the guy catch me for typo proness.
Peter was a happy and friendly person, as well as intelligent. As one might conclude from reading the diverse commentaries here, Peter was a true egalitarian and libertarian, little ‘l’, of course.
He was warm and friendly to everyone I ever saw him with, exuded charisma and championed free thinking. Peter was constantly turning over every stone of the absurd he could find and exposing the underbelly.
The first time I met Peter a mutual friend took me over to his apartment in Santa Cruz. Peter opened the door wearing nothing but a huge feathered headress. We had several nice conversations over the next few days, and attended the Sacred Elixirs conference together. I’ll never forget that weekend… I did not know his son was named Sasha, mine is as well!
I have a couple great memories of Peter. One happened at his apartment across from the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. In a room full of people on MDMA, he peeled off layer after layer of T-shirt, each with a different picture on it. He must have had on at least 20 shirts.
Another happened after the two of us had spent a day at a nude beach. I asked him why he hadn’t said much. He replied, without rancor, “Because you never shut up.” Ha! He was right!
Peter was a major contributor to what he referred to as “the Third Wave” of psychedelic research. “LSD: The Problem-Solving Psychedelic” was a milestone of 1967. In the early ’70s he was
one of the first researchers to visit the Ludlow Library to
contribute copies of his rare early publications and cheer us on.
His Psychedelics Encyclopedia was an instant classic and cemented
his standing as the leading U.S. historian of modern psychoactive drug history. Despite enduring the ravages of alcoholism, he never stopped revising and updating his books, or losing his psychedelic
spirit. He was the Consummate Hippie. Transcending his dark struggles, Peter SHINED ON.
I have never met Peter but from all i have read he sounds like a very great and intelligent man. one in a million. and a person as great as him a few and far between these days…i wish i could have had the pleaser of meeting him
In one word: charming. A very charming, nice, open, honest human being who touched many with his presence. Extremely bright, courageous, and a catalyst for truth. No amount of disinformation can obscure this level of accomplishment. A thousand years from now people will be enthralled by Peter Stafford, and marvel that he was.
I have enjoyed his books and would have liked to have met him. RIP Peter. Condolences to family.
The correct date of the Memorial is August 26 at The Attic on Pacific between 1pm-3pm. That’s what Lyn told me. Just trying to help.
I first met Peter at Chester Anderson’s cabin on the Russian River sometime in the mid ’70′s. He had the look of the archetypal upscale psychedelicist about him; long straight hair, clear-eyes with a touch of permanent dilation, spotless Indian shirt, clean jeans, flawless skin. In spite of my own harder-edged acid gonzo style we hit it off immediatley. He was just a very open guy, and although we saw each other only soradically over the next quarter century (usually at some conference or gathering), each meeting picked-up was as if we’d just left The Big Room for a momentary disruption of the conversation. He published an article of mine in “Blotter,” and we laughed about the reaction my suggestion to “throw another guru on the fire” drew.
I last saw Peter (and our friends Bob & Arlen Wilson, and Rosemary Woodruff) at the release party for “Design for Dying,” in San Francisco just before I absconded to New orleans. Peter looked like a Holy Ruin, as he had for years- the clear-eyed hippie of our first meeting was long-submerged- but he was as warm and funny as ever. There was in his Ruined Alcoholic Dance something Holy/Divine.
Well he partys at the Big Table now, with Leary and Ginsberg and Kesey and the Anton-Wilson’s et. al. We have to make sure that the party on this side of the Void stays lively, and continue his Good Work.
Much Love to Lyn, and Sascha and all.
My condolences, and respects.
Peter, a true luminary, from whom I aquired my signed copy of The Psychedelic Encyclopedia whilst we both worked the S.C. Hemp Expos. Peter researched and published the truth illuminating the Shamanic path.
Cheers to Peters life!
Met Peter whilst working the Santa Cruz Hemp Expos and obtained a copy of Psychedelic Encyclopedia, a valuable research tool, work of art, and obvious labor of love. Peter was very kind.
I lived in San Francisco from 83 till 87.
2 Years I shared a flat with Michael Stafford, Peters brother. So,in this time we
got often to santa cruz to visit Peter.
For me, Peter was from the first moment
a realy, in its true sense an mindblowing
human. For me he was one of the very few
white-american shaman.He inspired me in a
huge way to be critic with what the goverments say, to actally believe nothing
what there say. I admired him for his generous freedom-loving, respectfull character. Sure, he was also just a human
and had maybe some darksides, so what?
Who does not have them.
I will Peter always remember as an social
activist who tried to spread the truth about
many things, not only psychedelics, he was
also an peaceactivist, he was against racism,he was against explotaition, his life,his energie went mostly into fighting
for a better world. And Peter had two powerfull weapons, allways loaded, his beautifull, so human humor and his razorsharp mind. There wasnt such a thing as
boring discussions when Peter was around.
He had allways something intelligent to say.
So Peter rest in Peace and all the people
who really knew you will miss You.
mind
I met Peter at a party in Philadelphia in 1968. Our host was an acquaintance of B.H. Golightly.
Peter spent most of his time in Philadelphia clipping news items, no doubt for his next book.
When I told him I had just purchased the Beatles’ then new “White Album,” he asked to hear it so we prepared ourselves and laid down on the floor of my apartment, 2 blocks away, and let the music wash over us.
At 22, I was six years his junior, and delighted to share the experience with him, so friendly, approachable, and attractive.
As it was with a previous poster, that memory came to mind last night, and, when I Googled him this morning, I was surprised and saddened to discover news of his death last July.
Condolences to his son, family, and many friends. Requiescat in pace.
I have very very personal rememberance of Stafforf. We were co-horts 60′s N. Y. I don’t know if this post goes through. Write me at my e mail and I will communicate, although I have really intimate knowledge maybe shouldn’t be made public. G
In 1973 Peter and Russ told me this story of their adventures going into Mexico. They were at the airport in USA when they realized it would be unwise to get caught in Mexico holding a bunch of drugs. Mexcian Jails are no fun and Gringo Hippys get no breaks from La Policia. So they asked the first Longhair they could find to answer two questions, “Do you do drugs, and are you NOT going to Mexico.” When the guy said yes they gave him their stash. Can you imagine being given Peter Stafford’s Stash? Rusty said, “That guy was really lucky. We had some great stuff in that stash.” “Yeah,” said Peter, “the blotter and that DMT,” “And the psyllocybin, some really great stuff. I bet he had fun.” And I’m sure that he did.
STAFFORD’S STASH
In 1973 Peter and Russ told me this story of their adventures going into Mexico. They were at the airport in USA when they realized it would be unwise to get caught in Mexico holding a bunch of drugs. Mexcian Jails are no fun and Gringo Hippys get no breaks from La Policia. So they asked the first Longhair they could find to answer two questions, “Do you do drugs, and are you NOT going to Mexico.” When the guy said yes they gave him their stash. Can you imagine being given Peter Stafford’s Stash? Rusty said, “That guy was really lucky. We had some great stuff in that stash.” “Yeah,” said Peter, “the blotter and that DMT,” “And the psyllocybin, some really great stuff. I bet he had fun.” And I’m sure that he did.
Posted by: Reg Dunlap | January
Sorry to get off subject and focus on imaturity but the comment by Tyler warrender is a sad example of the institutionalized hatred that exists in our society towards what I and many others consider a culture. I don’t see it as different than racism or homophobia. Considering that this is a blog about the death of a human being the comment comes across as especially venomous and even though I never met Peter I consider him a beautiful human being who contributed immensly to my life with his writings and smile.
Hatred like this does hurt people. Living with the constant message subtle and overt that your a second class citizen, a worthless druggy and that your somehow defective wether conscously rejected or not can have a profound affect on how one perceives themselves and there “drug” use wich in the case of entheogens can have potential healing and spiritual powers that can be seriously distorted and made dangerous because of ignorance and this kind of programing.
I’ll just end this rant by saying I’m glad for people like peter who show us that were not second rate people, that most of us are valuable contributers and citizens of our planet..r.i.p. Peter
P.s. I bet my grammar sucks
Thanks Mr Bruce,
My condolences to all the Family.
I was very sad to hear the news, a year L8r, but I wanted to say a few things about the incredibly kind person and dear man Peter Stafford (mr pete)
I still remember his wonderful laugh when I asked him what it would have been like if Timothy would have become Mr Whipple instead of the TidyBowl man. When he released his “heavenly highs” I was blessed to see him when he was on the way to fax his publisher the photo for the cover. An engraving of “the alchemist”. He laughed histerically at the fact that in the engraving the alchemist had, above his workbench, an engraving of “The family going to the poor house”. All i can say is everyone in heaven, including God, has great company in his spirit.
As a long time “hommie” on the streets of SantaCruz I was SO honored when he gave me his latest “gold mine”. I will never forget him and hope to get “stafforditis” again someday.
Lots of Love from Holy Faith – New Mexico
Namaste’
test
Bruce, the 1970′s photo of you sure brings back memories — I attended your workshop at the 1979 Rainbow Gathering in Arizona (or ’78 in Oregon’s White Horse Meadow?) and you are instantly recognizable. I really appreciated your depth of thought as it stood out compared to the sweet and loving but somewhat vague viewpoints of many gathered at the Gathering.
I will always remember Peter as a good and kind person. I knew him well because our paths crossed so many times during the years we lived in Santa Cruz. Our children were best friends so we spent a lot of time together. We found ourselves living quite close to each other a couple of times in Watsonville and Corralitos. He was such a sight sitting in his yard at a table typing away on an old typewriter. Later he and his family moved right across the road from us up on the hill overlooking the bay were he would play croquet in the nude. He was a sun-worshipper. Those were wonderful days and I have many fond memories of Peter, his wife and little Sasha.
The song “Lather” by the Airplane always reminds me of him. Whenever we went back to Santa Cruz we’d go out of our way to find Peter and visit him. I know the house with the ladder leading up to his sleeping platform. It seemed like his life ended so sadly. Good-bye dear friend. I miss you and think of you often.