FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ann Arbor, MI – September 20, 2025 — The Michigan Paranormal Research Institute (MPRI), founded in 1855 and recognized as one of the nation’s oldest centers for the scientific study of unexplained phenomena, has taken the unprecedented step of releasing its paranormal investigation reports to the public.
For the first time in its 170-year history, the Institute will publish detailed accounts of its investigations into hauntings, apparitions, cryptid encounters, and other unexplained occurrences. Each report will undergo a formal peer-review process conducted by qualified experts in parapsychology, psychology, and related disciplines to ensure the highest possible standards of accuracy and rigor.
“Our Institute has long maintained a tradition of discretion, keeping much of our work in private archives for scholarly use,” said Dr. Eleanor Whitcomb, current Director of the Michigan Paranormal Research Institute. “However, with public interest in our research growing and recent funding challenges creating new realities, we believe it is both necessary and valuable to share our findings more broadly. This is an important step in ensuring transparency, credibility, and accessibility.”
Once peer review is complete, each investigation report will be published and made available for purchase by the public. Proceeds will support the Institute’s ongoing mission of advancing the scientific study of parapsychology, psychology, and cryptozoology. Topics will include field studies of reported hauntings in historic Michigan sites, long-term psychological research into paranormal experiences, and ecological investigations into alleged cryptid habitats.
The release marks a significant shift for an institution that has historically operated quietly, with a focus on careful research rather than public attention. By making its peer-reviewed reports available, the Institute hopes to foster dialogue with scholars, communities, and interested citizens, while ensuring the continuity of its work for future generations.
For more information, or to learn when reports will become available, please visit mpri.us/contact.
Contact:
Office of Public Engagement
Michigan Paranormal Research Institute
mpri.us/contact