Jerome Clark (1946 - ) is an American researcher and writer, specializing in unidentified flying objects and other anomalous phenomena; he is also a songwriter of some note. The term writer can apply to anyone who creates a written work, but the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ... An unidentified flying object, or UFO, is any real or apparent flying object which cannot be identified by the observer and which remains unidentified after investigation. ... Anomalous phenomena are phenomena which are observed and for which there are no suitable explanations in the context of a specific body of scientific knowledge, e. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ...

He is one of the most prominent UFO historians and researchers active today, and though his works have sometimes generated spirited debate, Clark is widely regarded as one of the most reputable writers in the field: his works have been cited in multiple Skeptical Inquirer articles ^[1]; despite the fact that many Magonia contributors disagree with some of Clark's conclusions, they have nonetheless consulted his books for their articles, and have described his works as "invaluable"^[2] and described him as one of "ufology's finest;"^[3] and as "highly-respected."^[4] In his Saucer Smear, longtime ufologist James W. Moseley writes that Clark "is acknowledged ... as the UFO Field's leading historian."^[5]. The Skeptical Inquirer is a magazine of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) dedicated to debunking pseudoscience. ... Magonia is a magazine ostensibly focused on the UFO phenomena but explores related areas of belief and unusual behaviour. ... James W. Moseley (born August 4, 1931 in New York City) is an American ufologist. ...

Clark is also a prominently featured talking head on made-for-T.V. UFO documentaries, most notably the 2005 prime-time U.S. television special Peter Jennings Reporting: UFOs — Seeing Is Believing, discussing the early history of the U.S. Military's UFO investigations (see also Project Sign and Project Grudge.) In addition to the Peter Jennings special, Clark has also appeared on episodes of NBC's Unsolved Mysteries television series and on the syndicated television series Sightings. In 1997 he was prominently featured on the A&E Network's documentary "Where Are All the UFOs?", which examined the history of the UFO phenomenon. Talking head can refer to: In broadcasting, slang for interview footage shot in a locked down medium shot of the subjects head and shoulders. ... Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings, CM (July 29, 1938 – August 7, 2005) was a rock star Canadian-American journalist and news anchor. ... Project Sign was an official U.S. government study of unidentified flying objects undertaken by the United States Air Force in late 1947 and dissolved in late 1948. ... Project Grudge was a short-lived project by the U.S. Air Force to investigate Unidentified flying objects. ... NBC (an acronym for National Broadcasting Company) is an American television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Biography is one of A&Es longest-running and most popular programs. ...

Biography

Clark was born in Canby, Minnesota. He attended South Dakota State University and Minnesota State University in Moorhead, Minnesota, studying history and political science. He became interested in the UFO phenomenon in the 1960s. He has served as a writer, reporter, and editor for a number of magazines which cover UFOs and other paranormal subjects. Clark is a board member of the Center for UFO Studies, (CUFOS), one of the few civilian UFO research groups with credible scientific support. Canby is a city in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, United States. ... South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. ... Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) is a four-year, public university and part of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) located in Moorhead, Minnesota. ... Moorhead is a city located in Clay County, Minnesota. ... History studies the past in human terms. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Political Science is the field concerning the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behaviour. ... The Center for UFO Studies is an unidentified flying object research group. ...

After living for many years in the Chicago area, where CUFOS is headquartered, Clark returned to his hometown of Canby, Minnesota, where he lives and works as of 2007. His wife is an editor for Omnigraphics, a publishing company.

Embracing then rejecting paranormal explanations

In the 1970s, Clark embraced some paranormal ideas to explain UFOs and other unusual phenomena; he was influenced by the "ultraterrestrials" theory of John Keel, and the so-called interdimensional hypothesis (which had been championed by Dr. Jacques Vallee). Clark even co-wrote a book on the subject with longtime friend Loren Coleman. Eventually, however, Clark came to reject the paranormal explanations: he thought them unscientific and judged many of their promoters prone to reaching unsupported conclusions and making grand pronouncements without evidence. Paranormal is an umbrella term used to describe a wide variety of reported anomalous phenomena. ... John A. Keel. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Dr. Allen Hynek (back), and Dr. Jacques Vallee (far right, front) at U.N. General Assembly, 1978. ... Loren Coleman in a photograph featured in his profile on Cryptomundo. ...

For a 1980 publication (not one of his own many books), Clark wrote:

In the past two or three years I have become an agnostic about all UFO theories. I have discovered, as one who is no less guilty of it than anyone else, that one can "prove" just about anything by focusing on certain data and ignoring others. I happen to sympathize with the impulse to theorize about UFOs; after all, theories are how we make sense of things. But we ought not under any circumstances to take our theories too seriously, and we must never give them greater primacy than we give the observed facts … In my darker moments I have come to suspect that UFOs may represent something so far beyond us that our attempts to understand them may be comparable to an ant's efforts to comprehend the principles of nuclear physics." (quoted in Story, 75; emphasis in original)

In the years since, Clark has championed a sort of open-ended agnosticism, choosing to focus on phenomena that have some degree of documentable support -- whether physical evidence, or reliably reported events. He has argued very cautiously in favor of the extraterrestrial hypothesis, not as proven fact but as a working hypothesis, choosing to focus on the UFO cases he regards as the most promising: multiple witness and/or UFO cases which are said to leave physical evidence. The term agnosticism and the related agnostic were coined by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1869. ... Subfamilies Aenictogitoninae Agroecomyrmecinae Amblyoponinae (incl. ... Nuclear physics is the branch of physics concerned with the nucleus of the atom. ... Agnosticism (from the Greek a, meaning without, and Gnosticism or gnosis, meaning knowledge) means unknowable, and is the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims—particularly theological claims regarding metaphysics, afterlife or the existence of God, god(s), or deities—is unknown or (possibly) inherently unknowable. ... A photograph taken in Passoria, New Jersey, on July 31 1952 The Extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) is the hypothesis that UFOs are best explained as being creatures from other planets occupying physical spacecraft visiting Earth. ...

In 1983, Clark described himself as a "sceptical Fortean", writing, "Charles Fort was sceptical of establishment humbuggery and so are those of us who follow in his footsteps. That hasn't changed and I hope it never will. But now it's time that we train a sceptical eye on our own humbuggery as well."*^[6] Charles Fort, 1920 Charles Hoy Fort (6 August 1874 – 3 May 1932) was an American writer and researcher into anomalous phenomena. ... Charles Fort, 1920 Charles Hoy Fort (6 August 1874 – 3 May 1932) was an American writer and researcher into anomalous phenomena. ...

Professional accomplishments

From 1976 to 1989 he was the editor of Fate magazine. This section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Since 1985 Clark has served as the editor of the CUFOS journal, International UFO Reporter. He has also been the editor of the Journal of UFO Studies, the only peer reviewed publication in Ufology. see Center for UFO Studies ... Peer review (known as refereeing in some academic fields) is a scholarly process used in the publication of manuscripts and in the awarding of funding for research. ...

The UFO Encyclopedia

Perhaps Clark's greatest accomplishment in the field of UFO studies came in the 1990s with the publication of his massive UFO Encyclopedia.

The UFO Encyclopedia was first published by respected academic and reference books specialists Omnigraphics as a three-volume hardcover set in the 1990s. In 1998, Visible Ink published an abridged, mass-market trade paperback version under the title The UFO Book, and an updated two-volume hardcover edition of the Encyclopedia was published in 2005. Clark wrote all the hundreds of entries, with a few exceptions, including an essay by biochemist Michael D. Swords about the extraterrestrial hypothesis; one article by folklorist Thomas E. Bullard about the abduction phenomenon; and a few by ufologist Bill Chalker about some Australian UFO incidents, and contributions by UFO researcher Brad Sparks. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A trade paperback can refer to any book that is bound with a heavy paper cover that is generally cheaper than the hardcover but more expensive than the regular paperback version. ... Michael D. Swords is an American scientist. ... A photograph taken in Passoria, New Jersey, on July 31 1952 The Extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) is the hypothesis that UFOs are best explained as being creatures from other planets occupying physical spacecraft visiting Earth. ... Thomas Eddie Bullard (born 1949) is an American folklorist best known for his research into UFOs and the abduction phenomenon. ... The abduction phenomenon is an umbrella term used to describe a number of hypotheses, claims or assertions stating that non-human creatures kidnap individuals—sometimes called abductees—usually for medical testing or for sexual reproduction procedures. ...

Backed by detailed research and extensive bibliographies, Clark's encyclopedia is widely regarded by most UFO researchers, and even many skeptics, as one of the best-researched and most credible publications on the often-controversial subject of UFOs: the Association of College and Research Libraries described the book as "the definitive work on the [UFO] subject for many years to come;"^[7] while Library Journal notes that one of the judges for Clark's Benjamin Franklin Award declared the UFO Book (a condensed, mass-market version of the UFO Encyclopedia) "an exhaustive, non-judgmental look at the history of unidentified flying objects ... the writing is top notch and clear."^[8]; critic Douglas Chapman praises the Encyclopedia as "a treasure for anyone interested in UFOs. The only people unlikely to be pleased by it are dogmatics of any stripe, for multiple points of view are represented."^[9]; Psychologist Stuart Appelle praises "[Clark's] attempt to maintain objectivity ... in no case is the reader given less than a clear statement of the facts and opinions at hand, and ample opportunity to reach a conclusion on his or her own"^[10]; in the Skeptic Files, Fredric L. Rice wrote that despite "a definitely 'pro' [UFO] standpoint, [Clark] is wise to include reactions and explanations of major UFO cases by debunkers such as Philip Klass and Donald Menzel. In Clark's telling of the tales, he points out major boners and silly comments by debunkers AS WELL AS overboard proponents, although the former group won't be thrilled by the portrayals ... Otherwise, the UFO ENCYCLOPEDIA is an excellent reference work, and should be added to any library of Fortean material. Readers new to the field should peruse the book to get a 'proper schooling' in the subject"^[11] (in a follow-up, Rice stressed "I want to make a special effort to emphasize that my review [of] Clark's UFO Encyclopedia was meant to be very positive, and not negative as some had interpreted)"^[12]. Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. ... For the film Dogma, see Dogma (film) Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas, Greek , plural ) is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, ideology or any kind of organization, thought to be authoritative and not to be disputed or doubted. ... Dr. Stuart Appelle is a professor and writer, with an interest in topics dealing with anomalous perception, including hypnotic experience, and reports of unidentified flying objects and alien abduction. ... Objectivity has several meanings: Objectivity (philosophy) Objectivity (journalism) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Debunkers are scientific skeptics who attempt to disprove and pursue what they consider to be false, unscientific, bizarre or abnormal claims. ... Philip Julian Klass (November 8, 1919–August 9, 2005) was born in Des Moines, Iowa and died in Merritt Island, Florida. ... Donald Howard Menzel (April 11, 1901 – December 14, 1976) was an American astronomer. ... A reference work is a compendium of information, usually of a specific type, compiled for ease of reference. ... Charles Fort, 1920 Charles Hoy Fort (August 6, 1874 - May 3, 1932), writer and researcher into anomalous phenomena, was the son of an Albany grocer of Dutch ancestry. ...

Songwriting and music

In addition to his duties as a writer, researcher, and editor, Clark has also written songs which have been recorded or performed by musicians such as Emmylou Harris, Mary Carpenter, and Tom T. Hall; he has often collaborated with Robin and Linda Williams^[13] Emmylou Harris (b. ... Mary Carpenter (born April 3, 1807 in Exeter; died June 14, 1877 in Bristol) was an English educational and social reformer. ... Tom T. Hall (born May 25, 1936 in Olive Hill, Kentucky) is an American country balladeer and songwriter. ... Robin and Linda Williams are a folk music duo. ...

Clark has also written numerous reviews of American roots music albums for Rambles magazine.^[14]

Awards and Honors

An abridged version of the UFO Encyclopedia, entitled The UFO Book, won the 1998 Benjamin Franklin Award in the Science/Environment category from the Publishers Marketing Association.

Clark is also the 1992 recipient of the Isabel Davis Award (given by the Fund for UFO Research) for promoting rationality in the study of UFOs. He is an active participant in debates and discussions on the "UFO Updates" message boards and website. The Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR) is a small, Maryland-based, scientifically oriented UFO research group with many Ph. ...

Books By Jerome Clark

• The UFO Encyclopedia: The Phenomenon From The Beginning (2-Volume Set), 1998, Omnigraphics Books, ISBN 0780800974
• The UFO Book: Encyclopedia of the Extraterrestrial, 1997, Visible Ink Press, ISBN 1578590299
• Unexplained: Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena, 2003, Visible Ink Press, ISBN 0780807154
• Encyclopedia of Strange and Unexplained Physical Phenomena, 1993, Thomson Gale Press, ISBN 081038843X
• Unnatural Phenomena: A Guide to the Bizarre Wonders of North America, 2005, ABC-Clio Books, ISBN 1576074307
• Strange Skies: Pilot Encounters with UFOs, 2003, Citadel Books, ISBN 0806522992

Sources

• Story, Ronald D. "Clark, Jerome", p. 74-76 in The Encyclopedia of UFOs; Ronald Story, editor; 1980
• Story, Ronald D. (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters, New American Library, 2001.

References

1. ^ A 01 March 2007 search of csicop.org reveals eleven Skeptical Inquirer articles, dating from 1995 to 2007, that cite Clark's works in their bibliographies; in most cases, Clark is not mentioned by name in the articles, and his works seem to have been consulted to provide background detail on claims of paranormal or anomalous events
2. ^ [http://www.magonia.demon.co.uk/arc/90/plague.html "A Plague of Aliens Visionary Rumour As Contemporary And Costume Drama"] by Peter Brookesmith, From Magonia 60, Summer 1997; URL accessed March 06, 2007
3. ^ "If You Go Down to the Woods Tonight: another look at the Travis Walton case" by John Harney, 2001; URL accessed March 6, 2007
4. ^ see the brief introduction to INVASION OF THE BARBARIAN MONSTERS FROM HEAVEN AND HELL by Nigel Watson, 1995; URL accessed March 6, 2007
5. ^ Saucer Smear, volume Volume 45, No. 2, February 15th, 1998; URL accessed March 6, 2007
6. ^ Clark, Jerome, Confessions of a Fortean Sceptic (1983); URL accessed March 6, 2007
7. ^ UFO Encyclopedia: The Phenomenon from the Beginning product description from Omnigraphics; URL accessed March 6, 2007
8. ^ "Invisible's UFO Book Wins Franklin Award" June 22, 1998; URL accessed March 06, 2007
9. ^ The UFO Encyclopedia reviewed by Douglas Chapman URL accessed March 06, 2007
10. ^ High Strangeness: UFOs from 1960 through 1979. The UFO Encyclopedia, Volume 3, Reviewed by Staurt Appelle; URL accessed March 06, 2007
11. ^ "The SWAMP GAS JOURNAL" Volume 6 Number 2 June 1992; URL accessed March 06, 2007; empahsis in orignial
12. ^ "Swamp Gas Journal" Volume 6 Number 3, November 1992; URL accessed March 06, 2007
13. ^ List of songs credited to Jerome Clarkfrom Allmusic; URL accessed March 06, 2007
14. ^ "Jerome Clark: Reviews by Jerome include:" from Rambles.com; URL accessed March 06, 2007