Plans for the first-ever physical site for gathering historical UFO information in the United States have been revealed, in what has been seen as a groundbreaking move by many followers of the subject.
An assemblage of some of the leading historian and archivists in this particular field in the States have created the National UFO Historical Records Center (sic), led by pioneering researcher David Marler. It is to be based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and will contain the largest archive dedicated to the preservation and centralisation of UFO information in the US.
The purpose of the centre is to collect, preserve and provide historical UFO materials to the general public and ‘interested parties’. And Marler, the executive director of the project, explained that they are determined to make this vision a reality, assisted by funding and donations.
“In recent years, there have been successive US government disclosures acknowledging the UFO/UAP subject as a genuine phenomenon,” he said. “Subsequently, multiple US military, intelligence, and scientific agencies have started adopting programmes to study the subject such as NASA and the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics).
“In addition, within the civilian sector, there has been an influx of new researchers into this field of inquiry. Many academics and scientists are included in this group.
“However, most of these parties do not have access to the vast array of historical materials and data sets in the hands of US civilian UFO/UAP historians and researchers. So, the National UFO Historical Records Center has been created to gather and centralise data in the United States.
“With the physical holdings residing in the Albuquerque area, these will be made available to those who visit in-person, while efforts will be underway to actively digitise these materials for global accessibility. Efforts are underway to acquire a building to house this national treasure and make it readily accessible to researchers, academics, and the general public.”
Marler has been involved in UFO research for the last 32 years and is a former director of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), who has written a number of books on the subject, says there is a vast array of information out there, which needs to be collated together in order to help those with a vested interest in the subject. He went on: “Currently, the collection consists of materials from over 25 countries derived from 70-plus US and foreign individuals.
“A vast array of UFO files and collections are already destined to be added to the growing inventory during the course of the next one to two years. Some of the largest collections in the US serve as the cornerstone for this centre.
“We look forward to working collaboratively with similar free-standing worldwide UFO/UAP archives and those within the university setting. Together, we can preserve the history and, perhaps, gain insights into the mystery.”
One of the UK’s leading UFO researchers Philip Mantle believes the project will put the genre firmly on the map and is excited by the plans. He said: “The centre puts the UFO subject firmly in the mainstream and has now provided a professional museum and archive research facility like nowhere else in the USA.
“Working in conjunction with UFO researchers and academia, this is the beginning of a new dawn for UFO research and investigation. This is not set up in someone's garden shed, but is instead a fully functional research facility that is now being made available for all.
“I have been so impressed that my own humble archive of UFO files that I have accumulated over the last 40 years will be on its way to join this facility later this year.”
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
Find recommendations for eating out, attractions and events near you here on our sister website 2Chill
Find recommendations for dog owners and more doggy stories on our sister site Teamdogs
