One of the leading UFO researchers in the UK has donated his collection of files to the new National UFO Historical Records Center in New Mexico.
Yorkshireman Philip Mantle, who is the former director of investigations for the British UFO Research Association, and a leading author and lecturer on the subject, has given all his UFO files to the Albuquerque-based centre.
“For quite some time now, probably the last four or five years, I have pondered what to do with my humble archive of UFO files, photos, slides, news cuttings etc,” he explained. “I am not in the best of health and none of my family are interested in UFOs.
“I simply wanted to ensure that my files would be preserved for posterity and possibly made publicly available.
“To that effect I have donated them all (not my books or my UFO memorabilia collection) to David Marler at the National UFO Historical Records Center.”
Mantle, 65, who has been involved in UFO research since 1980, and has collated a wealth of material after investigating many sighting reports, abductions and encounters.
“For those that know me will be aware that since 1999 I have suffered from a severe and life-threatening heart condition, a condition that’s nearly seen me off a number of times,” he said. “Now, as I reach the age of 65 I had to decide what to do with my files and assorted collection.
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“Unfortunately there is no academic institution here in the UK that could take my collection, archive it, make it available to the public and look after it for the foreseeable future. I have pondered for some time what to do with them – if I passed them on to a colleague they too at some point in time would be faced with the same dilemma.
“After a lot of thought I eventually decided that the best place for my files was with David Marler. I decided to donate my files free of charge, but I am happy that they will be safe and will be looked after long after I’ve gone.
“If it were not for organisations like them, then tonnes of valuable and historic UFO data would have been lost for ever.”
Only set up last year, the National UFO Historical Records Cente contains 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’.
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