Walther, Gerda (1897-1977)
Walther, Gerda (1897-1977)
Psychical researcher and author. She was born on March 18, 1897, at Nordrach-Colonie, Baden, Germany. As a child she discovered she could communicate telepathically with both the living and the dead. She studied at Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany (Ph.D. summa cum laude, 1921).
In 1927, she became scientific secretary to Baron Albert von Schrenck-Notzing, the German psychic researcher, and assisted his investigations of the mediums Willi and Rudi Schneider. After Schrenck-Notzing's death, she edited his manuscripts for publication. She continued her contributions to the field over the years by writing numerous reviews of European books on psychical research for English-language journals. During 1941 in Germany, her research in parapsychology resulted in a short period of imprisonment under the Hitler regime.
Sources:
Berger, Arthur S., and Joyce Berger. The Encyclopedia of Parapsychology and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House, 1991.
Pleasants, Helene, ed. Biographical Dictionary of Parapsychology. New York: Helix Press, 1964.
Walther, Gerda. Zum anderen Ufer. Remagen: Otto Reichl, 1960.