Public Relations: Narcotic and Psychedelic Drug Knowledge Dissemination Materials

Join the Borghesi-Mellon Psychedelic Pasts, Presents, and Futures workshop group for an archive tour and collections viewing at the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy’s very own American Institute of the History of Pharmacy (AIHP)! The AIHP  archivist, Hannah Swan, has dug into “Public Relations” materials within the AIHP collection and pulled out some real gems. Guests will have the opportunity to view rare materials, artifacts, and ephemera focused on disseminating psychedelic and narcotic drug knowledge to the American public in the 20th century. Swan will be on hand to answer questions and provide tours of the archives every hour on the hour. Representatives from the Porta Sophia Archival Research Network (ARN) will also be present to discuss their work curating archival psychedelic prior art to prevent overly broad psychedelic patents. Will there be a plethora of anti-drug propaganda? Check. Heavy psychedelic typography and iconography? Also, check. A choose-your-own-adventure style article for doctors titled “Sure I turn on, Doc.” Yes. That is here, too. You won’t want to miss it!