Many thanks, impressive! People find UFOs are the rage now. Well, here demoncore1031 links Ted Bloecher's work with an introduction by none other than James McDonald on the major influx of reports from 1947. History is worth studying!
Here is a talk by McDonald from 1968:
Ted Bloecher
Who is he? Why is he important in the history of Ufology?
en.wikipedia.org
His interest in UFOs began in the summer of 1952, and he became known for his studies into early modern UFO cases.[1] In 1954, he co-founded Civilian Saucer Intelligence and he served as an officer of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena.[2] In 1967, Bloecher published the results of a historical study that sought to exhaustively document all reported UFO sightings during the 1947 flying disc craze.[2][17] The following year, Bloecher's report was adapted into a nationally syndicated comic strip by Supergirl-creator Otto Binder.[18] Bloecher was a regular speaker on UFO topics, appearing at meetings in Britain, Arizona, and the 1978 MUFON symposium in Dayton, Ohio.[19] Bloecher retired from ufology in the 1980s and donated his files.[20]
Ted
Bloecher was one of the most meticulous and influential researchers in early American
ufology. His work helped establish modern standards for UFO case documentation, especially for the 1947 “flying disc” wave and early
humanoid reports.Below is a full, sourced report on his life and significance.
Ted Bloecher: Life, Career & Importance in Ufology
Early Life & Artistic Career
Ted Bloecher was born
August 22, 1929, in Summit, New Jersey. He studied fine arts at
Cooper Union and later dramatic literature at
Columbia University, minoring in music. He spent the 1950s–70s as a professional singer and actor, performing in major Broadway and touring productions such as
Oliver!,
My Fair Lady,
Hello, Dolly! and others.
His artistic background mattered later: Bloecher brought a performer’s discipline and a writer’s clarity to UFO documentation, producing unusually readable and well-organized reports.
Entry Into Ufology
Bloecher became interested in UFOs during the
summer of 1952, a period of intense public fascination following the Washington, D.C. sightings.
Key Organizations
- Civilian Saucer Intelligence (CSI)Co‑founded by Bloecher in 1954, CSI became one of the most rigorous early civilian UFO research groups, known for careful case vetting and avoidance of sensationalism.
- NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena)Bloecher served as a staff member in the late 1960s, contributing to NICAP’s push for congressional hearings and scientific legitimacy.
Major Contributions to Ufology
1.
This was Bloecher’s most influential work. He attempted to
exhaustively document every known sighting from the 1947 “flying disc” craze—the same wave that included Kenneth Arnold’s famous sighting.This report became a foundational reference for historians and researchers studying the origins of modern UFO culture.
2.
Bloecher specialized in “Category 7” cases—reports involving humanoid beings. His
Humanoid Catalog (with David Webb and Lex Mebane, 1979) remains one of the most detailed early attempts to classify and compare such encounters.
3.
Co‑authored with Isabel Davis, this report analyzed the famous “Kelly–Hopkinsville” case, one of the most cited close‑encounter events in UFO literature.
4.
Bloecher donated decades of correspondence, case files, and journals to the New York Public Library, creating one of the most valuable archival collections for researchers studying mid‑century UFO history.
Why Ted Bloecher Matters in Ufology
A. Methodological Rigor
Bloecher insisted on:
- witness interviews
- cross‑checking newspaper reports
- eliminating hoaxes
- cataloging cases systematically
This approach helped shift ufology away from anecdotal storytelling toward structured documentation.
B. Preservation of Early UFO History
His 1947 wave study preserved hundreds of cases that would otherwise have been lost. Modern historians rely heavily on his work to understand how UFO culture emerged after WWII.
C. Development of Humanoid Case Typology
Before Bloecher, humanoid encounters were scattered and inconsistently described. His catalogs helped establish patterns and categories still referenced today.
D. Influence on Later Researchers
Bloecher collaborated with major figures such as:
- Budd Hopkins (abduction research)
- Isabel Davis (CSI and NICAP)
- David Webb (Center for UFO Studies)
