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About BMGHA
Big Muddy Ghost Hunters, L.L.C. was cofounded in 2006 by Gerry Murphy, Cathy Murphy, and David Roberts, Ph.D., as both a ghost hunting group and as an educational enterprise. The ghost hunting aspect of BMGH organized and conducted investigations in various locations around Northeast Iowa. The educational aspect of the organization included historical walks along the Mississippi River in Dubuque, discussions of Art For The Afterlife, excursions through Linwood Cemetery, assorted lectures to business and social group gatherings, and bus and trolley tours of haunted sites around the Dubuque area. Recently, Gerry and Cathy retired and moved to Colorado, where they now reside. The reins of responsibility have now passed to Dr. Richard A. Barker.
Today, Big Muddy Ghost Hunters is a not-for-profit association of people interested in the paranormal; some of them are ghost hunters, and some of them are not. The main activities of the group include the following:
INVESTIGATIONS: Investigations are regularly conducted by BMGHA members at sites around the country. There is no charge for an investigation, and all findings are held in confidence unless otherwise requested. Anyone may apply for an investigation of a home, business, or other location.
ANALYSIS OF PARANORMAL PHENOMENA: BMGHA members spend a good deal of their time analyzing recordings, videos, photographs, and other evidence to determine causation. Often, no specific cause can be attributed to the phenomenon, in which case we consider paranormal possibilities.
ANALYSIS OF HISTORY AND FOLKLORE: BMGHA members research historical documents and oral tradition, and compile histories, stories, and folklore of the region.
LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS: BMGHA members are often sought after as speakers and lecturers. Subjects range from history and folklore, to investigative methods, to social and psychological aspects of paranormal study, to philosophical and theological implications of research findings and interpretations.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES: BMGHA members meet regularly to discuss paranormal issues, present findings and other information, and tell stories. These events are more or less restricted to the Dubuque area, but they offer a club-like atmosphere for people with similar interests to gather and exchange ideas.
WHAT BIG MUDDY GHOST HUNTERS ASSOCIATION IS NOT:
BMGHA is not an occult, or necessarily a spiritualist, organization. We accept and invite spiritual members, but we tend to emphasize the observable, the tangible, and the sensible. We do not condone Ouija boards, slate writing, séances, Tarot cards, or other similar devices commonly used in spiritualism--there are many organizations where those tools are acceptable. While we grant that there are legitimate mediums and spiritual communicators, we have no good way to determine legitimacy. Unscrupulous entrepreneurs of the past have created credibility problems for the entire spiritualism movement--and that is not us.
BMGHA is not a commercial enterprise. The money from any items we sell, or fees that we charge, is used to defray expenses, which are always greater than income. BMGHA is primarily a community service organization, and at least some of our members serve on boards and/or volunteer for other organizations that provide social and community services.
BMGHA is not a thrill-seeking vehicle. We do not throw Halloween parties, nor do we conduct high visibility investigations. Those who want to participate in a Blair Witch Project are encouraged to look elsewhere. Our members are motivated by a sincere interest in learning about what lies beyond our conventional knowledge. Ghost hunting, like archeology and other social sciences, consists of a good deal of pain-staking research and tedious review of evidence. The rewards, however, can be very gratifying.
The Head Honcho:
Richard A. Barker is an author, educator, social scientist, and Principal Investigator for Big Muddy Ghost Hunters Association. His A.B. and M.S. degrees from San Diego State University, and Ed.D. degree from the University of San Diego, are all in areas of psychology. In addition to academic subjects, Dr. Barker has studied paranormal phenomena for over fifty years. He is a Member of The American Psychological Association (Div. 1 & Div. 14), a Senior Member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and a Life Member of the American Federation of Musicians. He has taught various subjects at graduate and undergraduate levels for over thirty years, and he has worked in aerospace manufacturing and administration. Dr. Barker has published five books and numerous articles, and has been contracted to write a book entitled Haunted Dubuque, which will be released in August, 2011. Dr. Barker serves on the boards of social service organizations and on the editorial boards of academic journals. His biography can be found in Marquis' Who's Who In America.