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Polygraph Collection

The polygraph, commonly known as a lie detector test, has a fascinating history that dates back centuries

Background imagePolygraph Collection: Lie detector test

Lie detector test
MODEL RELEASED. Lie detector test. Pulse meters on a mans fingers during a lie detector, or polygraph, test. A polygraph records changes in a number of physiological processes

Background imagePolygraph Collection: John Isaac Hawkins patent polygraph machine or autopen

John Isaac Hawkins patent polygraph machine or autopen. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by J. Farey Jr

Background imagePolygraph Collection: Cleve Backster experimenting on plant sensitivity

Cleve Backster experimenting on plant sensitivity
Grover Cleveland " Cleve" Backster (b.1924), American scientist, best known for his experiments with biocommunication in plant and animal cells

Background imagePolygraph Collection: Polygraph for brain and body monitoring in ESP testing

Polygraph for brain and body monitoring in ESP testing
A multi-pen polygraph for the monitoring of brain and body functions during ESP testing. Date: 20th century

Background imagePolygraph Collection: Letter from President Thomas Jefferson to American painter and inventor Charles Willson Peale

Letter from President Thomas Jefferson to American painter and inventor Charles Willson Peale
JEFFERSON: POLYGRAPH. Letter from President Thomas Jefferson to American painter and inventor Charles Willson Peale, on suggestions to improve the polygraph machine, 17 November 1804

Background imagePolygraph Collection: Lie Detector Test

Lie Detector Test
Berkeley, California: c. 1924. The Berkeley police department has installed a Lie Detector by which a prisoners sub-conscious reactions to questions are recorded by a sensitive needle on a revolving

Background imagePolygraph Collection: Lewis-mckenzie polygraph, circa 1900 C017 / 6947

Lewis-mckenzie polygraph, circa 1900 C017 / 6947
Lewis-McKenzie polygraph, made in 1900 by Cambridge and Paul Instrument Co. This device was used to graphically record venous and arterial pulses simultaneously

Background imagePolygraph Collection: A polygraph, or portable copying press, owned by President Thomas Jefferson

A polygraph, or portable copying press, owned by President Thomas Jefferson
JEFFERSON: POLYGRAPH. A polygraph, or portable copying press, owned by President Thomas Jefferson

Background imagePolygraph Collection: HAWKINS POLYGRAPH, 1803. John Isaac Hawkins polygraph which he invented in 1803

HAWKINS POLYGRAPH, 1803. John Isaac Hawkins polygraph which he invented in 1803. Thomas Jefferson acquired the letter-copying device in 1804. Contemporary English line engraving

Background imagePolygraph Collection: Lie detector traces

Lie detector traces. Traces from an analogue lie detector, or polygraph, machine. The machine records changes in a number of physiological processes

Background imagePolygraph Collection: Lie detector machine

Lie detector machine
MODEL RELEASED. Lie detector machine. Polygraph examiner with an analogue lie detector, or polygraph, machine. The machine records changes in a number of physiological processes

Background imagePolygraph Collection: Krippner Experiment 2

Krippner Experiment 2
A subject in Krippners DREAM TELEPATHY EXPERIMENT at the Maimonides Laboratory, Brooklyn (New York) : EEG and polygraph record her brain and emotional activity

Background imagePolygraph Collection: Krippner Experiment 3

Krippner Experiment 3
A subject in Krippners DREAM TELEPATHY EXPERIMENT at the Maimonides Laboratory, Brooklyn (New York) : EEG and polygraph record her brain and emotional activity


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The polygraph, commonly known as a lie detector test, has a fascinating history that dates back centuries. Cleve Backster's groundbreaking experiments on plant sensitivity in the 1960s laid the foundation for this remarkable device. However, its origins can be traced even further back to John Isaac Hawkins' patent of the polygraph machine or autopen in the early 19th century. Over time, the polygraph evolved and found new applications. It became an essential tool for monitoring brain and body activity during ESP testing, allowing researchers to delve into the depths of human consciousness. Its significance was recognized by none other than President Thomas Jefferson himself when he wrote a letter to American painter and inventor Charles Willson Peale in 1804, suggesting improvements for the polygraph machine. One intriguing artifact associated with this invention is a portable copying press owned by President Jefferson – a precursor to modern-day photocopiers – which demonstrates his interest in technological advancements like the polygraph. As technology progressed, so did our understanding of deception detection. The Lewis-McKenzie polygraph from around 1900 exemplifies this advancement with its refined design and enhanced accuracy. Today, we still rely on the trustworthiness of lie detector tests as they continue to play a crucial role in various fields such as law enforcement and security screenings. With each examination conducted using these sophisticated machines, we uncover hidden truths that shape our understanding of human behavior. Whether it's Cleve Backster's pioneering work or Thomas Jefferson's involvement with improving its functionality centuries ago - there is no denying that lie detector tests have come a long way since their inception.