J. Malcolm (James Malcolm) Bird

Born in 1886 and dying in 1964, J. Malcolm Bird, sometimes listed as James Malcolm Bird, was an American writer and editor remembered today mainly for his connection to psychical research. He wrote for general readers and became a visible public figure in discussions about spiritualism and paranormal claims during a period when those subjects drew wide attention.

Bird was associated with the American Society for Psychical Research, where he served in an editorial role and helped present the subject to a broader audience. His name also appears in accounts of famous controversies involving mediums and investigators, including episodes connected with Harry Houdini, which placed him near some of the era's most dramatic arguments over belief, fraud, and scientific testing.

What makes Bird interesting now is the mix of curiosity and showmanship around his work. He belonged to a moment in American literary and magazine culture when writers could also become interpreters of science, mystery, and public spectacle, and his career captures that unusual overlap well.