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Gray Roscoe Barker (1925 - 1984)
Gray Roscoe Barker is an American researcher from the 1950's. Member of the Flying Saucers Bureau, Barker is most known for his stories about Men In Black (MIB) and the involvement of the FBI. From the Saucerian bullettin, Baker spreads the craziest stories. He later reaches commercial success.
By Michele Bugliaro Goggia - last modified: April 16, 2006 3:00 PM
Born in 1925 at Rifle, Virginia, from a poor family. Barker is the only one of his family to go to University, he graduates in 1947 and teaches for a year at a high school.
In April 1952 he reads on Other Worlds about the new International Flying Saucers Bureau, owned by Bender, and contacts him and quickly becomes reporter for western Virginia. During the autumn of the same year, Barker hears of the Flatwoods monster, close to where he lives, and submits an article to Fate. Barker starts investigating, reinforcing his passion for ufology. During January 1953 he publishes his first article in Space Review (the IFSB's official magazine). Barker tells about a visit of man, allegedely from the FBI, investigating a Florida man who died of epileptic crisis. The FBI guy shows him a visit card belonging to the IFSB, found among the dead's belongings. Barker warns Bender about it and, on September 9, the same Bender answers astonished about the FBI's interest for his group. The same Bender suggests Barker not to do anything before he receives the October issue of "Space Review"
From September 1953 Barker starts his own amateur bullettin, "The Saucerian", in which he spreads the craziest stories of that time, from MIB to contactees. From 1956 the fanzine becomes "The Saucerian Bullettin": he publishes the MIB-centered book "They knew too much about flying saucers", with average success. Barker is invited as guest to radio broadcasts, like the one with Long John Nebel.
Surfing the wave of success, from 1957 to 1959 he writes for Ray Palmer's "Flying Saucer Magazine" the column "Chasing the Flying Saucers". In 1959, he sells his bullettin to James Moseley of the "Saucer News"
From 1959 Barker starts his own publishing house, the "Saucerian Press": the first book published is a Howard Menger's. Quite commercial but financially successful, the following books are about mothman. In 1968 Barker buys "Saucer News" and continues its publishing until 1972. Then , it's time for "Gray Barker's News Letter". "Saucerian Press" becomes "New Age Press" in the 1980s.
Barker dies in 1984.
external links
Gray Barker: my friend, the myth-maker
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