Blake College

Blake College was a short-lived independent liberal arts college founded by biologist and nutritionist Ray Peat in 1962. It emphasized student-directed learning, academic freedom, and interdisciplinary studies in science, philosophy, and art. The institution operated in two phases: first in Mexico from 1962 to 1965, and then in Eugene, Oregon, from 1966 to 1975.

Founding and Early Years in Mexico (1962–1965)

Ray Peat founded Blake College in 1962 in Mexico City but moved it to Valle de Bravo, Mexico, after a few months. It was a small, independent liberal arts college located in a Victorian house, where the students developed their own study programs and were awarded great academic freedom; its purpose was to “teach how to invent knowledge and solve problems”. Having been disappointed with the authoritarian academic culture in the US, Ray created the college in reaction to it with great initial success. In his letter to Bertrand Russell in 1963, Ray highlighted that Blake College placed most emphasis on science, philosophy, and art, and mentioned that the average IQ of the students there “is well over 145” despite the average student having had “only two years of higher education.”

Shutdown in Mexico (1965)

In 1965, when Madalyn Murray reported Blake College to the Mexican federales for “illegal drug trade” in an attempt to overtake it, it was quickly shut down and the students were deported (there is a small chapter about the whole ordeal in Murray’s biographical book Ungodly but a brief passage of it reads below). "Madalyn painted Blake College as a bacchanalian dope factory. And she had proof! A veterinary hypodermic needle, used by one of the students to clear up his dog’s ear infection, became the smoking-gun evidence of a heroin shooting gallery. A tape recording of a music teacher and students in a flute recital became proof of orgiastic narcotic rites. Vials of vitamins such as niacin - which Peat had used in his nutrition courses - were transformed into illicit drug stockpiles. Even Peat’s morning ritual of attempting to get the students on a more healthy diet, by making wheat-germ pancakes for them, was alleged to be the mass ingestion of some organic hallucinogen." Before the school’s closure, Ray also spoke about visits from undercover FBI agents because of the school’s “anti-war” stance, but that they had decided he was “ok” and let him be.

Reopening in Oregon (1966–1975)

In 1966, Ray reopened Blake College in Eugene, Oregon, and this time it had a slight reversal of emphasis from liberal arts subject matter to theoretical discussions on learning and creativity. It operated out of a Victorian house again, near Skinner’s Butte. For nearly a decade after, Ray’s efforts were focused on trying to get the school accredited to be able to hand out degrees to its graduates. He had initially thought about starting the college in California, but the state had informed him that a college would only be allowed to legally issue transcripts if it had a capital of at least $50,000. In one newspaper excerpt dated 1969, Ray said:"A system of 'free scholars' has existed in England for 700 years. The basis of an Oxford education is reading, with comprehensive examinations required after the residence period. Oregon's new program for 20 students is a very small step in the right direction, but to call it 'experimental' seems to insult the other 14,000 students who will not be admitted to the program, implying that it is dubious that even 20 students are really motivated by a desire to learn. Granted that some of the University residents need custodial care, it is improper to attempt to combine the functions of discovery and learning with the confinement and entertainment of socially irresponsible people. I propose, therefore, that Oregon State, or a similar institution, be given a purely custodial role, retaining all the authoritarian features of the German universities we have copied in the U.S. for 200 years (including grades and examinations every few weeks). This would free the University to be a university, in which every student was expected to be a free scholar."In another excerpt (dated 1975), he stated that Blake had been unable to grant degrees by exam because an assistant superintendent of a public institution opposed it. ”She summed up her position by saying ‘What students know has nothing to do with education.’” His efforts to “legitimize” Blake College were unfortunately unfruitful and Ray eventually left.

Discussions, Lectures, and Classes

Below is a compilation of discussions, lectures, and classes offered at Blake College that have been collected from various newspapers dating back to the ‘60s, however, it is by no means complete. The existence of a “Blake College Bulletin” and “Emanations from Blake College” (the first issue of the school’s journal) has been mentioned numerous times before but it seems that a digital copy does not exist.

• “Blake College Discussion will focus on ‘William Blake and the Mystical Experience’ and improvisions at 9 p.m. Thursday at 200 N. Jefferson.“
• “Jim Boggs, anthropologist, will lead a discussion on “Ways of Liberation: Mystical Transcendence,” at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Blake College, 200 North Jefferson.”
• “Psychotherapies, biochemistry, and nutrition: a series of discussions beginning tonight at 7 pm. The public is invited. It will be at Blake College, 300½ N. Jefferson St., phone 344-8144.”
• “Free classes in figure drawing, existentialism, and language will be offered during the summer by Blake College. Call 345-4598.”
• “You may read your poems aloud at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Blake College, 200 North Jefferson.”
• “Blake College will discuss Buckminster Fuller at 9 tonight at 200 N. Jefferson, 345-4598.”
• “WINTER IN MEXICO: Liberal Arts, Latin American Studies, Spanish. Write for Bulletin: Blaek College, Santee, California.”
• “Biology is a radical discipline when every cell has infinite vision. BLAKE COLLEGE (nice female biologists welcome) R. Peat, 200 N. Jefferson, Eugene, Oregon 97402”
• “BLAKE COLLEGE: education as a process of consciousness-expansion. Create or die. 342 East Tenth, Eugene, Oregon, 97401”
• “A series of evening classes, open to the public, will begin tonight at Blake College in Eugene…courses will include ‘Hesse’, ‘The American Scene’: with an emphasis on politics, ‘Wilhelm Reich and Personality’, ‘Linguistics After the Structuralists’, ‘Phenomenology’: a study of Gestalt psychology and post-critical philosophy, Spanish, Satire, William Blake, ‘The Poetry of Rock’, figure drawing and painting, ‘Modern Theories and Techniques of Child Education’, ‘China as a World Phenomenon - The Ancient Philosophy and the Modern Media Collision’, ‘The Eastern West’, ‘Religion - Psychedelic and Historic’”.
• “Wilhelm Reich’s Sexual-Political-Energetic Discoveries: discussion, open to the public will be held at 9 p.m. tonight at Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson.“
• "A discussion of the unique view of the nature of man developed by the early 20th-century theorist Rudolf Steiner will be held at 8 pm Wednesday at Blake College, 342 E. 10th Ave."
• “A discussion, ‘Whitehead and the Revolutionary Scientists’ will be held at 9 Friday night at Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson.“
• "Current concerns of the Blake community center on several projects related to the ‘Panic Philosophy’ of Jodorowski, the leading Latin American mime; whose discoveries parallel those of Goodman's Gestalt Therapy attempts to extend Reichian scientific theories, and the development of a creativity, bodily perception oriented language theory based upon Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological answers to Sartre's overly isolated brand of existentialism, breaking free and can no longer tolerate the comparatively rote learning of residue should consider some of these alternatives: For admission to Blake write Luke Carpenter, Registrar, 301 W. 11th, Eugene, Oregon."
• "The Role of the Masons in the Politics of Latin America" taught by Iso Brante.
• "SIGMUND FREUD: a series of lectures and discussions will begin at 8 tonight at Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson. The public is invited."
• "Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson, is sponsoring a 'Pataphysical Halloween' party tonight. There is no charge but guests should bring refreshments."
• "Ray Peat of Blake College will discuss closed systems on earth and how to expand further than now projected by Western scientists."
• "PSI Horizons will feature two different guest speakers this week. Tuesday's workshop on ‘Matter, Consciousness and Time Perception,’ led by Ray Peat of Blake College includes a visual perceptions slide show; all those interested are welcome in Room 166 Lawrence from 7 to 9:30 p.m."
• “There will be a discussion on Empiricism vs Science at 9 p.m. Friday at Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson.“
• "Ray Peat, a local man who has taught at the University and recently formed his own school (Blake College), will talk about his recent research into energy levels and its effects on aging. Peat's lecture is titled ‘Stimulation and Exploration: the Fountain of Youth.’ Hart said Peat's research deals with the reasons people begin to age and eventually die."
• “A discussion concerning free education and the controllers will be held at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson. The public invited.“
• “An open discussion on Phenomenological Sensitivity Training and plans for an encounter group will be held at 8 p.m. Sunday at Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson. The class on William Blake continues at 7 p.m. Tuesdays; open discussion follows at 9 p.m. ‘Drawing Instructions’ with Steve Gilbert are also planned.”
• “A discussion of Ego and Sex begins at 9 p.m. today at Blake College.“
• “A proposal for an interdepartmental doctoral program will be discussed at 9 p.m. at Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson, 345-4598.”
• “Free classes in figure drawing, existentialism, and language will be offered during the summer by Blake College. Call 345-4598.”
• “Discussion: ‘Exceptional Modes of Discovery‘ at 9 p.m. Friday at Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson.“
• “Extrasensory perception will be discussed at 9 p.m. Tuesday at the weekly Blake College public discussion led by Marcia Frendel. The meeting will be held at 200 N. Jefferson.“
• “Bill Watson will discuss ‘Ovspen-sky and the 4th Dimension’ at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson. Subsequent raps will deal with Reichian therapy May 6 and 13.“
• “Transcendental Meditation as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, sponsored by Students International Meditation Society, will be offered free at 8 tonight at Blake College.“
• “A discussion on biology, intelligence, and existentialism - ‘What is their relationship to each other?‘ - will be held at 9 tonight at Blake College, 200 N. Jefferson St. For information call 345-4598.“
• "Biological immortality will be discussed by Raymond Peat, M.A., at 9 p.m. today at Blake College, 200 Jefferson."
• "Wilhelm Reich's Theory of Orgasm will be discussed Tuesday at 9 p.m. by Luke Carpenter and Raymond Peat at Blake College, 200 North Jefferson; phone 345-4598."

Legacy

Sadly Ray’s biggest project was so short-lived, and how cruelly it was fought and subverted by nefarious actors. There has been a revival of incredible vigor and spirit in online communities after Ray’s passing, if the re-establishment of such a college is any possibility, then its best hopes lie within these spheres of intelligent anons.