James Bedford

James Bedford was a psychology professor and member of the family that founded Bedford, Massachusetts [1]. He was cryonically preserved (frozen) on January 12, 1967 in Glendale, California at age 73. Among those in the cryonics community, January 12 is celebrated as "Bedford Day", the anniversary of the first person cryopreserved for future reanimation who has been continuously maintained at cryogenic temperatures.

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History of his cryopreservation

Bedford was frozen by Robert Prehoda (author of the 1969 book Suspended Animation), Dr. Dante Brunol (physician and biophysicist) and Robert Nelson (President of the Cryonics Society of California). Nelson then wrote a book about the subject titled We Froze the First Man. Modern cryonics organizations perfuse cryonics patients with an anti-freeze (cryoprotectant) to prevent ice formation (vitrification), but the use of cryoprotectants in Bedford's case was primitive. He was injected with some DMSO, so it is unlikely that his brain was protected. He was truly "frozen".

Bedford's body was maintained in liquid nitrogen by his family until 1982. Then it was moved to Alcor Life Extension Foundation, and has remained in Alcor's care to the present day. In May 1991, his body's condition was evaluated when he was moved to a new storage dewar. The examiners concluded that "it seems likely that his external temperature has remained at relatively low subzero temperatures throughout the storage interval."

Works

• Bedford, James (????). Vocational interests of high-school students. University of California School of education, Division of vocational education. 
• Bedford, James (1938). Youth and the world's work: Vocational adjustment of youth in the modern world. Society for Occupational Research. 
• Bedford, James (1938). Vocational interests of secondary school students. Society for Occupational Research, University of California Station. 
• Bedford, James (1941). Occupational exploration: A guide to personal and occupational adjustment. Society for Occupational Research. 
• Bedford, James (1946). The veteran and his future job: A guide-book for the veteran. Society for Occupational Research. 
• Bedford, James (1950). Your future job: A guide to personal and occupational orientation of youth. Society for Occupational Research. 
• Bedford, James (1956). Your future job: A guide to personal and occupational orientation of youth in the atomic age. Society for Occupational Research. 

See also

• Alcor Life Extension Foundation
• Cryonics