IGHS History
The International Ghost Hunters Society was established in 1996 and was operated by Dr. Dave Oester and Dr. Sharon Gill Oester. Dave and Sharon started ghost hunting in 1990. They started the International Ghost Hunters Society in 1996 to provide information to those interested in the paranormal because at the time there were very few web sites on ghosts and paranormal research. They decided to share all of their knowledge. They helped start over 100 internet ghost research groups that expanded into the explosion of ghost hunting and paranormal research groups found today. They grandfathered the paranormal research/ ghost hunting movement on the internet. Dave designed and maintained their web site Ghostweb.com, averaging over 100,000 hits a month. Dave and Sharon are the coauthors of 25 books. They authored the most comprehensive Study Courses on ghost hunting and paranormal investigating that are available. They have shipped their courses all around the world. The International Ghost Hunters Society is the largest ghost research organization on the Internet with members in 90 countries. Dr. Dave was the first to offer courses on the paranormal including ghost hunting and paranormal investigating starting in 1997. Dr. Dave and his wife Sharon completed over 1,500 case investigations at 378 different haunted sites in North and Central America. They recorded over 5,200 E.V.P recordings! They started holding ghost seminars and conferences starting back in 1997 when they held their first conference in Decatur, Illinois. They have held many seminars and conferences all over the country even a Caribbean Seminar at Sea in February 2003 aboard the MS Regal. After the passing of Dr. Sharon Gill Oester on 1/7/2014. Dr. Dave continued to own and operate the International Ghost Hunters Society until his passing on 10/1/2015. Both Dave and Sharon's passing left a big hole in the hearts of their family's and the paranormal community they contributed so much to.
Media Background
Our media Background
Our Fiction Books:
The Dark Wizard
The Prophecy
Lost Nazi Gold
Pandora Key
Lost Aztec Gold (2010)
Hollow Earth
Screenplays:
Curse of Shadow Mountain
Pandora Key
Hollow Earth
Aztec Gold
Our Non-Fiction Books:
Twilight Visitors
Haunted Reality
Certified Ghost Hunter Home Study Course
Certified Paranormal Investigator Home Study Course
Certified EVP Researcher Home Study Course
Certified Quantum Practitioner Home Study Course
Certified Paranormal Counselor Home Study Course
Magic Dimensions
EVP Handbook
The Donner Party Tragedy in the Sierra Mountains
Digital Ghost Photography Handbook
Ancient Indians of the Southwest
The Truth about Parallel Dimensions
My Adventure in a Haunted House
Living with Ghosts
Ghost Hunting for Beginners
Haunted America
Forbidden Knowledge: The Search for God, Immortality, and Ghosts
Restless Spirits Across America
Ghosts of Gettysburg: Walking on Hallowed Ground
Ghostweb Journal
Talking to the Dead with Ghostbox Technology
Exploring the Haunted Southwest
Beyond Death: Restless Spirits
Tao of Ghost Hunting
Travel Magazine Articles:
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: Ghosts of Williams, Arizona
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: Very Large Array Telescope, NM
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: 1880 Rugby Utopian Village
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: Captain Jack’s Stronghold: Lava Beds
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: Home of the Peace Pipe: Pipestone, MN
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: Rockhounding in Deming, NM
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: 1889 Johnstown Flood
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: 1650 Spanish Missions
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: Haunted Casinos
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: Haunted Gettysburg B&Bs
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: Chaco Canyon
Resort and Lodges Travel Magazine: Ghost Towns
Our Online Newsletters Articles:
Rock Hound Station 1: The Haunted Kelly Mine (October 2006)
Universal Life Church Online: Death and the Afterlife (October 2006)
Prime Time Television and Cable Networks:
ABC Dot Comedy
The Learning Channel Mysterious Places
The History Channel
Fox Ghosts: Fact or Fiction
German TV
ABC AM Northwest
Northwest Cable News (WA-OR-ID-AK-CA-MT)
ABC Debra Duncan Show (Houston, TX)
ABC News Nightline
Mysteries, Magic, and Miracles
Sightings
Strange Universe
The Learning Channel
Looking Beyond
ABC World News
NBC Good Evening (Portland, OR)
NBC Evening Magazine (Seattle, WA)
NBC News
CNN News
Fox Network (San Francisco, CA)
ABC That's Increditable
Media Consultants to Sightings & Strange Universe
Radio Talk Shows & Interviews:
Jeff Rense (Third Friday of each month)
Bright Side Radio
Scott MacKillop (Australia 2010)
Behind the Mike (2010)
Whitley Streiber's Dreamland
David John Oates 2006 (Australia)
Mike Stubbs, CBJK Radio 1290, London, Ontario (2006)
The Gunny Bob Show on KOA (2006)
The Deadline
Red Bar Radio
Tony Gill Radio
Brad Steiger Halloween 2009
Brad Steiger Halloween 2008
Brad Steiger Halloween 2007
Brad Steiger Halloween 2006
Brad Steiger Halloween 1 2005
Brad Steiger Halloween 2 2005
Brad Steiger Halloween Special 2003
BBC of Ireland
BBC London
WNSR-Philadelphia, PA
ZIP-FM, Nagoya, Japan
Edge of Reality
Sightings with Jeff Rense (Regular on Show)
Art Bell's Dreamland
Clyde Lewis Ground Zero---Salt Lake City, UT
X-Chronicles Radio Show -- Ontario, Canada
WWCR--Mike Jarmus Show, Shortwave Radio
KRTK--Jim Mackrell--Houston, TX
WTBS Chat Room for Poltergeist Movie
Radio America
WEBC
WGN--Chicago
WHTT
WIOD--Miami, FL
Steve & DC Morning Show--St. Louis, MO
WBT
South Africa SAFM--South Africa
National & International Newspapers-Magazines:
Weekly Reader: Know Your World Extra
Bangkok Post
REVISTA ISTOÉ (São Paulo, Brazil) June 2007
Down Town (Spain) October 2006
Fate Magazine, August 2000
Seventeen, October 2000
digitalFOTO, August 2000
Fate Magazine, January 2000
Japanese magazine "Nikkei Click"
New Scientist, 19/26 December 1998-2 January 1999 Issue (UK)
Good Housekeeping Magazine, October 1998
Eva-European Women's Magazine
Official X-File Magazine, Premiere Issue, Spring 1997
FATE Magazine, April 1997
Ghost of the Prairie Magazine, April 1997, July 1997
Shadowland
U.S. News & World Report, November 3, 1997 Issue
Fortean Times
Country Living Magazine, October 1997 Issue
Cosmic
Various Newspapers:
London Sunday Times
LA Times
Washington Post
Independent Post
The National Examiner--3/4 page
Chicago Sun-Times
Connecticut Post
The Olympian
The Oregonian
The Chronicle & Sentinel-Mist
The New Rainier Review
The Daily Astorian
The Statesman Journal
The Chinook Observer
The Spotlight
USA Today
New York Times
The Tennessean
South Bend Tribune
Philadelphia Inquirer
Gettysburg Journal
Mountain Mail
Online Chat Interviews:
Discovery Channel Canada--EXN.CA
ComedyWorld.com Bobby Slatten and Sue Murphy Show
Washington Post -- Unexplained
Online TBS
The passing of Sharon Oester
All the below is written by Dr. Dave Oester...
May 6, 1949 - January 7, 2014
My beloved Sharon Oester passed away from cancer after fighting this battle for ten months. She will be sorely missed by friends, family, and members of the International Ghost Hunters Society. She was married to Dave Oester for 24 years. Sharon and Dave were known by many on the radio shows as the Oester Twins. Sharon graduated from the New York Institute of Photography and accumulated over ten thousand slides of outdoor scenes. Sharon completed a two-year program with the University of Metaphysics resulting in a doctorate in Metaphysical Counseling. Her thesis was on Understanding Death and Grief and is the basis for the Part 2 of the Home Study Course. Her thesis helped people who have experienced the loss of a loved one, how to work through that grief and discover the inner strength that comes from surviving the loss of a loved one. Sharon loved being the co-founder of the International Ghost Hunters Society. She loved to respond to email request for help regarding death and grieving issues. She had thousands of fans who will miss her weekly contribution to the online Newsletter. Reverend Sharon was ordained metaphysical minister in 1997 through the International Metaphysical Ministry and could legally perform marriage ceremonies, baptisms, funerals and all other ministerial services
The passing of Dr. Dave Oester
Dave Oester was a man who pursued many dreams in his life.
He was the leader of the International Ghost Hunter Society, inventor, Reiki master, spiritual teacher, self-published author and publisher, USMC veteran, explorer, accountant, wildcatter, minister, lecturer, and dowser.
Dave was a living example that dreams are worth striving for even when there are those who would laugh or mock them. He was never afraid to try something new. He looked for ways to believe the impossible. He gave us all a great sense of adventure and the idea that there is more to this life than we are told.
We will never forget the impact he had on our lives, shaping us into the people we are today.
Dave passed away October 1st, 2015. Dave is survived by his five children, Joanna Wilbur, Andrew Oester, David Oester, Sarah Thompson and Carolina Forni. As well as his two younger brothers, Richard and Steven Oester.
