Personal Collection

A 1903 spirit photograph by William M. Keeler featuring Dr. Theodor Hansmann and the spirit of Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) - American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War and succeeded in preserving the Union, abolishing slavery, bolstering the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy. Dr. Theodor Hansmann (1821-1912) – Physician and Spiritualist from Washington, D.C. and was reported to have worked as Abraham Lincoln’s medical advisor. He had sittings with many celebrated spirit photographers and mediums. He was known for having his photograph taken with famous spirits including John Wilkes Booth, Robert E.…

A 1910s spirit photograph by William M. Keeler. The photograph features flowers and the spirit of Judge Syrick. Judge Syrick was a Spiritualist who setup an experiment prior to his passing to communicate a password after his death. The Judge's wife later confirmed receiving this password through a medium. The following is written on the back of the photograph: By W. Keeler These flowers were in the room but not in the range of the camera but another direction. Judge Syrick

An 1860s spirit photograph by William H. Mumler featuring an unidentified man and spirit. The photograph is printed on a CDV card with the name of photographer W. W. Silver on the back. Silver was not a Spiritualist himself and had rented out studio space to Mumler during his early days in NYC. Mumler made use of Silver's equipment and chemicals. Mumler would eventually buy out the studio from Silver. Silver would go on to testify on Mumler's behalf during his trial. He stated: "He did not detect at any time anything that looked like fraud or deception on his part". The New York Herald - April 24, 1869

A 1860s spirit photograph by an unknown photographer featuring an unidentified woman and two spirit faces. The back of the photograph states from J. H. Nolan's Gallery of Art, Waterville N.Y. 1869.

An 1890s spirit photograph by F. N. Foster featuring B. F. Poole with spirit guide "Yarma". On the back is a partial advertisement for reproduction copies of Foster's photos for "15 cents". The front of the photograph indicates the photo was reproduced by Wendt from Boonton, NJ.

An 1890s spirit photograph by an unknown photographer featuring an unidentified man wearing a cowboy hat and two spirit faces.

An 1923 spirit photograph by an unknown photographer featuring J. J. Gentech surrounded by seven spirits. The photo states Camp Chesterfield – 1923 and taken during seance July 27. Camp Chesterfield – Founded in 1891 and is the home of the Indiana Association of Spiritualists, located in Chesterfield, Indiana. Camp Chesterfield offers Spiritualist Church services, seminary, and mediumship, faith healing, and spiritual development classes, as well as psychic readings for patrons.

An 1890s spirit photograph by an unknown photographer featuring an unidentified man wearing a cowboy hat and two spirit faces.

An engraving from the May 5th, 1877 edition of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper featuring the process of producing a fraudulent spirit photograph.

An 1880s spirit photograph by an unknown photographer featuring an unidentified woman and two spirit faces.