Tag: Spiritualist

An advertisement in the July 26th, 1913 edition of Light for James Coates' book, Photographing the Invisible. The advertisement states the book "traces the history of 'Spirit Photography' in during the past forty years, and gives a lucid account of its remarkable progress". Photographing the Invisible (1911) - A book about the practice of spirit photography in the late 19th and early 20th century. Coates describes his own experiences and techniques for capturing images of spirits and analyzes the work of others in the field, while also exploring the history and methods of spiritualism. James Coates (c. 1927) – British writer on Spiritualism and spirit photography. He contributed articles to Light and Two Worlds and was the author of the…

A 1920s spirit photograph RPPC (Real Photograph Postcard) by an unknown photographer. The photograph features three spirits at Camp Chesterfield Spiritualist community. Written on the back is "Find at least ghosts". 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.

A 1909 spirit photograph by Edward Wyllie featuring Mrs. James Coates and the spirit of her daughter. The back of the photograph states: Mrs. Coates. Picture of daughter, with lilies as promised three years before - for identity. Mrs. Coates wanted it known how we should know her, as she passed away as young child. She promised the lilies. Her spirit name being "lily". Mr. Wyllie, knew nothing of Lily. / Identified Portrait James Coates (c. 1927) - British writer on Spiritualism and spirit photography. He contributed articles to Light and Two Worlds and was the author of the book Photographing the Invisible.

An 1890s spirit photograph by Robert Boursnell featuring James Robertson and a spirit, surrounded by ectoplasm. Written on the back is "James Robertson, President Glasgow Association of Spiritualists with extra. / Psychic Photographer Boursnell". James Robertson was a Scotish author of several Spiritualists books and president of The Glasgow Association of Spiritualists.

An 1872 spirit photograph by Frederick A. Hudson featuring the medium Georgiana Houghton and the spirit of her aunt. Georgiana Houghton (1814–1884) - British artist and Spiritualist medium.

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 1909 spirit photograph by Edward Wyllie featuring Mrs. James Coates and a spirit. James Coates (c. 1927) - British writer on Spiritualism and spirit photography. He contributed articles to Light and Two Worlds and was the author of the book Photographing the Invisible.

An 1874 spirit photograph by Édouard Isidore Buguet. The photograph features Spritualist Charles Blackburn, the medium Florence Cook, and the spirit of "Ketty King" [sic]. Florence Eliza Cook (1856 – 1904) - Medium who claimed to materialise a spirit, “Katie King”. The question of whether the spirit was real or a fraud was a notable public controversy of the mid-1870s.

An 1870s spirit photograph by Benson C. Hazelton. The photograph features Mrs. Margaret Wilkinson, sister of Spiritualist medium Emma Hardinge Britten and two spirits. Emma Hardinge Britten (1823 – 1899) - English advocate for the early Modern Spiritualist Movement. Much of her life and work was recorded and published in her speeches and writing and an incomplete autobiography edited by her sister. She is remembered as a writer, orator, trance clairvoyant, and spirit medium

An 1870s spirit photograph by Benson C. Hazelton. The photograph features Mrs. Floyd, mother of Spiritualist medium Emma Hardinge Britten, and four recognized spirits. Emma Hardinge Britten (1823 – 1899) - English advocate for the early Modern Spiritualist Movement. Much of her life and work was recorded and published in her speeches and writing and an incomplete autobiography edited by her sister. She is remembered as a writer, orator, trance clairvoyant, and spirit medium