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Science vs. Seance: A Gallery of Spirit Photography from The American Museum of Photography(SM)

The abortive trial of William H. Mumler in 1872 was the start of a decades-long battle between Science and the Séance. In the United States, Britain and France, spiritualists were investigated by expert commissions and spirit photographers were sometimes prosecuted for fraud.

Well into the 20th century, spirit photography had high-profile supporters–including the physicist Sir William Crookes and the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Many of the photographs in this exhibition were made under test conditions thought to rule out possible fraudulent acts.

But the skeptics took their toll. Led by the great illusionist Harry Houdini, investigators unmasked spirit mediums, revealing many of their “manifestations” to be nothing more than cynical tricks and sleight-of-hand.

And yet– there are people who still believe. Some cling to the hope of contacting a departed relative. Others buy books purporting to show modern-day photographs of ghosts. Television “documentaries” claim to reveal contemporary cases of hauntings. A young film actor whispers “I see dead people” and millions feel a chill go up their spines.

Many of the images presented here have been studied and debated for nearly a century. Whether they are ludicrous or miraculous is in the eye of the beholder.

Do you believe?

For Additional Text and Larger Images, Click on Any Photograph or Title Below

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	William Eglinton (England) Mary Burchett with Spirit of her School-Master Albumen cabinet card, 3.5 x 4.5 inches December 9, 1886 “Taken in my room with my own camera and plates by Mr. Eglinton and developed directly afterward in my presence.”
	Edward Wyllie (American; born India 1848, died London, 1911) J. R. Mercer with Spirits of his First Wife and Mother, a Spirit Message and Flowers from the Other Side Silver-gelatine cabinet card, 3.75 x 4.75 inches circa 1895
Edward Wyllie (American, 1848 –1911) Mr. Robert Whiteford, Professional Photographer of Rothesay, with “Extra” Silver print cabinet card, 3.5 x 4.75 inches October 7, 1909
	Robert Boursnell (England) Couple with the Spirit of an Old Family Doctor who Died Around 1880 Collodion print, 4 x 5.75 inches January 3, 1893
	Robert Boursnell (England) Self-Portrait with Spirits Silver print cabinet card, 4 x 5.5 inches March 9, 1902

F. C. E. Dimmick (England)

Ectoplasmic Photograph of the Medium Mrs. Henderson

Gelatin-silver print, 3.5 x 5 inches

October 2, 1928

William Hope (Crewe, England)

Rev. Charles L. Tweedale and Mrs. Tweedale with the Spirit Form of the late F. Burnett

Brown-toned silver print, 3 x 3.5 inches

Sept. 5, 1919

“Taken under good test conditions”

William Hope (Crewe, England)

Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Supernormal Pictures

Silver Print, 3 x 5 inches, before 1922

—Click on the Image or Title to View the Spirit “Extra” in this photograph–

Lady and Lord Conan Doyle are at the left in the middle row.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a Vice President of the S.S.S.P.

Dr. Thomas Glendenning Hamilton (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 1873-1935)

Conan Doyle’s Return (enlarged detail)

Gelatin-silver print of unknown date from negative taken June 27, 1932

The great writer’s spirit returns through the mediumship of Mrs. Mary Marshall–in a two-dimensional materialization. Doyle is seen in the upper portion of the “ectoplasm” shown exuding from the medium’s nose.

Click on the image or title to view a full-frame version of the seance photograph that contains this detail.

Click here for A Final Thought on Spirit Photography

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Click Below for The First Spirit Photographs:	Click for More Spirit Photography:	Click Logo for Museum’s Home Page
The Mumler Mystery	A Ghostly Gallery

The Museum gratefully acknowledges the research assistance of John Buescher (Washington, D.C.), Renae Satterley (Canada), Steven F. Joseph (Belgium), Gareth Winter (New Zealand) , Michael Pritchard (London) and Ross Becker (Texas).

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