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The Mumler Mystery
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Spiritualism
in America--and more specifically, spirit
photography-- was taken to court in New York City
in 1869. The case: a preliminary hearing for
William H. Mumler, who was charged with fraud for
selling photographs that he claimed included images
of ghosts or spirits. Testimony and arguments
lasted for seven days. On Mumler's side, witnesses
included a prominent former judge who was also a
spiritualist. Among the opposing witnesses were
several photographers who explained how the same
effects could be achieved by darkroom tricks, and
P. T. Barnum--who said he purchased some of
Mumler's photographs to exhibit them in his museum
as specimens of humbug. The
hearing attracted nationwide attention, including
the full cover page (and back-page cartoon ) of the
mass circulation Harper's Weekly. In
the end, the judge in the case reluctantly decided
to drop the charges against Mumler, citing a lack
of evidence. According to The New York Daily
Tribune, the judge explained "however he might
believe that trick and deception had been practiced
[by Mumler], yet, as he sat there in his
capacity as magistrate, he was compelled to
decide...the prosecution had failed to prove the
case." Both
sides were thus able to declare victory. The
prosecution had exposed Mumler, revealing that the
same "ghost" appeared in certain photographs taken
in Boston and New York-- a "spirit" who turned out
to be very much a living mortal. Mumler
went back to spirit photography and gloated a bit
in a pamphlet he published in 1875. But his brush
with the law took its toll, both to his reputation
and to his finances. Mumler never recovered from
the $3000 cost of his defense, a staggering sum for
its day. He destroyed all of his negatives shortly
before his death in 1884. |
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William
H. Mumler (active Boston & New York,
1832-1884) "Master
Herrod in a Trance. His Spiritual Body Withdrawn and Appears
Behind." Albumen
print carte de visite, circa 1868 Mrs.
French of Boston with Spirit Son Albumen
print carte de visite, circa 1868 Unidentified
Man with Two Spirits. Albumen
print carte de visite, circa 1870. Moses
A. Dow, Editor of Waverley Magazine, with
the Spirit of Mabel Warren. Albumen
print carte de visite, circa 1871 "Mrs.
Conant of Banner of Light. Her Brother, Charles
H. Crowell" Albumen
print carte de visite, circa 1868 1.
Mr. DOBBS,
at the request of his Affianced, sits for
his Photograph. Unconsciously happens in
at MUMLER'S. 2.
Result--Portrait of
DOBBS,
with his Five Deceased Wives in
Spirituo!!! Harper's
Weekly, May 8, 1869
William
H. Mumler (Boston)
William
H. Mumler (Boston):
William
H. Mumler (Boston):
William
H. Mumler (Boston)
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& Ectoplasm: A
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The Museum gratefully acknowledges the research assistance of John Buescher, Rob Cox, and the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan.
Copyright © 2000 The American Photography Museum, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
