Topic Guide to Spiritualism
The information and links below include search tips and a selection of articles covering this topic in the digitized Louisiana newspapers. The dates and suggested search terms can help to further explore this topic on Chronicling America. For the most search results, try the search terms in different combinations, in proximity, and as phrases.
Significant Dates
1840s - Spiritualism movement gains traction as disconent with traditional religious organizations grows
1848 - The Fox sisters of Hydesville, New York attract thousands of followers and spark the modern spiritualist movement by claiming the ability to communicate with the dead. Hundreds of clairvoyants, palmists, and spirit guides begin popping up across America as the spiritualist movement’s popularity spreads.
1888 - The Fox sisters confess to fraud but later recant their confessions
1890 - Approximately 45,000 Americans identify themselves as affiliatesd with a spiritualist society
Suggested Search Terms
spiritualism, spiritism, spirit guides, clairvoyant, modern spiritualism, spiritual rappings
Sample Articles
- "Spiritual Rappings" New Orleans Daily Democrat, June 19, 1852, Image 3
- "Spiritual Rappings" The Planters' Banner, July 17, 1852 Image 2
- "The Rappers" The Planters' Banner, April 21, 1853, Image 1
- "Marrying a Corpse" The South-western, September 03, 1856, Image 1
- "Spiritualism Drooping" The South-western, August 12, 1857, Image 1
- "Exodus of Fanatics" New Orleans Daily Crescent, November 12, 1859, Image 1
- "Madame Caprell" New Orleans Daily Crescent, January 12, 1860, Image 4
- "Heavy Confidence Game" New Orleans Daily Crescent, February 28, 1860, Image 1
- "Madame LaBlanch" New Orleans Daily Crescenty, March 19, 1860, Image 1
- "Know Thy Destiny" The Louisiana Democrat, April 17, 1867, Image 1
- "A Visit to the Spirit Land" Sugar Planter, June 22, 1867, Image 4
- "Is Ghost-Seeing All Imagination?" The Louisiana Democrat, July 12, 1871, Image 1
- "Scientists on Spiritualism" The Colfax Chronicle, November 11, 1876, Image 1
- "Jugglery vs. Spiritualism" The Morning Star and Catholic Messenger, November 26, 1876, Image 6
- "Spiritualism" The New Orleans Daily Democrat, April 20, 1878, Image 8
- "Fair Play is a Jewel" Claiborne Guardian, July 10, 1878, Image 1
- "Reply to Equal Rights" Claiborne Guardian, September 11, 1878, Image 1
- "Philosophy of Spiritism" The Opelousas Courier, April 26, 1879, Image 2
- "A Mind-Reader's Trick" The Claiborne Guardian, September 01, 1880, Image 1
- "Clairvoyance Fraud" Madison Times, November 29, 1884, Image 1
- "Spread of Spiritualism" Richland Beacon, May 16, 1885, Image 1
- "Five Hundred a Spirit" Madison Times, June 13, 1885, Image 4
- "Spiritual Phenomena" The Weekly Messenger, August 09, 1890, Image 1
- "Religion of Ghosts" St. Tammany Farmer, March 31, 1900, Image 1
- "A Strange Prophecy" St. Landry Clarion, May 25, 1901, Image 2
- "Mr. Piper a Telepath" The Banner-Democrat, March 22, 1902, Image 1
- "Dr. Hyslop and the Spirit World" The Caucasian, February 24, 1907, Image 7
- "Facts, Fads, and Fallacies" The Colfax Chronicle, February 29, 1908, Image 2
- "Madame DeLule" The Lafayette Advertiser, March 10, 1908, Image 3
- "Church and Spiritualism" St. Landry Clarion, January 23, 1909, Image 6
- "Law Considers Spiritualists Vagrants" The Caldwell Watchman, October 18, 1912, Image 1
- "To Study Spooks" Tensas Gazette, April 11, 1913, Image 3
- "Mind Reader World's Famous Clairvoyant St. Clair" The Lafayette Advertiser, May 23, 1913, Image 3
- "Family of 11 Insanse" The Concordia Sentinel, June 18, 1921, Image 1