![]() ![]() spirit photographs reinforced the familial function of photography by purporting to expose the ghosts of dead friends and relatives to their survivors. 19-29], “with its origins set against the background of life (and death) during the Civil War, spirit photography would help many mourners cope with the tragic losses around them. As author Louis Kaplan explains in his 2003 article “Where the Paranoid Meets the Paranormal: Speculations on Spirit Photography” (Art Journal, 62.3 : pp. Coat-tailing on the extremely spiritualist religious movement, Mumler made a small fortune photographing various living subjects – each of whom would be accompanied by the vague apparition of a deceased relative, a spirit guide, or a historically significant person acting as a mentor or guide. An amateur photographer in his spare time, Mumler’s big break came in March 1861 when he developed a self-portrait that appeared to feature the spirit of his long-dead cousin. The Strange Case of William Mumler, Spirit Photographer uses primary source documents – including prints of original photographs – to tell the fascinating story of a Boston jewel engraver who switched careers in order to become what was termed a spirit photographer. (Review copy supplied by University of Minnesota Press) Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2008 ![]() The Strange Case of William Mumler, Spirit Photographer. ![]()
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