Ghosts on Film: A Deep‑Dive into Paranormal Photography
An archive episode for Halloween, highlights from our fascinating conversation with Beth Saunders, Curator & Head of Special Collections at UMBC’s Albemarle Coon Library & Gallery. Joe & Molly explored the eerie world of paranormal photography – from 19th‑century “spirit photographs” to 1960s “thought‑graphs” and the modern archives that preserve these mysterious images.
—
1. The Birth of Spirit Photography (1830‑1860)
1839: The daguerreotype is announced – photography is born.
Mid‑1800s: The American religious movement **Spiritualism** gains momentum, promising communication with the dead.
Late 1860s: The first **spirit photographs** appear, often marketed as proof that the afterlife existed.
“Photography was invented in 1839, and almost immediately Spiritualism latched onto it as a way to prove its beliefs.” – Podcast host Joe Giordano
2. William Mumler – The Original Ghost Photographer
Profession – Boston studio portraitist
Breakthrough – Self‑portrait showing a “spirit” of his deceased cousin
Business boom – Offered custom spirit portraits; his wife, a medium, may have helped “channel” the images
Legal drama – 1869 trial in New York; expert witnesses (including P.T. Barnum) testified, but Mumler was never convicted
Celebrity client – Mary Todd Lincoln – a post‑trial portrait allegedly captured Abraham Lincoln’s spirit
“Mumler never confessed, and no one could ever explain exactly how he did it.” – Beth Saunders (UMBC librarian)
3. War, Crisis, and the Rise of Ghost Images
American Civil War (1861‑1865) – Spike in demand for post‑mortem and spirit photography.
World War I – Renewed interest as families sought visual contact with fallen soldiers.
Post‑war shift – From religious Spiritualism to scientific paranormal studies (e.g., Harry Price, Nandor Fodor).
“Photography has always had a strong relationship with death; during times of turmoil, spirit photographs resurface.” – Podcast discussion
4. From Poltergeists to Thoughtography: 20th‑Century Shifts
Nandor Fodor (psychologist) – Coined “poltergeist”; argued hauntings stem from repressed psychic energy, not spirits.
Harry Price (magician‑investigator) – Investigated alleged hauntings, documented skeptical methodology.
Eileen Garrett (trance medium) – Collected parapsychology archives that include ghost photos of the famed Borley Rectory (England’s “most haunted house”).
Thoughtography vs. Dreamography
– Early thoughtography (1900s) – Camera‑less images captured via plates attached to a sitter’s head while asleep; produced abstract light smears.
– Dreamography (Louis Dargé) – Similar technique, focused on visualizing dreams.
These terms still attract niche search traffic from **“early thoughtography examples”** and **“dreamography photographs”**.
5. Ted Sirios & the “Thoughtographs” Phenomenon
Who? – Chicago bellhop Ted Sirios claimed to project thoughts onto Polaroid film (the word *thoughtograph* = “thought picture”).
Research partner: Jule (Jewel) Eisenbud, psychiatrist and paranormal researcher.
**Key experiments:**
– Strict controls (camera sometimes placed outside the room).
– Use of a “gizmo” (cardboard tube) held to the lens for mental focus.
– Blind target envelopes; one famous image later identified as a “Staggerwing airplane”
– Skeptics: Magician James “Randy” Randi replicated similar images under looser conditions, but never under Eisenbud’s rigorous protocol.
6. The UMBC Paranormal Photography Collections
Location: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Library Reading Room
Eileen Garrett Parapsychology Foundation: ~70 linear feet of archives; ghost photos from Borley Rectory, Poltergeist investigations, Bindelof Circle seances.
Jewel Eisenbud Collection (Ted Sirios): Original Polaroid thautographs, research notes, correspondence, and Randi‑related critiques.
Hans Holzer Audio Cassettes: 1970s–80s ghost‑hunting field recordings from famous cases (e.g., Amityville).
Visiting Info
– Hours: Mon‑Wed 12‑4 pm, Thu 12‑7 pm
– Appointments: Recommended for the Garrett collection
– Public Access: No special credentials required – just curiosity!
Plan a research visit or request digitized images through the UMBC library website. Discover first‑hand the ghosts that have haunted photographers for over a century.
7. Contemporary Artists & the Revival of Spiritualist Aesthetics
Shannon Taggart – *Seance* project documents modern spiritualist communities; bridges historic ghost photography with contemporary visual storytelling.
Hilma af Klint – Though a painter, her spiritualist inspiration sparked massive interest; her 2018‑19 Guggenheim exhibition shows how “the supernatural” can dominate mainstream art narratives. Search interest in *“modern spiritualist photography”* and *“Hilma af Klint exhibition”* continues to climb, especially around museum seasons.
8. Why Ghost Photography Still Captivates Audiences
Psychological comfort: In times of war, pandemic, or social upheaval, people seek evidence of an after‑life.
Aesthetic allure: The ethereal glow, faint outlines, and “orbs” satisfy a visual hunger for the mysterious.
Pop‑culture synergy: TV shows like *Ghost Hunters*, *Medium*, and *The X‑Files* keep the genre in the public eye, driving search traffic for “real ghost photos”.
9. How to Explore These Collections Yourself
1. Visit UMBC’s website – locate the *Paranormal Collections* page (search term: *UMBC ghost photography archive*).
2. Request a virtual tour – many institutions now offer 360° walkthroughs of their reading rooms.
3. Download open‑access images – the library has a growing digital repository; check the *Digital Collections* portal.
4. Read further – recommended books:
– “The Apparitionists” by Peter Madstow (deep dive on William Mumler)
– “Mind’s Eye” (Atelier Editions, 2025) – the upcoming monograph on Ted Sirios.
10. Final Thoughts
Paranormal photography sits at the crossroads of **technology**, **belief**, and **art**. From Mumler’s 19th‑century studio ghosts to Sirios’s Polaroid thautographs, each era reflects society’s yearning to see beyond the veil.
Ready to explore?
> Visit the UMBC Library (Monday‑Thursday, see hours above)
> Subscribe to *10 Frames Per Second Podcast* for more deep dives into photographic history
> Leave a comment below with the ghost photo that most chills you!
*Stay curious, stay haunted.*
___
spirit photography, paranormal photography, ghost photography, spiritualism, William Mumler, Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln spirit photo, Eileen Garrett, Parapsychology Foundation, Ted Sirios, thoughtography, thautographs, Polaroid, Nandor Fodor, poltergeist, Borley Rectory, Jeff the mongoose, Harry Price, James Randi, P.T. Barnum, Civil War, World War I, post‑mortem photography, Houdini, seance, medium, Hilma af Klint, Shannon Taggart, “Seance” exhibition, Mind’s Eye (book)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe on your preferred platform! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | JioSaavn | Podchaser | Gaana | TuneIn | Deezer | Anghami | Youtube Music | RSS