Halloween Manuscripts

October 7, 2019

Here are some spooky manuscripts to get you in the spirit of Halloween this season!

And you thought the Library was boring!

  • Accounts by American journalist Dorothy Thompson (1893-1961) of psychic phenomena on the death of her husband and artist Maxim Kopf; as well as a séance with psychic medium Arthur Ford, September 1958. Lisa Sergio papers GTMGamms172 Box 2 folder 37
  • References to psychic phenomena in two letters from Rev. Rowland F. Nye to journalist and radio broadcaster Lisa Sergio, regarding a spiritual message from the latter’s friend Ann Batchelder, September 1956. Lisa Sergio papers Box 1 folder 4
  • Search “Ghosts” in the  Shane Leslie papers GTMGamms163  to find 33 results! Lots of letters from people recounting ghostly experiences. Check out these items: Manuscript: “Ghosts I have known,” Box 39 folder 16; Notebook re ghosts, Box 39 folder 17
  • The diaries of British writer Wilfrid Hugh Chesson (1870-1953) are filled with entries describing planchette sessions, examples of automatic writing, and accounts of his dreams. Wilfrid Chesson diaries GTMGamms335

Chesson spirit writingChesson diary entry showing spirit writings from planchette sessions.
Wilfrid Chesson diaries, GTMGamms335, Box 1 Folder 2.
Click to enlarge.

  • Mesmerism and animal magnetism in 19th-century America. Not a lot of details but interesting that such things are mentioned in the letters of some educated women. Franklin B. Sanborn papers GTMGamms229
  • Cornucopia of supernatural stuff relating to the preternatural interests of Montague Summers (1880-1948), British author of books on ghosts, werewolves, witches, vampires, fairy curses, the Black Mass, and more. He believed!  Montague Summers papers GTM110501

Montague Summers
Photograph of Montague Summers. Montague Summers papers, GTM110501.

Les Lupins engraving by Maurice Sand

“Les Lupins” engraving by Maurice Sand, for the book Legendes Rustiques (1858), by his mother, French author Georges Sand (1804-1876). Montague Summers papers, GTM110501, Box 13, Folder 5.

--Lisette Matano, Manuscripts Archivist