Victorian Spiritualism: The Rappings of the Fox Sisters
Taught by J.R. Pepper
JR Pepper is a lecturer, photographer and self described 'professional eccentric'. She holds both a BA and an MA in art history specializing in Surrealism and spirit photography. Her artwork has been seen in various gallery shows and publications including Haunted America: FAQ by Dave Thompson, Vice.com and Musee Magazine. She has spoken at New York Anime Festival, New York Comic Con, Tokyo in Tulsa, The Morbid Anatomy Museum, The Odd Salon, The Dead Ladies Show and is an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College. She currently works as digital imaging specialist at The Burns Archive and is a tour guide at Green-wood Cemetery. Her book Buried Boston: America's Revolutionary Necropolis, documenting Boston's burying ground and cemeteries is due out in 2024.
image credit: Bill Wadman
One night in 1848, two bored little girls convinced their mother that they were able to communicate with the spirit world. Through a series of taps and raps, the girls would 'receive' messages from the other side. Soon, the whole town knew about it--within months, the whole world.
What started off as a possible child's prank would turn into the birth of Spiritualism, a religious movement that encompassed millions. How did these girls manage to convince the world of their powers? Why did the world believe them? And how did they deal with the fame and notoriety that would encapsulate the rest of their days?
