Connecting with Our Ancestors: A History of Spiritualism for Genealogists

Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast

How might our ancestors have connected with their ancestors? Join Daniel Smith as he explores the possibilities and their connections to genealogy! In the middle of the nineteenth century, a movement known as Spiritualism captured the attention of millions, with large groupings in the Northeast and Midwest. This movement was predominantly led by women, and it gave them a voice to fight for progressive causes like suffrage, emancipation, and temperance. As leaders, they served as mediums who worked to connect folks with their recently deceased relatives and ancestors. Their followers included many famous folks, like Mary Todd Lincoln. As the movement grew, it became more formalized with leaders like Andrew Jackson Davis and camps throughout the country. They also published newspapers, magazines, journals, and directories, and their communities kept records as well. These can be helpful if you think or know you may have a Spiritualist ancestor. If you are unsure, there are sometimes clues on gravestones, in their obituaries, and within census records.