The Spirit Photographer William H. Mumler Part 2 - With Special Guest Tim Donahue

2022-08-30

Part 2 of the mystery of William H. Mumler. Guest Timothy Donahue, filmmaker and tall former co-host of the deep cable show "Auto/Biography", strangely stuck around for the conclusion. Tim wears his skeptic hat as Michael introduces him to the story of William H. Mumler, the father of spirit photography and a likely conman.It was in New York City in 1869 when William Mumler was accused of fraud. Mumler was a medium who would take portraits of people, and on their photographs would magically appear ghosts. The practice became known as Spirit ...

Part 2 of the mystery of William H. Mumler. Guest Timothy Donahue, filmmaker and tall former co-host of the deep cable show "Auto/Biography", strangely stuck around for the conclusion. Tim wears his skeptic hat as Michael introduces him to the story of William H. Mumler, the father of spirit photography and a likely conman.

It was in New York City in 1869 when William Mumler was accused of fraud. Mumler was a medium who would take portraits of people, and on their photographs would magically appear ghosts. The practice became known as Spirit Photography. While we might look at Mumler’s photographs with a modern eye and clearly see double exposure as a method to create the spirits, no one could figure out how Mumler was pulling off his deceit.

Mumler’s case is connected directly to our cultural beliefs and distrust of the media today. And, we still don’t know how he did it.

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Research Resources:

https://www.amazon.com/Apparitionists-Phantoms-Photography-Captured-Lincolns/dp/0544745973/ref=asc_df_0544745973/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312134266711&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3198501778131025376&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031201&hvtargid=pla-412257958969&psc=1

https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/person/104VG5

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/meet-mr-mumler-man-who-captured-lincolns-ghost-camera-180965090/

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/photographer-who-claimed-to-capture-abraham-lincoln-ghosthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_of_Abraham_Lincoln_(photograph)

https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/worlds-oldest-photos-543067.html

https://www.britannica.com/technology/wet-collodion-process

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii2O6wz0Zxc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsx6xqi0vzU

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