This is extraordinary. I’ve heard of Spiritualism, and of Mary Todd Lincoln’s deep involvement in it, but this story is entirely new to me. Thank you for sharing it, Ann!
Thank you Mary. I like the way that Midorikawa and others have brought out the feminist and abolitionist aspect of these women who specialised as 'trance' lecturers. Shows how interwoven things were, and employs the passiveness associated with femininity to good effect.
Fascinating. I had never heard of her. That she gave the eulogy in NY seems little less than extraordinary, somehow. I hope that she went on to have a good rest of her life. Thanks for this!
Thank you Maria! Hardinge clearly had great self-confidence and ability to inspire people - and I agree, the fact that she was the one chosen to give Lincoln's eulogy is just so impressive. She certainly rose to the challenge.
"Charles Dickens was sceptical about what he described as a ‘miserable delusion.’ (Mesmerism, which he practised, was considered to be a more ‘masculine’ pursuit and therefore more scientific.)"
Ouch! Painful but salutary to see these prejudices rehearsed.
This is a great story, told with typical panache, Ann. Thank you!
Such an interesting post, Ann. Have you come across stories of séances in Cambridge and ghost-sightings? (I imagine that there must be quite a few ghost stories linked to the university.)
Thanks very much Ollie, and yes! Cambridge was a big centre of investigation, and its Society for Psychical Research featured in a recent Netflix doc 'Surviving Death'. It was set up in 1882 by scientists, philosophers and academics interested in the idea of psychic activity & investigating it in a scientific way. Will write about this soon I hope!
What a wonderful story! Thank you for the shout-out, especially in such a context.
I have come across the name Mrs. Hardinge, though I can't say whether it was in relation to spiritualism or her California visit of 1864. I'm glad to know more about her. She sounds like a person of great talent and persistence. How did I not know of her funeral oration for Lincoln?? Yeesh. Thank you for repairing that omission in my education in this informative post.
Thanks so much Tara, and I also realized I had omitted to subscribe to you, despite often reading admiring your posts (so that's a d'oh from me). I think Hardinge's is known nowadays for her Spiritualist involvement, but I must admit to being more interested in her as a groundbreaking political activist - and not being afraid to speak out.
Following your lead, I did a quick search of a wonderful California newspaper database hosted at the University of Nevada, Reno (https://cdnc.ucr.edu/), and found several mentions of her 1864 speaking tour. California audiences were very responsive to quality speakers and entertainers in this period, and it seems she met expectations already set very high. Quality speakers could easily draw enthusiastic crowds.
After the orator Thomas Starr King died suddenly in California in March 1864, a prominent unitarian minister from New York came to take his place fundraising for a proto-Red Cross war relief agency, but I hadn't heard who took his place stumping for Lincoln. While he lived, King did both. It's startling that I have not known more of Emma Hardinge until now.
You might enjoy the digitized newspapers: If the link goes straight to the middle of column 1, page 3, here is a paragraph in the Jan 1864 Marin Journal (not far from San Francisco) about the good reputation that preceded Mrs. Hardinge's arrival:
Such an interesting post! Victoria Woodhull has been on my mind these past two days but Hardinge Britten was entirely new to me so thank you. And of course now I have to buy this book because the Fox sisters are very much on my radar 😉
I'm so pleased, Kate! It is a very good book and shows how influential the Fox sisters were - and how the stories of these women intertwine. What else would you recommend reading in this area?
On my bookshelf, but not yet read, I have Talking to the Dead by Barbara Weinberg about the Fox sisters, and also The Scarlet Sisters by Myra MacPherson about Victoria Woodhull and Tennie Claflin. Right now I'm working on something about Inez and Vida Milholland and the suffrage movement. And then all three Beecher sisters are pretty interesting...
It never ceases to amaze me that women have triumphed so often through adversity. It takes someone with your dedication, Ann, to bring these historical characters to life for us. Thank you. Your post has also brought to mind the book, 'Lincoln in the Bardo' by fellow substacker @GeorgeSaunders who writes about the death and 'afterlife' of Lincoln's son. It's an unusual and entertaining book, which I highly recommend to readers who like to have their history laced with spirits!
This is extraordinary. I’ve heard of Spiritualism, and of Mary Todd Lincoln’s deep involvement in it, but this story is entirely new to me. Thank you for sharing it, Ann!
Thank you Mary. I like the way that Midorikawa and others have brought out the feminist and abolitionist aspect of these women who specialised as 'trance' lecturers. Shows how interwoven things were, and employs the passiveness associated with femininity to good effect.
I also like this angle, and I'm surprised I haven't seen in before. It makes so much sense.
Fascinating. I had never heard of her. That she gave the eulogy in NY seems little less than extraordinary, somehow. I hope that she went on to have a good rest of her life. Thanks for this!
Thank you Maria! Hardinge clearly had great self-confidence and ability to inspire people - and I agree, the fact that she was the one chosen to give Lincoln's eulogy is just so impressive. She certainly rose to the challenge.
Also, that ghost photograph of Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln!
It's so spooky isn't it!
"Charles Dickens was sceptical about what he described as a ‘miserable delusion.’ (Mesmerism, which he practised, was considered to be a more ‘masculine’ pursuit and therefore more scientific.)"
Ouch! Painful but salutary to see these prejudices rehearsed.
This is a great story, told with typical panache, Ann. Thank you!
Thank you for your lovely comment, Jeffrey! I guess Dickens did like to be in charge of things (even unruly spirits).
Such an interesting post, Ann. Have you come across stories of séances in Cambridge and ghost-sightings? (I imagine that there must be quite a few ghost stories linked to the university.)
Thanks very much Ollie, and yes! Cambridge was a big centre of investigation, and its Society for Psychical Research featured in a recent Netflix doc 'Surviving Death'. It was set up in 1882 by scientists, philosophers and academics interested in the idea of psychic activity & investigating it in a scientific way. Will write about this soon I hope!
Wonderful! I’ll look out for the doc, and also your post. :)
Utterly fascinating! I am embrassed to say that I have never heard of Emma Hardinge Britten. I am so glad to be aware of her. Thank you!
Thanks Nancy! I confess I hadn't heard of her either, until I read Emily's book. Love the transatlantic connections.
What a wonderful story! Thank you for the shout-out, especially in such a context.
I have come across the name Mrs. Hardinge, though I can't say whether it was in relation to spiritualism or her California visit of 1864. I'm glad to know more about her. She sounds like a person of great talent and persistence. How did I not know of her funeral oration for Lincoln?? Yeesh. Thank you for repairing that omission in my education in this informative post.
Thanks so much Tara, and I also realized I had omitted to subscribe to you, despite often reading admiring your posts (so that's a d'oh from me). I think Hardinge's is known nowadays for her Spiritualist involvement, but I must admit to being more interested in her as a groundbreaking political activist - and not being afraid to speak out.
Following your lead, I did a quick search of a wonderful California newspaper database hosted at the University of Nevada, Reno (https://cdnc.ucr.edu/), and found several mentions of her 1864 speaking tour. California audiences were very responsive to quality speakers and entertainers in this period, and it seems she met expectations already set very high. Quality speakers could easily draw enthusiastic crowds.
After the orator Thomas Starr King died suddenly in California in March 1864, a prominent unitarian minister from New York came to take his place fundraising for a proto-Red Cross war relief agency, but I hadn't heard who took his place stumping for Lincoln. While he lived, King did both. It's startling that I have not known more of Emma Hardinge until now.
You might enjoy the digitized newspapers: If the link goes straight to the middle of column 1, page 3, here is a paragraph in the Jan 1864 Marin Journal (not far from San Francisco) about the good reputation that preceded Mrs. Hardinge's arrival:
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MJ18640116.2.20&srpos=5&e=------186-en--20--1--txt-txIN-Hardinge+Lincoln-------
Haha! I have the same subscription omission to correct. We must have started "Following" each other some time back and felt like we were subscribed.
Such an interesting post! Victoria Woodhull has been on my mind these past two days but Hardinge Britten was entirely new to me so thank you. And of course now I have to buy this book because the Fox sisters are very much on my radar 😉
I'm so pleased, Kate! It is a very good book and shows how influential the Fox sisters were - and how the stories of these women intertwine. What else would you recommend reading in this area?
On my bookshelf, but not yet read, I have Talking to the Dead by Barbara Weinberg about the Fox sisters, and also The Scarlet Sisters by Myra MacPherson about Victoria Woodhull and Tennie Claflin. Right now I'm working on something about Inez and Vida Milholland and the suffrage movement. And then all three Beecher sisters are pretty interesting...
It never ceases to amaze me that women have triumphed so often through adversity. It takes someone with your dedication, Ann, to bring these historical characters to life for us. Thank you. Your post has also brought to mind the book, 'Lincoln in the Bardo' by fellow substacker @GeorgeSaunders who writes about the death and 'afterlife' of Lincoln's son. It's an unusual and entertaining book, which I highly recommend to readers who like to have their history laced with spirits!
Thank you Yasmin! What a lovely comment to wake up to this morning. Hope you don't mind if I share it via Substack Notes?
My pleasure.
Wonderful post, Ann! I thought I knew about Spiritualism, and thought I knew plenty about Lincoln, but this is new to me.