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Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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[August 6, 1960?]-March 20, 1962 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
1 audio reel (3 hrs., 2 min., 21 sec.)
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Archival description area
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Scope and content
One audio reel recording of séances held under the supervision of medium Thomas Lacey. A handwritten note on the original audio reel box provides the following descriptions for each side of the reel:
Side A. Organ music at 7 1/2, dead air, séance with no introduction, since next séance is introduced as taking place Aug. 23, 1960 this séance may be Aug. 6, 1960
Side B. Introduced as a séance at Otto Smith's house. March 20, 1962 - one séance (Jesus makes an appearance).
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Donated by Stanley McMullin in 2015.
Arrangement
Language of material
English
Script of material
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Availability of other formats
This audio reel was digitized in 2020 and access copies are available for research purposes. A transcription of the audio recording is also available.
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General note
After the audio reel was digitized and transcribed, staff have been able to add additional information about the séances. A revised description of the contents of side A and B of the audio reel is provided below.
Side A: Includes recordings of two seances. The date of the first séance is unknown. This séance includes Lacey’s spirit guides, Walter and Violet, as well as the spirits of Maskelyne, Blue Snake, Otto Smith’s father, and Thomas Edison. This séance includes a discussion on an apport in the séance trumpet. The second is dated August 23, 1960 and includes the spirits of Otto Smith’s father, and the spirit guides, Walter and Violet.
Side B: This séance is a Master’s Night that took place on March 20, 1962. The séance is opened by Lacey’s spirit guide, Amirah, following a recital of the Lord’s Prayer by the séance sitters. Spirits present include Pasha, Minnie Mackay, Emmanuel Swedenborg, Simon bar Giora, John Wesley, Ramesses, Colonel Wilcox, and W.T. Stead.
General note
This audio reel recording contains racist stereotypes and language that is outdated, racist or otherwise harmful. This has been flagged in keeping with Special Collections & Archives' approach to language in archival descriptions, which prioritizes speaking openly about and clearly identifying problematic, harmful, and otherwise offensive records in the department’s holdings. This approach, while potentially upsetting, allows for the critical assessment and questioning of historical material by contemporary researchers.
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Described by JB in 2015.
Revised by NM in 2024.
Language of description
English