Our Collection

Our Archivist-in-Residence is currently working diligently to digitize our entire collection to make it more accessible to the viewing public. This page will be updated on an ongoing basis. Check out the Archivist-in-Residence blog for real time updates.

Ephemera + Rare Finds

Our collection focuses primarily on ephemera, including letters, posters, small-run publications, and other objects that were never intended to last. Their historic value surrounding Spiritualist and Esoteric practices remain vital to understanding the past and negotiating the future.

Photographs + Works on Paper

Included in our archive are artworks on paper, such as fine art prints, watercolors, and drawings, as well as various forms of photographic processes ranging from 19th century calotypes to modern gelatin silver prints and negatives.

Seance Ephemera

Ranging from automatic writings to artistic works in their own rights, our collection of seance ephemera is primarily a series of works on paper created during various group seances held in Cincinnati and Columbus in the late 19th century. This collection started with our Founder, whose interest in attending seances was sparked in his late 40s. Learn more about our Archivist’s thoughts here.

Acquisition #1078-1084-1 Undated drawing, by an unknown artistin the 19th century. Note the saturated colors and abstract motifs that pre-dated the Modernist movement of Europe and America. Among the first objects acquired by the Luscinia Historical

Acquisition #1078-1084-1 Undated drawing, by an unknown artistin the 19th century. Note the saturated colors and abstract motifs that pre-dated the Modernist movement of Europe and America. Among the first objects acquired by the Luscinia Historical Society.

Acquisition #1078-1084-2 Undated drawing, likely from an anonymous medium artist using their connection to spirits to inspire their colors and shapes. It is likely the colors, shapes, and textures all have significance that are lost to time due to a

Acquisition #1078-1084-2 Undated drawing, likely from an anonymous medium artist using their connection to spirits to inspire their colors and shapes. It is likely the colors, shapes, and textures all have significance that are lost to time due to a lack of documentation of its creation.

Acquisition #1083-1084 Undated drawing, likely from a seance in the 19th century, with automatic writing. Without proper context, we may never know what the text is meant to mean.

Acquisition #1083-1084 Undated drawing, likely from a seance in the 19th century, with automatic writing. Without proper context, we may never know what the text is meant to mean.

Acquisition #0324-1084-1 These seem to have been all created by the same hands as they share similar iconography, scale, and materiality. 9 x 12 in., date and artist unknown. We have reason to believe these were originally collected by the Lusicinia

Acquisition #0324-1084-1 These seem to have been all created by the same hands as they share similar iconography, scale, and materiality. 9 x 12 in., date and artist unknown. We have reason to believe these were originally collected by the Lusicinia Historical Society and only just now returned to our archives.

Acquisition #0324-1084-2 Linear and geometric motifs are similar to those used by Georgiana Houghton and artists like her from the late 19th century. 9 x 12 in., date and artist unknown.

Acquisition #0324-1084-2 Linear and geometric motifs are similar to those used by Georgiana Houghton and artists like her from the late 19th century. 9 x 12 in., date and artist unknown.

Acquisition #0324-1084-3 Many early spiritualist artists were women and other marginalized people, often utilizing their work as a means of expression during a time where their voices were silenced.

Acquisition #0324-1084-3 Many early spiritualist artists were women and other marginalized people, often utilizing their work as a means of expression during a time where their voices were silenced.

Acquisition #0324-1084-4 Given the scale and energy contained within these images, it is likely the artist had quite the prolific career making these drawings.

Acquisition #0324-1084-4 Given the scale and energy contained within these images, it is likely the artist had quite the prolific career making these drawings.

Acquisition #0324-1084-5 Our Archivist-in-Residence believes the maker was most likely an upper middle class socialite, given the makeup of many spiritualists at the turn of the century as well as the quality of pigments that seem to have lasted with

Acquisition #0324-1084-5 Our Archivist-in-Residence believes the maker was most likely an upper middle class socialite, given the makeup of many spiritualists at the turn of the century as well as the quality of pigments that seem to have lasted with vibrancy over a hundred years.