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Posted by: Amanda Zimmerman
This post explores a set of mysterious manuscript volumes in the Harry Houdini Collection. These manuscripts were written by Frederick Hockley, noted participant in the British Occult Revival of the late 19th century, and they contain the results of his experiments with the art of crystal-gazing.
Posted in: 19th Century, Occult History, Seasonal
Posted by: Amanda Zimmerman
Among many fascinating books related to the Civil War, the Library of Congress also holds a demurely-bound, water-damaged volume inscribed by its author. This volume, the autobiography of Confederate spy and Maryland native Rose O'Neal Greenhow (1815-1864), documents her exploits as a persistent thorn in the side of President Abraham Lincoln and the Union cause.
Posted in: 19th Century, American History, Women in Book History
Posted by: Amanda Zimmerman
In the early 1860s amidst growing unrest between the North and South, American humorist, journalist and political commentator David Ross Locke (1833 - 1888) debuted a character that would be popular with abolitionists for years to come - and with Abraham Lincoln in particular.
Posted in: 19th Century, American History
Posted by: Amanda Zimmerman
This blog discusses the first edition of Ralph Ellison's posthumous book, Juneteenth, housed in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division.
Posted in: 20th Century, Seasonal