The first "unexplainable" photograph was taken by a man named W. Campbell in 1860. The story goes that he was taking a test photograph of an empty chair while he was alone in his studio. When the picture was developed, an image of a small boy appeared. However, this photography isn't considered the "official" first photography of a spirit. William Mumler, a Boston engraver, would take the title in 1861. In a portrait of himself, Mumler saw the eery image of a female cousin who had past twelve years prior. As the first of its kind, the photograph attracted a great deal of attention. To test its validity and to try and find an explanation, members of the Spiritualist movement and prominent photographers carefully examined the photograph and Mumler's process. No explanation was ever found. Mumler then declared himself a "medium for taking spirit photographs" and began to run a business soley on that promise. Great criticism arose. Again and again, non-believers came to scrutinize every step of Mumler's process, but even professional photographers couldn't find any evidence of fraud. Mumler was so scrutinized, that the Mayor of New York had prosecutors arrest him from "swindling credelous persons by what he called spirit photography." The case was later dismissed. Unfortunately, as it was soon found that money could be made from spirit photos, dozens of fake photographs have been produced, damaging the future validity of any spirit photograph.
Perhaps the most infamous spirit photograph was taken by Mumler of Mary Todd Lincoln. As seen in the photograph above, it is said to be her husband, Abraham Lincoln himself, standing behind her.
-Leandra
