Leonora Piper
Encyclopedia
Leonora Piper was a famous trance
medium
in the area of Spiritualism
. Piper was the subject of intense interest and investigation by American and British psychic research associations during the early 20th century, most notably William James
and the Society for Psychical Research
. She claimed to have no memory regarding her sittings. Science writer and mathematician Martin Gardner
published two exposés about Piper, both detailing mundane techniques she may have used to misrepresent her abilities.
where, according to her parents, she first displayed psychic abilities as a child. At the age of 22 she married shopkeeper William Piper of Boston
and settled in the city's Beacon Hill area. After the birth of her first child, Alta, she sought relief from recurring pain caused by a childhood accident. Upon visiting an elderly blind man who claimed he could contact spirits that could aid in healing, she said she heard voices that resulted in her ability to deliver a message by automatic writing
to a local judge who claimed the words came from his recently deceased son.
Agreeing to do readings for other visitors in her home, she soon gained attention from members of the American Society for Psychical Research
and later its British associate, the Society for Psychical Research. Among these were Minot Savage, Richard Hodgson, and George B. Dorr. Later psychic investigators included Oliver Lodge, Frederick W. H. Myers, James Hyslop, and G. Stanley Hall
and his assistant Amy Tanner. In 1885 soon after the death of his son, psychologist
, philosopher, and SPR member William James had his first sitting with Piper at the suggestion of his mother-in-law. James was soon convinced that Piper knew things she could only have discovered by supernatural means. James expressed his belief that Piper's mediumistic abilities were genuine, saying, "If you wish to upset the law that all crows are black, it is enough if you prove that one crow is white. My white crow is Mrs. Piper." Later when Piper's readings were claimed to come from Richard Hodgson, the aforementioned psi researcher who died of heart failure that had earlier taken over the Piper case from James, James was no longer impressed and wrote, "I remain uncertain and await more facts, facts which may not point clearly to a conclusion for fifty or a hundred years."
As with other mediums of the era, Piper claimed the use of spirit guides or "controls". Among hers was a personality referred to as G.P., who was eventually revealed to be George Pellew, a writer who had died in New York City and a friend of Richard Hodgson. Another was called 'Phinuit' who was purportedly a French doctor. Phinuit's French was limited to salutations like "bonjour" and "au revoir" and had little apparent knowledge both of the French language and medicine. According to some accounts, medical people were surprised Phinuit did not know the French or Latin names for the many remedies Piper advised for her sitters, and Phinuit's historical existence could not be verified by SPR investigations. Among other spirit guides she claimed were assuming control of her were a young Indian girl named Chlorine, Martin Luther, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Longfellow, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington.
Martin Gardner writes in his essays “How Mrs. Piper Bamboozled William James” and "William James and Mrs. Piper" that records of Piper's seances clearly suggest she may have feigned being unconscious and used the techniques of cold reading
and "fishing", where vague statements were followed by more precise information based on how sitters reacted. Gardner reports that when Phinuit made a mistake he would claim deafness and leave, and that Piper was unable to discern between real and fictitious information given to her. Skeptic Robert Todd Carroll
writes that although James accepted that "spirits might be communicating" to Piper's unconscious mind, most scientists rejected the work of the Society for Psychical Research and its American counterpart.
Piper made three visits to England at the request of the SPR. In subsequent years, Piper claimed her abilities would alternately cease and return, sometimes with a decade or more intervening. American psychic investigator Gardner Murphy
wrote, "I had three years of sittings with Mrs. Piper in 1922 to 1925, near the end of her career. For the most part, my sittings were uneventful and lacking in the types of phenomena which characterized the zenith of her career." Piper retired for good in 1927 and died on July 3, 1950.
Trance
Trance denotes a variety of processes, ecstasy, techniques, modalities and states of mind, awareness and consciousness. Trance states may occur involuntarily and unbidden.The term trance may be associated with meditation, magic, flow, and prayer...
medium
Mediumship
Mediumship is described as a form of communication with spirits. It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Voodoo and Umbanda.- Concept :...
in the area of Spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
. Piper was the subject of intense interest and investigation by American and British psychic research associations during the early 20th century, most notably William James
William James
William James was a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher who was trained as a physician. He wrote influential books on the young science of psychology, educational psychology, psychology of religious experience and mysticism, and on the philosophy of pragmatism...
and the Society for Psychical Research
Society for Psychical Research
The Society for Psychical Research is a non-profit organisation in the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is to understand "events and abilities commonly described as psychic or paranormal by promoting and supporting important research in this area" and to "examine allegedly paranormal phenomena...
. She claimed to have no memory regarding her sittings. Science writer and mathematician Martin Gardner
Martin Gardner
Martin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature , philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion...
published two exposés about Piper, both detailing mundane techniques she may have used to misrepresent her abilities.
Biography
Piper grew up in Nashua, New HampshireNashua, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
where, according to her parents, she first displayed psychic abilities as a child. At the age of 22 she married shopkeeper William Piper of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and settled in the city's Beacon Hill area. After the birth of her first child, Alta, she sought relief from recurring pain caused by a childhood accident. Upon visiting an elderly blind man who claimed he could contact spirits that could aid in healing, she said she heard voices that resulted in her ability to deliver a message by automatic writing
Automatic writing
Automatic writing or psychography is writing which the writer states to be produced from a subconscious and/or spiritual source without conscious awareness of the content.-History:...
to a local judge who claimed the words came from his recently deceased son.
Agreeing to do readings for other visitors in her home, she soon gained attention from members of the American Society for Psychical Research
American Society for Psychical Research
The American Society for Psychical Research is an organisation dedicated to parapsychology based in New York, where it maintains offices and a library. It is open to interested members of the public to join, and has a website...
and later its British associate, the Society for Psychical Research. Among these were Minot Savage, Richard Hodgson, and George B. Dorr. Later psychic investigators included Oliver Lodge, Frederick W. H. Myers, James Hyslop, and G. Stanley Hall
G. Stanley Hall
Granville Stanley Hall was a pioneering American psychologist and educator. His interests focused on childhood development and evolutionary theory...
and his assistant Amy Tanner. In 1885 soon after the death of his son, psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
, philosopher, and SPR member William James had his first sitting with Piper at the suggestion of his mother-in-law. James was soon convinced that Piper knew things she could only have discovered by supernatural means. James expressed his belief that Piper's mediumistic abilities were genuine, saying, "If you wish to upset the law that all crows are black, it is enough if you prove that one crow is white. My white crow is Mrs. Piper." Later when Piper's readings were claimed to come from Richard Hodgson, the aforementioned psi researcher who died of heart failure that had earlier taken over the Piper case from James, James was no longer impressed and wrote, "I remain uncertain and await more facts, facts which may not point clearly to a conclusion for fifty or a hundred years."
As with other mediums of the era, Piper claimed the use of spirit guides or "controls". Among hers was a personality referred to as G.P., who was eventually revealed to be George Pellew, a writer who had died in New York City and a friend of Richard Hodgson. Another was called 'Phinuit' who was purportedly a French doctor. Phinuit's French was limited to salutations like "bonjour" and "au revoir" and had little apparent knowledge both of the French language and medicine. According to some accounts, medical people were surprised Phinuit did not know the French or Latin names for the many remedies Piper advised for her sitters, and Phinuit's historical existence could not be verified by SPR investigations. Among other spirit guides she claimed were assuming control of her were a young Indian girl named Chlorine, Martin Luther, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Longfellow, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington.
Martin Gardner writes in his essays “How Mrs. Piper Bamboozled William James” and "William James and Mrs. Piper" that records of Piper's seances clearly suggest she may have feigned being unconscious and used the techniques of cold reading
Cold reading
Cold reading is a series of techniques used by mentalists, psychics, fortune-tellers, illusionists, and con artists to determine or express details about another person, often in order to convince them that the reader knows much more about a subject than they actually do...
and "fishing", where vague statements were followed by more precise information based on how sitters reacted. Gardner reports that when Phinuit made a mistake he would claim deafness and leave, and that Piper was unable to discern between real and fictitious information given to her. Skeptic Robert Todd Carroll
Robert Todd Carroll
Robert Todd Carroll , Ph.D., is an American writer and academic. Carroll has written several books and skeptical essays but achieved notability by publishing the Skeptic's Dictionary online in 1994.-Early life and education:...
writes that although James accepted that "spirits might be communicating" to Piper's unconscious mind, most scientists rejected the work of the Society for Psychical Research and its American counterpart.
Piper made three visits to England at the request of the SPR. In subsequent years, Piper claimed her abilities would alternately cease and return, sometimes with a decade or more intervening. American psychic investigator Gardner Murphy
Gardner Murphy
Gardner Murphy was an American psychologist specialising in social and personality psychology, and parapsychology. His career highlights included serving as president of the American Psychological Association, and of the British Society for Psychical Research.Murphy was born on July 8, 1895 in...
wrote, "I had three years of sittings with Mrs. Piper in 1922 to 1925, near the end of her career. For the most part, my sittings were uneventful and lacking in the types of phenomena which characterized the zenith of her career." Piper retired for good in 1927 and died on July 3, 1950.