Spiritualism

Wallace embraced spiritualism, as did many Victorians. His letters describe his experiences at séances, suggesting reasons why a scientific man would be attracted to such a movement.

A seance to contact Bertie Wallace

Letter from Arabella Buckley to Wallace sending condolences at the death of his son Bertie and enclosing details of a séance where she tried to contact Bertie's spirit, dated April 1874.
Wallace's spiritualist certificate

Certificate of Honorary Membership of the Central Association of Spiritualists, dated June 1882.
Details of Boston seance

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet giving the details of a séance and the train journey to Boston, undated, probably December 1886.
Attending seances and Wallace's fame in America

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet describing séances in Boston, and his bashfulness at being complimented, dated January 1887.
The financial benefits of lecturing on spiritualism

Letter from Wallace to his wife Annie about having a boil 'mesmerised' by a spiritualist, lecturing on spiritualism and the beauty of Californian forests, dated July 1887.
A seance with Fanny Wallace

Letter from Fanny Wallace to her brother Alfred Russel Wallace with details of a séance where family names were revealed, dated June 1887.
Encyclopaedia proof for 'spiritualism'

Proof for the Chambers's Encyclopedia entry on 'spiritualism' written by Wallace, dated July 1892.
An attempt at photographing a spirit

Letter from Wallace to his wife Annie describing a séance where he was photographed with a spirit, dated June 1895.
Wallace's views on militarism and seances

Letter from Wallace to his daughter Violet on writing an article about militarism, and giving details of a séance, dated November 1898.
'Evolution can't explain the soul' press cutting

Press cutting of an article by Wallace entitled 'Evolution can't explain the Soul', dated November 1910.