Other History Commons^™

Working-Class Students And Historical Inquiry, Leslie Schuster

Faculty Publications

For the past twelve years, I have been teaching a lower division introductory historical methods course that uses active learning to introduce students to the issues and practices of historical methods, the "how to" of historical inquiry, research and writing. While there are many models for such a course, including the one described by Jeffrey Merrick in the February 2006 issue of this journal, the design of such a course at my institution requires consideration of an often-overlooked dimension. The student body at Rhode Island College (RIC) is primarily working class, mirroring a significant transformation in the traditional college student …

Language, Gender And Identity In The Works Of Louise Bennett And Michelle Cliff, Nicole Branca

Honors Projects

Examines the writings of two female, Jamaican authors, Louise Bennett and Michelle Cliff. Bennett flourished during the period of de-colonization and independence for Jamaica, while Cliff came into prominence after Jamaican independence. Shows how both writers played an important role in helping Jamaica establish a national identity by focusing on multiple dimensions of what it means to be Jamaican, including issues of language, gender, and identity.

Letter To James Angell, 1891-02-21, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter describing how Hazard scored eleven points in a billiards game through spiritual intervention.

Letter To Mrs. F.W. Masters, 1891-02-08, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter attesting to Hazard's personal experiences and belief in Spiritualism--that Hazard "never felt any apprehension of fraud at any of the thousands of Spiritual Seances" he had attended--and notes that the presence of skeptics at authentic seances may be "detrimental". Discusses experiences at private seances. Includes account of being knocked over by the "Materialized Spirit" of a friend the night before he received notice of his friend's death.

Letter To Abby Quincy, 1891-02, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Incomplete letter regarding tour of Scotland, including sitting with former servant of Sir Walter Scott and encounter with the ghost of Robert Burns.

Letter To Sir, 1891-01, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Description of spirit intervention which protected Hazard from a potentially dangerous encounter with a bull.

Notes On Spirit Of George Washington, 1890-12, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Description of "Spiritual Manifestation" of George Washington at the Philadelphia World Exhibition in 1876.

Letter To Luther Colby, 1890-11-11, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter regarding the "Haunted house" in Wilmington, Delaware, which Hazard had mentioned to the Seybert Commission. Mentions Hazard's friendship with Henry Seybert. Includes account of John Ladd, a Newport carpenter-turned-"Spiritual Medium" who was summoned to Chicago to treat two "Invalids" and would be paid $2,000 for his services.

Seven Months Of Spirits, 1890-11, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Clipping describing experiences in Phelps household, including bells ringing, spoons bending, objects flying through the air. Quotes Phelps’s description of phenomena as “visitation from God.”

Letter To Henry Bede, 1890-09-20, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter in which Hazard, at 83 1/2 years of age, expresses a "wish to be on the other side, so soon as I can arrange my affairs." Includes account of the "Palatine Ship", a ghost ship apparition around Block Island.

Letter To Mr. And Mrs. Samuel G. Ward, 1890-07, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter discussing Spiritualism within the Hazard family, including employment of healing mediums by Rowland G. Hazard. Includes account of "the Banshee" and Hazard's travels in Italy and Ireland.

Letter To Luther Colby, With Reply To Joseph Peace Hazard, 1890-04-13, Luther Colby

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Request from Joseph Peace Hazard for recommendations for materializing mediums in the Boston area. Includes response from Luther Colby with names and addresses of materializing mediums.

A Straightforward Statement, 1890-03-15, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Clipping from “The Banner of Light,” sent by Luther Colby to Joseph Peace Hazard. Quotes another publication which refers to “the fraud-condoning concern known as the Banner of Light”; includes defense of the “The Banner of Light” as “slow to condemn those who at first sight seem to be guilty of wrong-doing, lest we should misjudge the innocent.”

Bill From Colby & Rich, 1890-02-24, Luther Colby

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Bill listing books Joseph Peace Hazard ordered from Colby & Rich, publishers of "The Banner of Light." Titles include:

Ghosts & Other Lect.

Ingersoll's Field Dis.

Ingersoll on Blasphemy

Orthodoxy

Prose Poems

Selections

Gods Other Lectures

Vindications of T. Paine

What must we do

Crimes Against Criminals

Notes, 1890-02, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Notes on Henry Olcutt and other mediums, who have traveled to India and "passed into a sphere beyond."

Notes On Vernon Spirit, No Date, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Describes Hazard's experience hearing and feeling the ghost of his friend's deceased father, who advised Hazard on how best to help his friend.

Letter To Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-11-19, Luther Colby

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter regarding mediums in Boston, including a healing medium who cured Colby of pneumonia while 100 people died in the care of "'regular' medical practitioners".

Letter To Luther Colby, 1889-11-14, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter asking for recommendations for "Healing Medium" in Boston. Mentions Sarah Rockwood, a healing medium who attended Rowland Gibson Hazard at the end of his life, and Mary Hull, who was employed as a medium by Thomas R. Hazard.

Letter To Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-11-04, Luther Colby

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter in which Colby describes divided state of Spiritualism:

"We are being kicked, as usual, by Spiritualists, who want to boss us, but can't - as well as by enemies of the Cause. I am getting tired of this sort of life. Do you wonder?"

Includes mention of Hazard's brother Thomas:

"Thomas R. comes to see us occasionally. He is, he says, more wide awake than ever before."

Notes, 1889-07-25, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Description of visit in June, 1857, to English windmill haunted by a female ghost.

Letter To Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-05-09, Luther Colby

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter defending medium Miss Debar, who is accused of "swindling" Judge Marsh. Includes note regarding "ascended brother Thomas":

"Whenever your ascended brother Thomas reports, I will send you whatever he communicates. He is somewhat annoyed just now because of the persecution and prosecution our mediums are receiving; and he is just as earnest in protecting them as he was when here in bodily form."

Notes, Peacedale, 1889-05-02, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Description of “Spiritual Sittings” with Edward Clark, during which “the table began to move, and before the close of the evening, it would not only rock most vigorously; and on the following evening, this Table would frequently run all about the room.” Includes description of conversation regarding Clark’s medical care with the spirits, who communicated through the movements of the table.

Letter To Luther Colby, 1889-05-03, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter regarding eulogy for Mr. Ayer, builder of "The Spiritual Temple" in Boston. Includes Hazard's thoughts on the Christian Church's beliefs in "the reality of Spiritual Manifestations of today, though most of them are opposed to them"; and notes that medical doctors "abhor 'Spiritual Healing Mediums'" due to the competition for patients.

Letter To Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-05-01, Luther Colby

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter regarding persona article Hazard sent, which Colby does not wish to print. Includes message from "Spirit brother Thomas":

"While answering your note, I get this communication from your Spirit brother Thomas. He says, (which I copy below) what somewhat surprises me:
'Brother Joseph - If you have any money to leave, you had better give it to sustain the Banner of Light circle room meetings, instead of willing it to any other institutions.' "

Letter To Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-04-09, Luther Colby

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter responding to inquiry regarding Mrs. Hull, who holds private sittings in Boston. Includes post-script regarding Dr. Slade, a "drunk" medium in Maine: "What a pity it is that our psychics, after - like an unruly cow - giving plenty of milk, then kick the pail over! - Mrs. Sawyer is another kicker. We must drop such mediums, don't you think so?"

Letter To John C. Bundy, 1889-03-14, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter in which Hazard comments on "The Fox Girls" who have "in their old age - disavowed Spiritualism" and confessed their fraud. Hazard notes that because the women have become "intemperate" that their confessions are suspect. Includes mentions of "The Cock Lane Ghost," divining rods, haunted houses, and "The White Lady" who haunts a German castle.

Letter To Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-02-16, Luther Colby

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter acknowledging Hazard's donation to "God's Poor Fund" and relaying message from Hazard's brother Thomas, "now a resident of the Spirit World" who "would like to communicate privately" through Colby's office's new medium, Mrs. Smith.

Letter To Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-02-12, Luther Colby

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter describing "needy and sick Spiritualists and mediums" and recommending working mediums. Includes instructions to send lock of hair to a healing medium if medical treatment is needed.

Letter To John C. Bundy, 1889-02-02, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

Letter describing the use of a water divining "wand" to find a stream.

Mysteries Of Hypnotism, 1889, Joseph Peace Hazard

Joseph Peace Hazard papers

“Mysteries Of Hypnotism” 1889
Clipping describing Dr. Henry S. Drayton’s lecture on “The Evolution of a ‘Sixth Sense’” and experiments involving duplicating unseen drawings. Includes this description of the dual perception of Spiritualism:

“Modern Spiritualism is a thing of tinsel, deception, and unbelief; but, however this may be, when the London society set about collecting evidences of psychical phenomena it was overwhelmed with the great number of letters. In Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore they consider this matter seriously and study it as a science. They use children as subjects, for they believe that the results from such a source …