The Lincolns in 1845.(Daguerreotypes)
The Widow Lincoln
Mary was intensely interested in spiritualism. Around 1871, spirit
photographer William Mumler claimed to have captured the spirit of
Abraham in this shot of Mary.
Other key players:
On the left is Myra Bradwell, the (in)famous woman lawyer who took on
Mary's defense. Beside her is Nettie Colburn Maynard, the White House medium
who helped Mary converse with her son. Abraham preferred chatting with
Daniel Webster. Mary's spiritualist beliefs were used as evidence of her insanity.
A couple of great little books have fallen out of copyright and are available on the web.
Was Abraham Lincoln a Spiritualist or Curious Revelations From the Life of a Trance Medium by Nettie Colburn Maynard.
Maynard tells all about being theWhite House medium.
Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House by Elizabeth Keckley
Keckley was born a slave, but used her sewing skills to buy her freedom and open a business. She became Mary Lincoln's dressmaker and confidante. After this book was published, Mary stopped speaking to her.
