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Curtain Flow Column: Optimization of Efficiency and Sensitivity
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Duncan Tanner Essay Prize Winner 2020.
1University of Cambridge, UK.
20 Century British History
|October 31, 2024
Summary
This study examines Rosalie Thompson's séances with the Society for Psychical Research (SPR), revealing how intimate evidence shaped early theories of telepathy and survival. It highlights psychical research as an intimate practice in early 20th-century Britain.
Area of Science:
- History of Science
- Psychical Research
- Sociology of Intimacy
Background:
- Rosalie Thompson, a medium, participated in experimental séances with the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) from 1899 to 1907.
- These séances were crucial for developing the SPR's theories on telepathy, personality, and survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To situate psychical research as an intimate practice.
- To explore how the 'small history' of Mrs. Thompson reveals broader societal aspects of intimacy in early 20th-century Britain.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of extensive séance notes taken by SPR researchers.
- Examination of published materials related to the Rosalie Thompson case.
Main Results:
- The scientific method of psychical research relied on intimate evidence produced by the medium, including physical touch.
- Personal relationships among SPR proponents (neighbors, friends, relatives) deepened, especially after key members' deaths, with communication occurring via Thompson.
Conclusions:
- Psychical research in this era was deeply intertwined with personal relationships and intimate practices.
- Mrs. Thompson's case study offers insights into the complex nature of intimacy within early 20th-century British society and scientific inquiry.
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