Post-mortem photography: a window into the past
In the modern age of smart phones, we often take it for granted that thousands of images exist of ourselves, available at the click of a button, photos taken in seconds and at no cost. But for many families in the 19th and early 20th centuries, post-mortem photography was the only chance to capture an image of a loved one.
London Month of the Dead: spooky soirées and morbid musings
Stephen Coates is the co-creator of London Month of the Dead, a fascinating festival of talks, tours and events about death and mortality, running throughout October. In our latest blog, we find out all about this scintillating series and why Stephen and Suzette Field launched their annual festival of the dead.
Talking to the dead: a history of Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a system of belief based on the concept of communication with the dead, mostly through mediums – people who are able to contact the deceased. But where did it come from? How do mediums make contact with the dead? And do people still practice Spiritualism and séances?