William James sitting with Mrs. Walden in Séance

What it is

This undated photograph, taken before 1910 by a photographer identified as "Miss Carter," shows William James sitting with Mrs. Walden during a séance. It is held at Houghton Library, Harvard University, and has been cropped to remove damage from the original print.

Why it matters

James was deeply involved in psychical research alongside his philosophical and psychological work, investigating claims about mediums and the paranormal. This photograph is a rare visual record of that side of his career, showing him engaged directly with the subject rather than writing about it from a distance.

Look closer

• What does this photograph suggest about how seriously James took psychical research?
• Why might a scientist or philosopher of this era have investigated séances?
• What is missing from a photograph like this that a written account might explain?