“The Ghostly Shadow” in the Archives: Post-Modernism and the Hamilton Family
Fonds [at the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections]
Table of Contents:
Table of Contents, Project Description, and Proposed Chapter Headings
Schedule of Work, and Preliminary List of Resources
Previous Work and List of Relevant Publications
Project Description:
The aim of the project would be to examine current postmodern theory on archives and
apply it to the Hamilton family fonds. The “Hamilton family fonds”, especially the core of 700
images related to spirit photographs provides the perfect laboratoy to examine two concepts
basic to postmodern thinking: 1) how does archival practice becomes an integral part of the
record, changing our perception of it; and 2) how do archivists actively shape and create records,
consciously or unintentionally, and have archivists recognized this phenomenon.
In regards to the first major concept, over the past 30 years the actions of archivists have
created the Hamilton family fonds as much as T.G. Hamiton’s camera did. How this has been
accomplished is documented in the administrative records of the archives, as is how the presence
of the fonds has it led to major decisions concerning other fonds or even the direction of archives
acquistion policies in general.
The second major concept focuses on how users of archives have broken free of metanarratives and universal truths to create their own truths and meanings from archival materials. I
will examine how the use of the Hamilton family fonds diversified and increased over time,
including what was the general perception of the fonds in 1979, and how was it approached by
users of the archives? How has it used in contemporary times and how may it be used in the
future.
In both these cases digitizaton of the fonds and the internet are a powerful force, and have
accelerated how the above two concepts have been made visible.
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The description of the Hamilton Family fonds, and related materials, can be viewed at:
http://umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/collections/rad/hamilton_family.html
Hamilton Family fonds
Call Number: Mss 14, Pc 12, Tc 70 (A.79-21, A.79-41, A.79-52, A.79-56, A.79-65, A.80-08,
A.80-25, A.81-09, A.86-56)
Title: Hamilton Family fonds.
Dates: 1919-1986.
Extent: 2.5 m of textual records and other material
Biographical sketch: Dr. T.G. (Thomas Glendenning) Hamilton was born in Agincourt, Ontario
in 1873. In 1883, his family moved west to Saskatchewan and was among the first pioneer
families to settle in Saskatoon. After his father died in 1891, his mother moved the family to
Winnipeg where young T.G. Hamilton attended Manitoba College. He graduated from medical
school in 1903, completed his internship at the Winnipeg General Hospital in 1904, and
commenced practice in the district of Elmwood within Winnipeg in 1905. In 1915, he was
President of the Manitoba Medical Association. Hamilton also served on the Public School
Board for nine years, one year as chairman. He was also elected a member of the provincial
legislature in 1914-1915. In 1918, soon after his young son's death, he began to experiment with
psychic phenomena. His aim was the investigation of paranormal phenomena such as rappings,
psychokinesis, ectoplasms, and materializations under scientific conditions that would minimize
any possibility of error. His work became known in the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United
States. Between 1926 and 1935, he presented eighty-six lectures and wrote numerous articles
that were published in Canada and abroad. Dr. Hamilton's wife, Lillian, carried on his
paranormal experimentations following his death in 1935.
Custodial history: The fonds was donated to University of Manitoba Archives & Special
Collections by T.G. and Lillian's daughter, Margaret Hamilton Bach, and her daughters in
several instalments between 1979 and 1986.
Scope and content: The fonds is primarily related to Dr. T.G. and Lillian Hamilton's
investigations of psychic phenomena spanning the years 1918 to 1945. The subject matter of the
records includes rappings, clairvoyance, trance states and trance charts, telekinesis, wax molds,
bell-ringing, transcripts and visions, as well as teleplasmic manifestations. The records are in the
following various formats: scrapbooks, seance attendance records and registers, affidavits,
automatic writings, correspondence, speeches and lectures, newsclippings, journal articles,
books, photographs, glass plate negatives and positives, prints, slides, tapes, manuscripts, and
promotional materials related to major publications. All positive prints taken from the
photographic negatives have been retained with the written records of the experiments which
they illustrate. Almost all the glass plate negatives were photographed for archival purposes, and
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the black and white glossy print collection is also available. A library of related books and
journals which accompanied the collection has been separately catalogued and is available.
Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material.
Finding aid: Printed finding aids are available in the Archives reading room and on-line finding
aids are available at the links below:
MSS 14 (A.79-21, A.79-41, A.79-52, A.79-56, A.79-65, A.80-08, A.80-25, A.81-09, A.86-56)
PC 12 (A.79-21, A.79-41, A.79-52, A.79-56, A.79-65, A.80-08, A.80-25, A.81-09, A.86-56)
TC 70 (A.79-21, A.79-41, A.79-52, A.79-56, A.79-65, A.80-08, A.80-25, A.81-09, A.86-56).
Hamilton Family fonds Digital Collection
View a compilation of photographs set to original music
For more information on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's visit to Winnipeg in 1923 and his
participation in T.G. Hamilton's experimentations, see Michael W. Homer's article in Manitoba
History titled "Arthur Conan Doyle's Adventures in Winnipeg."
I have access to all the Hamilton records (most are actually digitized so remote access is
possible) and access to all donation records and records of use (although privacy concerns must
be addressed). I should be able determine the many uses of Hamilton in the past 30 years (initial
donation was in 1979. I also have access to most to the archivists involved with Hamilton since
its acquisition.
Proposed Chapter Headings:
Chapter I – Archival theory and post-modernism - How can we apply this to Hamilton, and what
writings are relevant.
Chapter II – T.G. Hamilton and the context of spiritualism in Winnipeg. What is the general
history of “Spiritualism in the Western world, and where the Hamilton fonds is situated. What
records of spiritualism exist in archives.
Chapter III– The provenance of the Hamilton family fonds donation and the history of archival
intervention on the fonds, digitization – What exactly are these photographs and how did they
come to be produced. How do they relate to other spirit photographs?
Chapter IV – The use of the Hamilton fonds – research, researchers, and their creations
(scholarly approaches, newspapers, literature, visual art, video, film, the internet). What does this
tell us about the postmodern nature of archives?
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Chapter V – Conclusion: what does Hamilton tell us about archives and the future.
Schedule of Work:
2009 – Submit new proposal, chapter 1 (theory)
2010 – Chapter 2 and 3 (history of Spiritualism; and the archival donation of the fonds – spirit
photographs, what are they?)
2011 – Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 (Archival treatment (including the internet and digitization and
the fonds, related collections; the uses and users of the fonds, end of meta-narrative)
20012 – Eight months of sabbatical, final version and Conclusion
2013 – Revisions of thesis (May), and defense
List of Resources: These are only preliminary lists only. The sources on spirituals in general and
the works with include the Hamilton fonds are more numerous than indicated below.
Archival Theory:
Cook, Terry, “What is Past is Prologue: A History of Archival Ideas Since 1898, and the Future
Paradigm Shift”, Archivaria 43 (Spring 1997).
Cook, Terry, “Archival Science and Postmoderism: New Formulations for Old Concepts”,
Archival Science vol. 1, no. 1 (2000).
Cook, Terry, “Fashionable Nonsense or Professional Rebirth: Postmoderism and the Practice of
Archives”, Archivaria 51 (Spring 2001).
Gere, Charlie. Digital Culture London: Reaktion Books (expanded 2nd edition), 2008).
Greene, Mark A. “The Power of Meaning: The Archival Mission in the Postmodern Age” The
American Archivist vol. 65, no. 1 (Spring/Summer 2002).
Ketelaar, Eric, “Archivistics Research Saving the Profession,” in The American Archivist, Vol.
63, Fall/Winter 2000, 322-340.
Ketelaar, Eric, “Tacit Narratives: The Meanings of Archives”, Archival Science 1 (2001).
Nesmith, Tom, “See Archives: Postmoderism and the Changing Intellectual Place of Archives”,
The American Archivist, vol. 65, Spring/Summer, 2002, pp. 24-41.
Hamilton and Spiritualism:
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Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur. The History of Spiritualism (1926) and The Case for Spirit
Photography (1923), and Our Second American Adventure (1923).
“Spiritualism” The Canadian Encyclopedia (2009).
Grattan-Guinness, Ivor. Psychical Research: A Guide to its History, Principles and Practices, In
Celebration of 100 Years of the Society for Psychical Research. Wellingborough, Northhamp.:
the Aquarian Press, 1982.
Hamilton, James D.Intention and Survival: psychical research studies and the bearing of
intentional actions by trance personalities on the problem of human survival, by T.Glen
Hamilton (1942, 2nd ed. 1977).
Hamilton, Margaret Lillian (daughter of TG). Is Survival A Fact? (Reprinted from the pages of
Winnipeg Free Press), Dec. 1957.
Homer, Michael W. “Arthur Conan Doyle’s Adventures in Winnipeg”, in Manitoba History, No.
25, Spring 1993.
Meyer zu Erpen, Walter. “Hamilton, Thomas Glendenning (1873-1935)” (piece an extended
version of an upcoming DCB article).
Podmore, Frank. Studies in Psychical Research. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.,
Ltd., 1897. “Spirit Photography” pp. 92-95
Richet, Charles. Thirty Years of Psychical Research. New York: The Macmillan Company,
1923.
Shepard, Leslie A. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology (3rd. ed., two vols.)
Detroit: Gale Research Inc. , 1991.
Stead, Estelle. Spirit Return of W.T. Stead. London: The Greater World Association, 1950
Sweeney, Shelley. “Thomas Glendenning Hamilton” Wikipedia, (2009).
Preliminary list of works which utilize the Hamilton Family fonds:
Cheroux, C. and A. Fischer, et al. Le Troisieme Oeil: La photographie et l’occulte. Paris :
Gallimard, 2004. [RBR BF 1381 T76 2004]
Creepy Canada (2nd season, 2003-04), episode 6 “The Hamilton Archives”
Gee, Joshua. Encyclopedia Horrifica: The Terrifying TRUTH! About Vampires, Ghosts,
Monsters, and More. Scholastic Inc., New York, 2007.
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Gray, Carolyn. “The Elm Street Visitation” (2007) – a play presented by Manitoba Theatre
Projects (published by Scirocco Drama)
Hayes, Kenneth. Milk and Melancholy, Prefix Press: A Division of Prefix Institute of
Contemporary Art, 2008. [RBR TR 655 H384 2008]
“The Haunting in Connecticut” feature film, released March, 20009 – in Canada – filmed in
Manitoba. The dvd version of the film was released in July 2009.
Maddin, Guy. “My Winnipeg” (2007), book tie in was published 2008.
MacWilliam, Susan (ed. Karen Downey). Remote Viewing. London, Eng., Black Dog pub. 2008.
Meyer, zu Erpen. TV documentary, including Walter Meyer zu Erpen – on spiritualism, features
Hamilton photographs (need more detailed reference)
Nickels, James B.” Psychic Research in a Winnipeg Family: Reminiscences of Dr. Glen F.
Hamilton”, Manitoba History, 55 (June 2007): 52
Penner, Christina. “The Widows of Hamilton House” (a novel) Winnipeg: Enfield & Wizenty,
2008.
Shelley, Sweeney. “The Hamilton Family fonds (CTV – television “Manitoba Moments”, 2007)
Smith, Barbara. Ghost Stories of Manitoba. Edmonton, AB: Lone Pine Publishing, 1998.
The University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections, “T.G. Hamilton’s Photos of
Ectoplasm” – a selection of photographs set to music (YouTube) - 2008
Vesely, Caroline, and Buzz Currie (based on the research of Frank Albo). The Hermetic Code
Winnipeg, MB: The Winnipeg Free Press, 2007.
Previous work:
I have not done any scholarly work on the fonds, although I have worked with the Hamilton
Family papers and photographs since 2001, in a professional capacity. I have been interviewed
by the media and presented talks to university classes about the Hamilton images.
Relevant Publications: Although I have not published in this field, I have had several articles
accepted for publication in scholarly journals, one book published (2nd edition).
List of Relevant Publications:
“’This is the Whiteman’s Law’”: Aboriginal resistance, bureaucratic change and the Census
of Canada, 1830-2006”, Archival Science (July, 2007).
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The Cypress Hills: An Island By Itself, co-authored with Walter Hildebrandt. Saskatoon,
Sask.: Purich Publishing, May 2007 (2nd edition, fully revised, original pub. 1993)
"`An Administered People': Approaches to the Study of the Bureaucracy, Records, and
Records-Keeping in the Canadian Department of Indian Affairs, 1755-1950." M.A. History
(Archival Studies), 2000. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. Supervisor: Dr. Tom Nesmith.
“`A Race of Mules': Mixed-Bloods in Western American Fiction." The Canadian Journal of
Native Studies Vol. 15, No. 1 (1995): 61-75
“Horse Stealing and the Borderline: The NWMP and the Control of Indian Movement, 18741900." Prairie Forum Vol. 20, No. 2 (Fall 1995): pp. 281-300.
Brian Hubner, re-submitted September, 2009
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