Grievances at the Treatment She Received: Harriet E. Wilson's Spiritualist Career in Boston, 1868-1900

The document provides an overview of Harriet E. Wilson's career as a spiritualist medium and lecturer in Boston from 1868 to 1900, following her earlier life as an African-American novelist. Wilson thrived in the spiritualist movement, which was initially popular for mourning Civil War dead but later declined in public interest. She was involved in various roles, including running a spiritualist lyceum for children, and faced challenges such as competition, internal conflicts, and the rise of "test mediumships" which overshadowed her "trance speaking." Despite the spiritualist movement's openness to women and African Americans, Wilson's race may have contributed to her vulnerability within the movement, and she faced accusations of chicanery and possibly racism. Her career reflected the broader cultural and social phenomenon of spiritualism during the 19th century, which dealt with issues of reform, identity, and the afterlife. The document also notes Wilson's earlier work selling hair regenerator treatments and suggests that her spiritualist practices, including the use of Native American spirit guides, were influenced by her personal hardships and the limited career options available to her as a black woman in New England society.