Table of Contents
Abstract

A military officer and civilian superintendent of the École Polytechnique in Paris, Albert de Rochas became one of the best known psychic researchers in late nineteenth century France. His interests centered on uncovering the laws behind psychic forces, somnambulism, magnetism and mesmerism, hypnotism, perception, and reincarnation. A prolific writer, he studied a number of Spiritualist and Spiritist mediums, including Maria Mayo (Lina), Eusapia Paladino, and D. D. Home.

Despite the relatively small size of the collection, the papers of Albert de Rochas open an important window onto the development of psychic science in fin de siecle France and onto the cultural impact of Spiritualism. The collection includes a scattered, but valuable selection of correspondence with fellow psychic researchers, editors, mediums, and other individuals interested in psychic research, and a valuable set of 69 spirit and psychic photographs, that Rochas collected as evidence of psychic forces, and as documentation of séances, mediums, and "sensitives." Rochas' work on the exteriorization of sensibility and studies of Lina, Charles Bailey, and Paladino are relatively well documented, and his interests in the laws of psychic phenomena, reincarnation, and the exmigration of the living soul run throughout.

Background note

A military engineer and one of the leading psychic scientists in fin de siècle France, Albert de Rochas was involved in research into a wide range of esoteric topics, from the spirit mediumship of Eusapia Paladino to telepathy and telekinesis, hypnosis, human magnetism, somnambulism, reincarnation, and physical unfolding.

Born into an old Provencal family at Saint Firmin (Haute-Alpes) on May 20, 1837, Rochas entered the Lycée de Grenoble with the intention of studying literature, assuming that he would follow his father and grandfather into the law. When he discovered, however, that the law was less than intellectually stimulating, he switched to mathematics -- a subject at which he excelled -- and set his sights on a career in engineering. After winning the school's prix d'honneur in 1856, he entered the École Polytechnique in Paris to continue his education and to prepare for a career in the military.

In 1861, Rochas was commissioned as Lieutenant de Genie at Montpelier and quickly distinguished himself for his knowledge of the engineering and for his superb administrative abilities. Rising quickly through the ranks to Captain (1864), he was assigned to series of increasingly important assignments after the Franco-Prussian War, culminating in a stint as inspector of studies at the École Polytechnique and a short period as interim director. After earning a promotion to battalion commander in 1880, Rochas was made chief of engineers in 1887 and was given responsibility for updating and strengthening the fortifications around Grenoble.

A scholar at heart, Rochas first became interested in the technology of ancient and medieval engineering while working on the construction of fortifications in the Jura in 1865. His initial attempt at academic writing was a translation of Veterum Mathematicorum Opera (1693), an 11th century Alexandrian treatise on fortification and machines of war, after which he took detours into Hellenism and into the physics and mechanics used by Egyptian priests in constructing their temples. His research and writing were well respected by his scholarly peers, his translations of Greek texts earning him a medal from the Société des Études Grecques.

The work for which Rochas was best known, however, evolved out of an encounter in the mid-1860s with a young man who was susceptible to being magnetized. Even as he plunged into his research on ancient sciences and military history, Rochas applied himself with increasing vigor to the psychic and occult sciences. His first important book on psychic science, Les Forces non Definiés (Paris: Masson, 1887), defined the terms of much of his later research in seeking a scientific basis for occult phenomena. From the mid-1880s into the 1910s, Rochas produced a steady stream of articles and monographs to establish the basic principles behind the exteriorization of sensibility and presented what he was convinced was empirical proof for the existence of a magnetic fluid capable of acting directly on the central nervous system. In 1888, he declined a further promotion in the military to become civilian director at the École Polytechnique, probably because he wished to devote more time to his studies.

Eclectic and evolving, tinged with the Orientalist currents running through contemporary Theosophy and Spiritualism, Rochas touched upon a wide range of topics. Following his widely read work on ancient science, La Science des Philosophes at l'Art des Thaumaturges dans l'Antiquité (Paris: Masson, 1882), he turned to topics such as hypnotism ( L'État Profond de l'Hypnose), death and reincarnation ( Les Vies Successives, 1911; La Suspension de la Vie, 1913), telekinesis ( Extériorisation de la motricité, 1896), and the physical basis of psychic experience ( Les Fluides des Magnétiseurs, 1891; Extériorisation de la Sensibilité, 1895; Les Frontières de la Physique,1898; and Les Frontières de la Science, 1902-1904). He was particularly renowned for a series of experiments conducted with his friends General Thomassin, John Maxwell, De Watteville, and A. de Gramont on the famous Italian medium Eusapia Paladino in which they reported the materialization of spirit hands. His detailed study of the hypnotic subject, Maria Mayo (Mlle Lina), was part of an attempt to assess the influence of music upon human emotions and to measure the human physical response ( Les Sentiments, La Musique, et les Gestes, 1900).

Rochas believed firmly that the scientific study of psychic phenomena would allay people of the fear of death and, by replacing faith with scientifically sound reason, would bring them into closer connection to God. He was named an honorary member of the Académie Delphinale, the Académies of Savoie, Blois, and Aix, and the Sociétéde Psychologie Scientifique of Munich, and was made a Chevalier in the Legion d'Honneur in 1875 and an officer in 1889. He died on September 2, 1914.

Scope and content

Despite the relatively small size of the collection, the papers of Albert de Rochas open an important window onto the development of psychic science in fin de siecle France and onto the cultural impact of Spiritualism. The collection includes a scattered, but valuable selection of correspondence with fellow psychic researchers, editors, mediums, and other individuals interested in psychic research, and a valuable set of 69 spirit and psychic photographs, that Rochas collected as evidence of psychic forces, and as documentation of séances, mediums, and "sensitives." Rochas' work on the exteriorization of sensibility and studies of Maria Mayo (Lina), Charles Bailey, and Eusapia Paladino are relatively well documented, and his interests in the laws of psychic phenomena, reincarnation, and the exmigration of the living soul run throughout.

Other aspects of Rochas' career are much less well documented. There is little of family interest in the collection, and only a few items pertaining to his interest in ancient history or engineering. His military career is also poorly documented, although the collection includes a number of letters from former colleagues in the military, some of a personal nature and others relating to military history.

Collection information

Provenance

Acquired from John Gach Books, 2002.

Preferred citation

Cite as: Albert de Rochas Papers, American Philosophical Society.

Processing information

Catalogued by rsc, 2004.

Indexing Terms

Genre(s)

Personal Name(s)

Subject(s)

Collection overview
Series I. Correspondence
Bulk, 1882-1908; 1845-1916 1.25 lin. feet Request Series

Although incomplete, even fragmentary, Rochas' correspondence touches on a wide range of his interests in psychic research between about 1885 and 1910, including some scarce published articles from the psychic and popular press and several pamphlets on topics of interest. In most cases, correspondents are represented by only one or two letters lacking Rochas' replies. Pieced together, however, these provide an outline of his major research interests and of his connections to other significant psychic researchers in France, Germany, Italy, and elsewhere, such as Albert Philibert Franz Schrenk-Notzing, Willy Reichel, Bogdan Hasdeu-Istrati, and Alexander Aksakoff. Rochas also maintained correspondence with a number of artists and writers, including James Tissot, Alphonse Mucha (although there are no letters from Mucha present).

Concerned with documenting Spiritualist séances and exploring the underlying basis of psychic phenomena, Rochas received a regular influx of letters from other investigators describing their experiences and experiments. His colleagues kept Rochas informed of the activities of the mediums Eusapia Paladino and Charles Bailey, of research conducted in Italy, France, Germany, Australia, and the United States (see A. Van der Naillen), and there are excellent accounts of experiences with somewhat lesser known operators such as Mme Escalier (see Fernand Boudron), Mme. Adam (see the fascinating 10 page account of psychic occurrences at a seance by Lydie Rostoptchine), Mme Corner, and the Theosophist Mme Blavatsky. More unusual is the letter of M. Lagelouse, who writes that she has been persecuted for eight years, and who sends the names of friends near the moon to vouch for her.

The Orientalism that marked Spiritualism and Spiritism in the latter decades of the 19th century can be seen throughout the Rochas Papers, not only in the correspondence with or about Theosophists. There are excellent letters on reincarnation from G. Berger, C. Cania, and Annie Besant (the Theosophist), and there is a hint of it in his interest in the possibility of the exmigration of the living soul (see Alexandre Goupil's Cas de vision fantomale and Cas de vision fantomale d'un vivant) and his work on Ecstasy. There is a considerable quantity of material on the sensitive Maria Mayo (Lina) -- Schrenck-Notzing's subject -- and on the physiological effect of music (see e.g. Frandoni Lacombe, Atelier Mucha). Among the miscellaneous items of note are a wonderful letter by the Danish military engineer E. Christmas-Dirckinck-Holmfeld on spirit photography, and a small number of letters from otherwise unidentified persons (e.g. Berthe Dole) who wrote to share their personal psychic experiences.

Series II. Photographs
1873-1921 0.5 lin. feet Request Series

Rochas evidently placed a great importance on photography as a means of documenting elusive spiritual and psychic phenomena, and the Rochas Papers includes 69 photographs depicting spirits, psychic forces, séances, mediums, and "sensitives" taken between ca.1875 and 1900. Spirit photographs seem to have been of particular interest, and his papers include two interesting images taken by the famed (and debunked) Parisian Eugène Buguet, two prints of the spirit Bien Boa (a "Brahmin" materialized by the medium Marthe Béraud), and several other images, the most intriguing of which was taken in Elizabeth, N.J., of Elena de Obarrio, in which her guardian spirit and the spirit of her sleeping (and very much alive) brother also appear. This image was taken by, or with the assistance of the Cuban medium J. R. Simoni. Rochas also kept photographs of a séance conducted by Guy de Fontenay with Eusapia Paladino at Montfor l'Amaury, July 1897, including two cabinet cards of a séance in progress and a psychically-produced image of Paladino's face.

Less common are a suite of photographs that demonstrate the reality of psychic forces. A fine carte de visite of Gustave Flaschoen taken by the British photographer Brittlebank displays the "force psychique sortant de ses mains," while three cartes provide a dramatic illustration of psychic force being generated by a circle held by the medium John Beattie in Bristol, England. The photographs Rochas collected of "sensitives" reflect his interests in the physical effects of art and music and his interest in the experience of religious or spiritual ecstasy.

Other images document psychic forces in less concrete ways. The collection includes a series of 11 images associated with the Romanian psychic investigator Bogdan Hasdeu-Istrati (see also his correspondence), 11 "doubles" of Mme. Lambert, sent to Rochas by the editor G. Delanne, and the image by Mme de Valpinson are generally difficult to interpret visually, while in those of Paolo Visani Scozzi (apparently mounted for public display) one can see dim faces arising from amorphous psychic clouds. Rochas was also not coincidentally interested in x-radiography, acquiring a very early (March 1897) x-radiograph of a hand, apparently kept as demonstration that photography could reveal structures otherwise hidden to the eye. Equally interesting are several images taken by the photographer Nadar, including five boudoir cards of Rochas himself with an astral body "obtenu par trucage."



Detailed Inventory
Series I. Correspondence
Bulk, 1882-1908; 1845-1916 1.25 lin. feet Request Series

Although incomplete, even fragmentary, Rochas' correspondence touches on a wide range of his interests in psychic research between about 1885 and 1910, including some scarce published articles from the psychic and popular press and several pamphlets on topics of interest. In most cases, correspondents are represented by only one or two letters lacking Rochas' replies. Pieced together, however, these provide an outline of his major research interests and of his connections to other significant psychic researchers in France, Germany, Italy, and elsewhere, such as Albert Philibert Franz Schrenk-Notzing, Willy Reichel, Bogdan Hasdeu-Istrati, and Alexander Aksakoff. Rochas also maintained correspondence with a number of artists and writers, including James Tissot, Alphonse Mucha (although there are no letters from Mucha present).

Concerned with documenting Spiritualist séances and exploring the underlying basis of psychic phenomena, Rochas received a regular influx of letters from other investigators describing their experiences and experiments. His colleagues kept Rochas informed of the activities of the mediums Eusapia Paladino and Charles Bailey, of research conducted in Italy, France, Germany, Australia, and the United States (see A. Van der Naillen), and there are excellent accounts of experiences with somewhat lesser known operators such as Mme Escalier (see Fernand Boudron), Mme. Adam (see the fascinating 10 page account of psychic occurrences at a seance by Lydie Rostoptchine), Mme Corner, and the Theosophist Mme Blavatsky. More unusual is the letter of M. Lagelouse, who writes that she has been persecuted for eight years, and who sends the names of friends near the moon to vouch for her.

The Orientalism that marked Spiritualism and Spiritism in the latter decades of the 19th century can be seen throughout the Rochas Papers, not only in the correspondence with or about Theosophists. There are excellent letters on reincarnation from G. Berger, C. Cania, and Annie Besant (the Theosophist), and there is a hint of it in his interest in the possibility of the exmigration of the living soul (see Alexandre Goupil's Cas de vision fantomale and Cas de vision fantomale d'un vivant) and his work on Ecstasy. There is a considerable quantity of material on the sensitive Maria Mayo (Lina) -- Schrenck-Notzing's subject -- and on the physiological effect of music (see e.g. Frandoni Lacombe, Atelier Mucha). Among the miscellaneous items of note are a wonderful letter by the Danish military engineer E. Christmas-Dirckinck-Holmfeld on spirit photography, and a small number of letters from otherwise unidentified persons (e.g. Berthe Dole) who wrote to share their personal psychic experiences.

Unidentified author
  Box 1
Request File
Marie
1906 Jan. 21 1 item Box 1
Request File

Spirit photography

Adam, Mme
1901 Feb. 2 items Box 1
Request File

Re: Lina

Adamovich, Elisabeth
1903 Dec. 18 2 items Box 1
Request File

Hypnotism and photography. Carte de visite of Adamovich transferred to Ser. II (under Varenik and Vladimirov.

Aksakoff, Alexander -- Un cas de dématérialization partielle du corps d'un medium
n.d. AMs, 28p. Box 1
Request File

Mentions Guppy, Blavatsky, and others

Albarracin, Francisco
1902 April 11 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File

Wishes to meet to discuss Rochas' psychological studies

Anastay, E.
1906 Apr. 29 ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Argus de la Presse
1896, 1905 2 newsclippings Box 1
Request File
Arnould, Arthur
1894 Dec. 21 ALS, 3p. Box 1
Request File

Theosophy

Astruc, S.
1889 Dec. 19 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Atelier Mucha -- Premier Essai d'un Ballet: Avec Gestes et Pas Déterminés par les Actions Réflexes de la Musique sur l'Organisme Humain
1899 Dec. 3 Pr. program, 6p. Box 1
Request File

With images taken from Rochas' "Les Sentiments, la Musique et le Geste"

Aubry, Desirée
n.d. PC, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Bader, G.
1897 July 9-17 2 ALsS Box 1
Request File

Mme Eugenie Engel; translation of the Seherin von Prevorst

Bailey, Charles -- La Seima et Ame -- W. Britton Harvey
1908 AMs, 11p. Box 1
Request File

Account of Bailey's "Miracles à Melbourne." Includes newspaper clipping "La disavventura del medium Bailey e de' suoi 'ignicolori'" (in Italian).

Barrett-Lennard, H.
1900 Jan. 1 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File

In English

Barruet, Elie
1900 Feb. 28-1901 Jan. 30 5 items Box 1
Request File
Bartolomeis, Alissandro
n.d. 2 items Box 1
Request File

Ghosts of living persons. In Italian

Bénezet, Alfred
1909 Dec. 30-1910 Feb. 11 4 items Box 1
Request File

Mention of Charles Bailey, Aksakoff, Reichel, Fontenay, publications. "Nous continuons ici nos expériences." Dematerialization.

Bénezet, Jeannemaire
1908 Dec. 15-1909 Jan. 5 3 ALsS Box 1
Request File
Berger, G.
n.d. 2p. Box 1
Request File

On Reincarnation.

Besant, Annie
1905 Oct. 7-Nov. 29 2 ALsS Box 1
Request File

On Reincarnation.

Bodroun, Fernand
n.d. 2p. (inc.) Box 1
Request File

Instances of "exteriorization of sensibility" in séances with Mme Escalier, Mr. Tayons.

Boissans, Archdeacon
n.d. ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File

Photographs and "projections."

Boissonet, A.
1902 Aug. 10 ALS, 3p. Box 1
Request File
Borie, Albert -- Études physiognomiques [reading notes?]
n.d. AMs, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Bornier, Henri
1889 May 16 ALS 2p. Box 1
Request File

L'Art des Thaumaturges, Magnetism.

Bourget, Paul -- Le double de Maupanant
n.d. AMs, 1p. Box 1
Request File
Breazeale, Guillaume Eugène
1890 May 19 ALS, 1p. Box 1
Request File

From Belton, South Carolina. Wishes to study mathematics in Europe.

Briots, cas aux
1904 June 7 ALS, 2p. (inc.) Box 1
Request File

Experiences with Mme Lay-Fonvieille.

Brouardel, P.
1889 Aug. 16 ALS, 1p. Box 1
Request File
Cania, C.
1905 Jan. 29 ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File

"Si chaque changement de personalité serait un Entité nouvelle qui se présente, vous seriez trompé!" Magnetism, reincarnation.

Cahagnet, Alphonse -- Les Arcanes de la Vie Future Dévoilés
n.d. Printed pam, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Caillard, Paul
1900-1916 4 items Box 1
Request File
Calvé, E.
n.d. ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Carnot, Adolphe
1900 Nov. 6 Wedding invtitation Box 1
Request File
Cavaignac,
n.d. (Dec. 14) ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Cazaux, Em de
1896 Dec. 28 ALS, 2p., printed flier Box 1
Request File
Christmas-Dirckinck-Holmfeld, E. de
1895 Nov. 20 ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File

Psychic photography

Coillot, Col.
1895 Feb. 9 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Collot, J.
1895 Feb. 8 ALS, 1p. Box 1
Request File
Colson, R.
1889 Nov. 17 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Combe, E.
1889 June 3 PC, 1p. Box 1
Request File
Constantin, comte de
1898 Mar. 8 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File

Magnetism.

Cotes, Jean
1900 April 11 ALS, 3p. Box 1
Request File
Croula, Edward
1897 June 21 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File

"Doubles" of the living.

Crozat, Marie de
n.d. ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Dame Noire et Dame Blanche
n.d. Newspaper clipping Box 1
Request File
Dariex, Dr.
1901 Mar. 25 ALS, 1p. Box 1
Request File

Sending address of Schrenck-Notzing

Debron, Paul
1900-1901 7 ALsS Box 1
Request File
De la Crois, J. E.
1890 Jan. 17 ALS, 1p. Box 1
Request File
Delanne, G.
1911 Apr. 4 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Denizet, H.
1901 Jult 29 ALS, 3p. Box 1
Request File
Des Snart, G. T.
n.d. ALS, 3p. Box 1
Request File
Dessin a remettre a Devaux... [dessein d'un echelle double]
1839 June Tech. drawing Box 1
Request File
Deux Amis arrivent a Mégare...
n.d. AMs, 33p. Box 1
Request File

On telepathy and psychic experiences

Doinel, Jules
1892 Mar. 23 ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Dole, Berthe
1897 July 5-27 2 ALsS Box 1
Request File

Magnetic experiences with her mother and others and practical results.

Dolat, M.
n.d. ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Donop
1893 June 3 ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Echaguez, F.
n.d. ALS, 6p. Box 1
Request File

Interest in psychic experiences. From Spanish Embassy in Paris.

L'Écho du Merveilleux 12, no. 277
1908 July 15 Magazine Box 1
Request File
L'Écho du Merveilleux 13, no. 291
1909 Feb. 15 Magazine Box 1
Request File

Psychic mag. With article by W. T. Stead

Ecstase
n.d. 20 items Box 1
Request File

Includes manuscript notes on ecstasy and divination in antiquity and 4 printed articles: "A propos de reves prémonitaires et de paramnésie;" "Faits anormaux;" "De la folie religieuse;" "Phénomenes Mystiques" (from Le Voile d'Isis)

Faure-Biguet, P.
1894 Dec.-1904 June 10 3 items Box 1
Request File
Fernandez, Federico
1898 Sept. 21 ALS, with trans. Box 1
Request File

In Spanish, from Sec. of the Argentine Theosophical Society

Fevrier, J.
1890 Aug. 12 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Flamion, J.
1897 Feb. 16 ALS, 5p. Box 1
Request File

Psychic experiences.

Flammarion, Sylvie
1893 Jan. 22 ALS, 3p. Box 1
Request File
Fontenay, Guillaume de
1910 Jan. 2-Feb. 11 2 ALsS Box 1
Request File

Mentions Bailey and Richet.

Foras, Eloi Amédée Jacques François de
1876 Dec. 19 ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Foudrier, Adrien
1849 Oct. 16 ALS, 1p. Box 1
Request File
Gaillard, M. -- Oisivetés de M. Vauban (Paris: J. Corréard, 1845)
1845 Pam., 137p. : ill. Box 1
Request File

With extra sheets from "Sur l'usage que l'on peut faire des Galères en Bretagne."

Gacogne, E.
n.d. ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Gobers, F.
1891 Jan. 30 ALS, 3p. Box 1
Request File

Military service in Poland, Russia.

Goupil, Alexandre[?]
1909 Aug. 1 ALS and enclosure Box 1
Request File

Encloses "Cas de vision fantomale" and "Cas de vision fantomale d'un vivant."

Gordon-Setter-Club -- Programme et Reglement des Field-Trials de 1891
1891 Pam., 8p. Box 1
Request File

Paul Caillard, President

Grandhauy, Gerard
1888 Nov. 24 ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Gramont, A.
n.d. ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Haemmerle, Agathe
1902 June 6 ALS, 4p. Box 1
Request File
Hasdeu-Istrati, Bogdan Petriceicu
1895 Aug. 12-1899 Feb. 14 2 ALsS Box 1
Request File

See Series II for photographs enclosed.

Havet, L.
1882 Feb. 2 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Henderson, E.
1890 Jan. 29 ALS, 2p. Box 1
Request File
Henry, Charles -- Application de Nouveaux Instruments de Précision... à l'Archéologie (Paris: Ernest Leroux, 1890)
1890 Pam., 31p. Box 1
Request File
Henry, Charles -- Le Livre de l'Avenir
n.d. Newspaper clipping Box 1
Request File
Henry, Charles -- Sur une Loi Générale des Réactions Psycho-Motrices (Paris: Assoc. Française des Sciences, 1888)
1889 Pam., 37p. Box 1
Request File
Hübbe-Scheliden, Wilhelm
1901 Apr. 14 PC, 1p. Box 1
Request File
Ille[?], Ch. d'
1909 Oct. 14 ALS, 4p. Box 2
Request File
Joire, Paul -- "Étude de Psychologie Musicale, L'Expression Pure des Sentiments et des Passions"
n.d. 8p. Box 2
Request File

With photos of Lina

Kardec, Allan -- Phénomènes Spirites Observés auGroupe Amitié de Lyon de 1884 à 1890 (Tours, 1895)
1895 Pam, 29p. Box 2
Request File
Keil, Alfred
1903 May 25 ALS, 1p. Box 2
Request File
Kjellman, F.
1889 Aug. 21 ALS, 2p. Box 2
Request File

Human magnetism.

Labadye, cte de
n.d. ALS, 2p. Box 2
Request File
Lacombe, Mad. Frandoni
n.d. ALS, 7p. Box 2
Request File

Music and the sentiments.

Lacoste
1893 Aug. 10 ALS, 4p. Box 2
Request File
Laffaut, C.
1889 May 9 ALS, 4p. Box 2
Request File
Lagelouse, M.
1903 Mar. 10 ALS, 4p. Box 2
Request File

Has been persecuted for eight years; sends names of friends near the moon to vouch for her.

Lamontas, Marie de
n.d. 5 ALsS Box 2
Request File
Langalerud, G. de
1890 Feb. 2, 22 2 ALsS Box 2
Request File
Le Bon, Gustave
n.d. Pr. Invitation Box 2
Request File
Lemoine, Emile
n.d. ANS, 1p. Box 2
Request File
Lina
  2 folders Box 2
Request File
Folder 1
1884 2 items Box 2
Request File

Lina M. was a young woman with whom, Schrenk-Notzing conducted experiments in thought transferrance. Includes pam: Premier Essay d'un Ballet and copy of Bulletin de l'Imprimerie et de la Librarie, Oct. 25, 1884.

Folder 2
1901 Nov. 4 ALS, 2p. Box 2
Request File

Includes 4 other items of uncertain relationship foldered together.

Linder
1894 Mar. 10 ALS with encl. Box 2
Request File

Encloses letter to Linder

Magnin, Emile
1904-1905 5 items Box 2
Request File

Includes 2 ALsS, PC, and 2 pams: "'Magdeleine' Étude sur le Geste au Moyen de l'Hypnose" and "De l'Interprétation artistique" (with photos of Lina).

Marie(?)
1906 Jan. 21 ALS, 1p. Box 2
Request File

Dariex has recommended Rochas as the person to give permission to reproduce photographs of "doubles." Author is editor of Nice Illustré.

Les Matérialisations
1906 Pr.Ms, 18p. Box 2
Request File
Maugin, L.(?)
1888 Nov. 9 ALS, 2p. Box 2
Request File
Maurice, C.
1900 July 10 ALS, 1p. Box 2
Request File
Maxwell, Joseph
1905, 1910 2 items Box 2
Request File

Includes copy of Maxwell's pam. Sur les Phénomènes de Hantise (Paris, 1905).

Mesnard, H.
1911 Mar. 28 ALS, 2p. Box 2
Request File

Sending a photograph taken by new process. Includes note and envelope that may not be related.

Meyerson, Émile -- Les Travaux de M. Charles Henry sur une Théorie Mathématique de l'Expression (Paris: Armand Collin, 1890)
1890 Pam., 5p. Box 2
Request File
Montorsaux, Georges
n.d. ALS, 2p. Box 2
Request File
Moskvitissoff, Barbe de
1897 Apr. 15 ALS, 3p. Box 2
Request File
Moulins, L.
n.d. ALS, 1p. Box 2
Request File
Néon, Françcois de -- De Françcois de Néon, Courrier de Paris, Sue le Sueil du Mystère
n.d. AMs, 6p. Box 2
Request File
Occultism, notes
n.d. AMs, 14 items Box 2
Request File
Occultisme Pratique
n.d. Pr. Ms, 6p. Box 2
Request File
Olivier, Emile
1894 July 12 AMsS Poem, 3p. Box 2
Request File
Orléans, Henri Philippe Marie, prince d'
n.d. 5 items Box 2
Request File

Includes 3 ALsS, newspaper clipping on Orleans, and calling card for Robert d'Orleans. Mentions Eusapia Paladino.

Peaucellier, Gen.
1888 Sept. 26 Pr. Circ. LS, 3p. (2 cies) Box 2
Request File
Pelletier, Horace
1888-1890 6 ALsS Box 2
Request File

Spiritualism and spiritualists

Perneuil, C. de.
1895-1897 2 ALsS Box 2
Request File
Perrin, Maurice-Henri
1906 Apr. 7 ALS, 4p. Box 2
Request File
Perrot, G.
1887 May 30 ALS, 4p. Box 2
Request File
Pfeifer, Xaver -- "Des Goldenen Schnittes," Sphinx 4, 24 (1887): 369 ff.
1887 Pr. M, 28p. Box 2
Request File

In German

Pierrou(?), Gen.
n.d. 3 ALsS Box 2
Request File
Pillot, J.
n.d. ALS, 2p. Box 2
Request File
Pinot, Anna
1893 May 22 ALS, 3p. Box 2
Request File
Piore, L. C. Em.
1898 Apr. 22 ALS, 2p. Box 2
Request File
Polosoff, N. de
1889 Aug. 16 ALS, 2p. Box 2
Request File
Pont, Abbé de -- Réflexions à Propos des Origines du Patois de la Tarentaise (Paris, 1872)
1872 Pam., 24p. Box 2
Request File
A Propos de Rachel
n.d. AMs, 4p. Box 2
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Reboux, Paul (?) -- Instinct des animaux
n.d. AMs, 6p. Box 2
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With newspaper clipping signed by Reboux.

Recherches expérimentales au sujet du Fantôme des Vivants
n.d. Pr. Ms, 18p. Box 2
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Reichel, Willy
1909-1910 18 items Box 2
Request File

Includes letter from Charles Bailey, T. Thomassins, H. Beckh

[Reichel, Willy]. Le Professeur Willy Reichel
1909 AMs, 11p. Box 2
Request File
Ripault, A.
1897 Oct. 10 ALS, 4p., encl. Box 2
Request File
Revue Ampère 2 (1901)
1901 Pam. Box 2
Request File
Revue Suisse des Sciences Psychiques 1 (1913)
1913 Pam., 32p. Box 2
Request File
Rochas D'Aiglun, Eugene Auguste Albert [Biographical entry in Dictionnaire Biographique Internationale des écrivains des Artistes...]
n.d. Pr. Ms, p.53-56 Box 2
Request File
Rochas D'Aiglun, Eugene Auguste Albert -- Les Doctrines Chimiques au XVIIe Siècle (Paris, 1888)
1888 Pam., 13p. Box 2
Request File

Includes loose illus. showing points of connection between points on the face and parts of the body and newspaper clipping "Malades et médecins -- Curieuse étude de M. Albert de Rochas," Sept. 27, 1890.

Rochas D'Aiglun, Eugene Auguste Albert -- "Enrégistrement photographique des êtres et radiations de l'espace," Lumière no. 329 (1908)
1908 Pam. (2 copies), 8p. Box 2
Request File

Reprint.

Rochas D'Aiglun, Eugene Auguste Albert -- Les expériences très intéressants de M. de Rochas...
n.d. AMs, 13p. Box 2
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Rochas D'Aiglun, Eugene Auguste Albert -- "Les Fantomes des Vivants," Sciences Psychique 5 (1905): 257-272
1895 Pr. Ms, 15p. Box 2
Request File
Rochas D'Aiglun, Eugene Auguste Albert -- "Nouvelles expériences relatives au coprs astal et au rapport magnétique," La Vie Nouvelle
n.d. Newspaper clipping, 2p. Box 2
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Rochas D'Aiglun, Eugene Auguste Albert -- Psychic research. Notes
n.d. AMs, 10p. Box 2
Request File

Notes of "suggestions abstraits," transport of sensibility, photographic evidence.

Rochas D'Aiglun, Eugene Auguste Albert -- "Le Rêve"
n.d. AMs and Pr. Ms, 15p. Box 2
Request File

Source uncertain.

Rochas D'Aiglun, Eugene Auguste Albert -- "Les sentiments, la musique et le geste," Journal d'Études Psychologiques
1901 Page proof Box 2
Request File
Rochas D'Aiglun, Eugene Auguste Albert -- "Les vies successives"
n.d. Pr. Ms, 4p. Box 2
Request File
[Rochas d'Aiglun, Edouard Eugène Louis de. Death notice]
1899 May 5 Pr. Ms, 1p. Box 2
Request File
Rochas D'Aiglun, François Gabriel Henri -- Marriage contract with Marie Madeleine Claire Caillard
1901 Aug. 3 DS, 4p. Box 2
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Rossolowsko, W.
1901 May 20 ALS, 4p. Box 2
Request File

Aksakoff's health. Translation of the Seherin von Prevorst.

Rostoptchine, Lydie
1900 4 items Box 2
Request File

Includes 2 ALsS, ANS, List.

Rostoptchine, Lydie -- Une Matinée chez Madame Adam en 1900, par la contesse Lydie Rostoptchine
1900 AMs, 10p. Box 2
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[Rothschild, James de]. Le Baron James de Rothschild
n.d. Pr. Ms, 8p. Box 2
Request File

With frontis. engr. of Rothschild. Source uncertain, signed (in print) Morgand et Fatout.

Saint Antoine de Padove
n.d. AMs, 12p. Box 2
Request File

Probably part of longer mss (pages numbered beginning 5).

Sanchez, F.
1896 Dec. 20 ALS, 3p. Box 2
Request File
Sassan, Angèle Autine
1897 June 6 ALS, 3p. Box 2
Request File
[Saul, H.]?
n.d. 3 ALsS Box 2
Request File
Sausse, Henri -- Le Spiritisme à Lyon (Saint-Amand, Switzerland: Daniel-Chambon, 1905)
1905 Pam., 26p. Box 2
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Schrenk-Notzing, Albert Philibert Franz
1901 June 18 Box 2
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Schrenk-Notzing, Albert Philibert Franz -- "Telepathische experimente des Sonderausschusses der Psychologischen Gesellschaft zu München," Sphinx
1887 Offprint, 11p. Box 2
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Experiments with Lina.

Scymon, R.(?)
1885 Dec. 22 ALS, 4p. Box 2
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Sebert, Gen.
1892 May 4 ALS, 2p. Box 2
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Sue, Eugene
1846 Oct. 24 ALS, 4p. Box 2
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Letter to Eugene Sue from a German admirer, "E."

Sulzbach, M.
n.d. ALS, 3p. Box 2
Request File
Thesosophy
1905 3 items Box 3
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Includes AMs, Phénomênes de régressions de la mémorie and ALsS from D. A. Corumes (Mar. 25, 1905) and C. Remise (May 23, 1905)

Thomassins, Gen.
1892 Nov. 20 ALS, 1p. Box 2
Request File
Tissot, James
1895 Oct. 28 ALS, 2p. Box 3
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La Tribute Psychique no. 113 (1906)
1906 Sept. Mag., 8p. Box 3
Request File

With article on seances with medium M. Miller.

La Tribute Psychique no. 116 (1906)
1906 Dec. Mag., 8p. Box 3
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More on medium Miller.

Ulmès, J. d'
1907 Feb. 15 ALS, 4p. Box 3
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Mention of Lina, "l'hypnotisée."

Valière, Laurent
1903 Nov. 12 ALS, 4p. Box 3
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Van der Naillen, A.
1902-1906 7 ALsS Box 3
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Mention of Thomassins, Bailey, Reichel, Miller; Spiritualism in California.

Van Rutten, A.
1897 June 8 ALS, 1p. Box 3
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Vaud(?) G.
1889 Mar. 11 ALS, 3p. Box 3
Request File
Vaux-Royer, Rose M.
1901 June 14 ALS, 2p. Box 3
Request File

Queries on telepathy and psychic research from the Bureau of Psychic Research f the One Hundred Year Club.

Viard, G.
1904 Jan. 23 ALS, 3p. Box 3
Request File
Vicat, C.
1899 Apr. 27 ALS, 2p. Box 3
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Villeneuve, M. de
1895 July 4 ALS, 3p. Box 3
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Villewitz, T. de
1903 Feb. 26 ALS, 4p. Box 3
Request File
Virien, Mis de
1895-1900 2 ALsS Box 3
Request File

Compliments on Rochas' exteriorisation of sensibility.

Visani Scozzi, Paolo
1897-1898 3 ALsS Box 3
Request File

In Italian (one with translation into French). Re: Eusapia Paladino, Camille Flammarion.

Vitte, P.
1894-1896 6 ALsS Box 3
Request File
Volpi, E.
1901 Nov. 18 PC, 1p. Box 3
Request File
Waldner de Freundstein, Thuret contesse de
1902 Apr. 22-May 1 3 ALsS Box 3
Request File

Mention of Eusapia Paladino.

Wallace, Alfred Russel -- "Étude sur les apparitions" Annales des Sciences Psychiques
n.d. Pr. Ms., 30p. Box 3
Request File
Watraszewski, Xavier de
1898 Sept. 18 ALS, 4p. Box 3
Request File

Eusapia Paladino.

Wendelstadt, Albertine, baronne de
1900 5 items Box 3
Request File
Willenewitz, M.
n.d. ALS, 2p. Box 2
Request File
Wiszniewski
1898 Mar. 14-1900 July 25 2 ALsS Box 3
Request File

Seances with Mme Corner, reference to William Crookes and Kaite King.

Witte, Gen.
1898 Sept. 21 ALS, 3p. Box 3
Request File
Wladimiroff, Cécile de
1908 June 23 ALS, 3p. Box 3
Request File
Wrchovsky, Guillaume
1907 Apr. 14 ALS, 3p. Box 3
Request File

Hypnotism and regression; Indians.

Wulff, Gen.
1889 Dec. 29 ALS, 2p. Box 3
Request File
Yve-Plessis, R.
1899 Dec. 23-26 3 items Box 3
Request File
Miscellaneous
n.d. 11 items Box 3
Request File
Miscellaneous: calling cards and invitations
n.d. 13 items Box 3
Request File
Illegible and unidentified
1862 May 2-1910 Jan. 27 17 items Box 3
Request File
Series II. Photographs
1873-1921 0.5 lin. feet Request Series

Rochas evidently placed a great importance on photography as a means of documenting elusive spiritual and psychic phenomena, and the Rochas Papers includes 69 photographs depicting spirits, psychic forces, séances, mediums, and "sensitives" taken between ca.1875 and 1900. Spirit photographs seem to have been of particular interest, and his papers include two interesting images taken by the famed (and debunked) Parisian Eugène Buguet, two prints of the spirit Bien Boa (a "Brahmin" materialized by the medium Marthe Béraud), and several other images, the most intriguing of which was taken in Elizabeth, N.J., of Elena de Obarrio, in which her guardian spirit and the spirit of her sleeping (and very much alive) brother also appear. This image was taken by, or with the assistance of the Cuban medium J. R. Simoni. Rochas also kept photographs of a séance conducted by Guy de Fontenay with Eusapia Paladino at Montfor l'Amaury, July 1897, including two cabinet cards of a séance in progress and a psychically-produced image of Paladino's face.

Less common are a suite of photographs that demonstrate the reality of psychic forces. A fine carte de visite of Gustave Flaschoen taken by the British photographer Brittlebank displays the "force psychique sortant de ses mains," while three cartes provide a dramatic illustration of psychic force being generated by a circle held by the medium John Beattie in Bristol, England. The photographs Rochas collected of "sensitives" reflect his interests in the physical effects of art and music and his interest in the experience of religious or spiritual ecstasy.

Other images document psychic forces in less concrete ways. The collection includes a series of 11 images associated with the Romanian psychic investigator Bogdan Hasdeu-Istrati (see also his correspondence), 11 "doubles" of Mme. Lambert, sent to Rochas by the editor G. Delanne, and the image by Mme de Valpinson are generally difficult to interpret visually, while in those of Paolo Visani Scozzi (apparently mounted for public display) one can see dim faces arising from amorphous psychic clouds. Rochas was also not coincidentally interested in x-radiography, acquiring a very early (March 1897) x-radiograph of a hand, apparently kept as demonstration that photography could reveal structures otherwise hidden to the eye. Equally interesting are several images taken by the photographer Nadar, including five boudoir cards of Rochas himself with an astral body "obtenu par trucage."

Beattie, John.
"Photo obtenu par Mr. J. Beattie, en 1872, à Bristol Reçu de lui en Oct. 1873. A. Aksakof"
1873 Oct. 4 cartes de visite Box 3
Request File

Depicting spirit circle with psychic force emanating from hands. Also includes halftone reproduction of three of the images.

Béraud, Marthe.
Spirit Bien Boa
1905 2 silver prints Box 3
Request File

Photos taken of spirit on Indian Brahmin materialized by medium Eva C. (Marthe Béraud) before investigator Charles Richet.

Spirit of Bien Boa appearing to medium Marthe Beraud.
ca. 1890 1.0 Photograph(s) Request Item

Abstract: View of figure with hood and loose clothes.

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Blois.
Extase religieuse par la premon de front
n.d. Cab. card Box 3
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Brittlebank, A..
Dr. Flaschoen, "force psychique sortant de ses mains."
1875 Carte de visite Box 3
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Abstract: Full length view of Dr. Flaschoen sitting at desk, "psychic force" coming from his hands.

Possibly the artist Gustave Flaschoen?

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Buguet, Edouard-Isidore, 1840-.
Female spirit and photograph
1875 Carte de visite Box 3
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Buguet, Edouard-Isidore, 1840-.
Dr. Puch et Mme Puch
1875 Carte de visite Box 3
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Castellani, Federico.
Photographe spirite du capitaine Volpi
n.d. Cabinet card Box 3
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Volpi with female spirit.

Chowasky, Gen.
n.d. Silver print Box 3
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"Doubles" Photos sent by Delanne, taken of Mme. Lambert
1906 11 prints Oversize 4
Request File
Ecstatic
n.d. 2 cartes, 2 enlargements Box 3
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"Études photo magnétique d'hypnose"
n.d. 2 mounted albumens Box 3
Request File

One depicts Rochas and female hypnotic subject, the other a woman (hypnotized?) painting at an easel.

Fakir
n.d. Printing out print Box 3
Request File
Hasdeu-Istrati, Bogdan Petriceicu, 1837-1907.
Psychic photographs
1893 11 printing out prints Box 3
Request File

Most enclosed in letter of 1895 Aug. 12

Karren, Mme. Musique. "Portrait de sensitif"
n.d. Boudoir card Box 3
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Lina (photographs of 1. castle and 2. group of six persons in boat)
n.d. 2 mounted albumen prints Box 3
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Nadar.
"Corps astral obtenu par trucage"
1893 5 boudoir cards Box 3
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Nadar.
"Photographie du corps fluidique de Mme Lambert (deux fantomes de droites)" and "Photographie du corps astral de Mme. Lambert"
1893 June 3 2 boudoir cards Box 3
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Obarrio, Elena de. Mlle Elena de Obarrio incarnée. Spirite 1o son Gardien (à gauche) 2o son jeune frère (à droite, celui-ci dormait à cet instant dans sa maison située à 300 pas de la fotografie. Elizabet, New Jersey"
1875 Nov. Carte de visite Box 3
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Medium J. R. Simoni of Cuba.

Paladino, Eusapia
1897 July 27 3 prints Box 3
Request File

3 photos from seance with Guy de Fontenay at Montfor l'Amaury, July 1897: 2 cabinet cards of seance at table, psychic impression of face.

Picardy, Charles.
Unidentified miniatures
n.d. 2 silver prints Box 3
Request File
"Radiographie. Plaque impressionié pendant la nuit par les affleuves de l'abbé Gobart"
1894 Mounted p.o.p. Box 3
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"Souvenir de baptême de l'air"
1921 Sept. 28 Silver print Box 3
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French officers in front of biplane.

Spirit photograph [unidentified image of two shrouded figures
n.d. Printing out print Box 3
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Valpinson, Mme de "[illeg.] obtenu par Mme de Valpinson. Je ne sais comment. Avec des plaques du Dr. Egbert Müller, Berlin..."
n.d. Boudoir card Box 3
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Varenik and Vladimirov.
Grn. Mickhail Efremovich Adamovich
n.d. Carte de visite Box 3
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Virien, Mis de.
X-radiograph of hand
1897 Nov. Silver print Oversize 4
Request File
Visani-Scozzi, Paolo. Psychic photos from seances with comtesse Mainardi and Ugo Donati
1898 Sept. 8-10 6 prints Box 4
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Mounted in pairs with description.

Nadar astral portrait of Eugene Rochas, sitting.
ca. 1890 1.0 Photograph(s) Request Item

Abstract: Eugene Rochas seated, with "psychic force" surrounding him.

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Nadar astral portrait of Eugene Rochas, standing.
ca. 1890 1.0 Photograph(s) Request Item

Abstract: Full length view of man standing next to chair, "psychic force" surrounding him.

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Séance with John Beattie, medium.
1872 1 item Request Item

Abstract: Four men sitting around table, "psychic force" visible in center of group and at top of photograph.

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Transparent figure of female in robes beside table.
ca. 1890 1.0 Item(s) Request Item

Abstract: Full length view of transparent figure.

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Spirit in death pose behind seated man.
ca. 1890 1.0 Item(s) Request Item

Abstract: Full length view of man seated, with spirit behind him.

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