In 1912, a St. Louis, Missouri housewife named Pearl Lenore Curran had a good friend and writer named Emily Grant Hutchings over for a visit. Emily brought a Ouija board with her, because she was interested in the resurgence in “spiritualism” that had taken over America at this time (Carroll, 2015). They experimented with the Ouija board, but it wasn’t until almost a year later that Pearl received her first message from the beyond.
Pearl began to channel the writings of “Patience Worth”, a British woman from the seventeenth century. Pearl would sit at the Ouija board, her hands whipping the planchard back and forth as her husband, John, transcribed the many poems, short stories, and novels of this seventeenth century author. Patience could also take over Pearl’s mouth, engaging the many scholars who came to observe this miraculous feat in delightful conversation. She also took over her hands, as Pearl later wrote by hand with what is considered “automatic writing”. Pearl/Patience would come up with poems at the drop of a hat, given only a prompt from a skeptical onlooker. Many scholars at the time praised her work, and they didn’t know what to believe (Diliberto, 2010). Was she writing these fully composed works of fiction off the top of her head? Or was she truly channelling the spirit of a seventeenth century writer? Otto Heller, Dean of Washington University’s Graduate School said: “I still confess myself completely baffled by the experience” (Diliberto, 2010). Many books have been written about her, and some, like Edgar Lee Masters, believed wholeheartedly that she was a true medium, while others, like Harry Houdini, believed her to be a fraud (Schlueter, 2012).
Patience wrote or dictated around four million words through Pearl between the years of 1913-1937. This included seven books, numerous poems, short stories, plays, and other writings. This is quite prolific for a ghost who apparently had never written a word during her life.
All information uncovered about “Patience Worth” came from the ghost herself, as there is no historical record of such a person ever existing.. She was an English immigrant who moved to America in 1649, and was then killed by “Indians”. This story in itself is problematic. However, ghosts (“real” and fictional) often misunderstand and make false assumptions about how they died, so it isn’t too hard to believe that someone from that time would assume that’s how they went. Especially if she was killed by someone she knew and trusted…
No one at the time was able to prove Pearl Curran to be a fraud. Unless Pearl were to slip up, it would be hard to convince others that she was faking. With no historical record of Patience Worth, how could her claims be disproved? If Patience had been real, Pearl would have had to be very careful about what she said about her – in case something was unearthed that contradicted her. In fact, the lack of evidence of this woman having existed is probably the only thing that kept Pearl from being discredited.
Although, despite the lack of a Patience Worth in the historical record, she shares a name with a character in a 1900 novel written by Mary Johnson titled “To Have and to Hold”. Is this where Pearl came up with the idea for a name? Or is this merely a coincidence? The name isn’t particularly unique, which makes me lean more towards the latter. If Pearl was a charlatan, she was undoubtedly quite bright, and she wouldn’t have chosen a name that could cause others to question her. Unless this ghost was aware of the book and chose the name for that reason? That would explain why there’s no record of her. She could be using a fake name. Though why a centuries-old ghost would use a fake name is beyond me. Anyone who knew her would be long dead. What would she have to hide?
Theories abound for what was really happening. Was Pearl Curran a fraud or was she truly channelling a ghost? Or is this case proof of reincarnation? Why was Patience Worth only able to communicate through Pearl Curran? Is it possible that Pearl Curran was a descendant of hers, and that there was some sort of blood magic involved in these strange communications?
There are several non-supernatural theories as to what exactly was happening, which are dissected below.
Patience Worth described herself to be a woman with wavy red hair and large brown eyes (Diliberto, 2010). Pearl Curran, on the other hand, was a tall blond with blue eyes. The two couldn’t have looked more unalike. Prior to the fame that succeeded her popularity as a medium, Pearl was described as “plagued by nervous ailments” (Diliberto, 2010). She was an uneducated housewife, and it is my belief that if she had wanted people to read her writing and truly appreciate her work, she might have had to pretend to be something else, like a medium channelling these works from beyond the grave. If she hadn’t done this, would her works still be remembered today? These events occurred at the height of the rise of spiritualism in the US, where mediums were typically women. These women were given a raise in social status because of their “abilities” and showmanship. What better way to make sure your art is appreciated?
An article written by Braude (2000) delves into the theory that her automatic writing was not only the result of a dissociative disorder, but that she was a savant. Given her previous “nervous” behaviour, I would find it hard to believe that she would suddenly become an actress, someone pretending to be a medium for the fame and glory. The dissociative theory holds credence in this sense. The fact that she could compose poems at the drop of a hat—poems that were deemed to be perfectly composed and impeccably delivered—supports the theory that she was a savant. Pearl’s mother had pushed her towards a life of singing and music, and if Pearl had truly been repressing her desires to write, this may have resulted in this dissociation (Braude, 2000). It’s unlikely that this alone would have resulted in the dissociation, but other details of her home life, including potential abuse, are unknown.
Considering Patience Worth herself never wrote during her life, how else would these poems have been created? Unless the ghost had spent the last two centuries composing poems and short stories on every topic imaginable, all the while waiting for her chance to share them with the living. The theory that Pearl was a savant is a strong one.
I find it particularly interesting how supportive her husband was of her endeavours. In the beginning, he would transcribe her poems and stories, using a shorthand because of how quickly she delivered the words. Later, he published a magazine entitled “Patience Worth’s”, which comprised of poems his wife had written (Schlueter, 2012). Was he supportive of his wife’s dreams and aspirations, or was he equally delusional? Or is it possible that it was he who coerced Pearl into twisting her passion for writing into this peculiar outlet?
So what do you think? Do you think that Pearl Curran was a savant? A medium? Reincarnated? Or do you think it was something else that hasn’t been mentioned here? Tell me in the comments.
Many moons ago I lived. Again I come. Patience Worth my name. Wait, I would speak with thee. If thou shalt live, then so shall I. I make my bread at thy hearth. Good friends, let us be merrie. The time for work is past. Let the tabby drowse and blink her wisdom to the firelog.
– Patience Worth via Pearl Curran
References
Braude, S. E. (2000). Dissociation and latent abilities. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 1(2), 13–48. https://doi.org/10.1300/J229v01n02_02
Carroll, R. T. (2015, December 13). Patience Worth. In The skeptic’s dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.skepdic.com/patienceworth.html
Diliberto, G. (2010, September). Patience Worth: Author from the great beyond. Retrieved from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/patience-worth-author-from-the-great-beyond-54333749/
Schlueter, J. (2012). The Patience Worth collection at the Missouri history museum, St. Louis. Theatre Survey, 53(1), 115–121. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0040557411000986
Featured Image: “Ouija Board” by Indi Samarajiva is licensed by CC BY 2.0
“tonight she talks, tonight she watches” by Emily Mucha is licensed by CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0
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