“The Scientific Ghosthunter” by Christopher Tillman
(c) 1998, revised 1999, 2002, 2024
Every town, no matter its size, has a formal organization, group of people, or one lone resident who act as curators for the local history of the community. These people are an invaluable asset to any ghosthunter as they can help you track down old records, information on historic individuals, and facts behind the die-hard legends swirling around local landmarks.
Local historians can be found through your local yellow pages. You’ll want to check under history, historians, libraries, universities, or museums. Libraries and universities are a treasure trove of local history and it is in these two places where you’ll find the bulk of your information. Many historic documents, indexes, and books will be at your disposal including maps, newspapers, and magazines. Historical museums will have some of this information as well, although they mainly exhibit more visually appealing pieces of historic information like paintings, photos, and assorted memorabilia. A little digging around in these places and you may come across the name of a private citizen who maintains a private collection of historical information. Often times, such a collection consists of family heirlooms and items collected over a lifetime of experiences. Because of this, it may be difficult to gain permission to view this material.
Which brings me to my next point: You’ll want to approach these people in a serious and professional manner. Even though there is bound to be a mountain of information concerning local folklore and legend, it’s safe to assume that the curators view such material merely as colorful history and place no measure of credibility in it. So, when you contact a historical society, it’s often a good idea to lay off the “ghost talk” for the duration of your visit. Simply let them know you’re looking for information on a specific legend and the people involved with it. Share with them whatever information you have and listen closely to anything they have to tell you. Don’t try to convince them that the legend is true or that they should have an open mind. In some cases, it’s only a waste of breath and some of these historians would rather deal with documented fact than entertain the notions of a ghosthunter. After all, that’s what historians deal with – documented facts.
Keep in mind, also, that many of these historical resources are non-profit organizations and they may require a small fee/donation for their services. They will also, most always, charge a fee for photocopying, searches, access to their archives, etc. These fees are important as they help offset the organization’s cost of daily operations. A little donation on your part wouldn’t hurt either. And, be sure to acknowledge whatever assistance these organizations are able to offer when it comes time to publish your research findings. Let them know how important they are to your research efforts.
