“The Scientific Ghosthunter” by Christopher Tillman
(c) 1998, revised 1999, 2002, 2024
It doesn’t take long for the beginner to realize that paranormal research is inundated with book after book of folklore and legend. In fact, many newbies to this field of study are influenced and inspired by these books year after year to throw their hat into the ring and try their hand at ghosthunting.
Most of us have a shelf somewhere in our house overflowing with these kinds of books – and, if you don’t, you should! Every state has its share of legend and lore that has been recorded (repeatedly) by various authors. The most popular books cover the entire state, but if you dig a little deeper through the rows and rows of library and bookstore shelves, you’ll find that there are also plenty of regional books written specifically about your part of the state. Or, in some cases, your county or city. Many bookstores have a special section primarily promoting local writers and books about the area you live in. Many historical societies also publish pamphlets and books, and they can be of great help in referring you to some book titles that stores and libraries may have overlooked.
During those times when case work begins to lighten and your phone takes a break from ringing off the hook, tracking down an old legend can be seen as a welcome prospect. It’s also a good idea to get to know the folklore and history of your local area as well as the surrounding state.
Begin looking for books of folklore in libraries and bookstores. Never mind the stuff you see printed online because, in most cases, it’s basically a rehash of what already exists in published books. If there is anything of importance online concerning folklore, it is those websites who do not just republish another author’s findings, but who actually go out and investigate for themselves, adding new information to what is already known. From what I have seen, there’s not too many websites that fit this description, but there are some here and there. You just have to dig through the pile of search results to find them.
Also, don’t waste a lot of time chasing down old legends. Once you get a good momentum going as a researcher, you’re going to want to focus a lot of your time on incoming calls, not dusty old books of phantoms that may or may not be true. Save the folklore for when you experience a lag in client work. And, approach each legend as if it were a myth. Look for ways in which you could validate the story. Never take a legend at face value, as they have been told and retold for countless generations. Who knows how warped the story has become since its first telling. And, don’t be surprised if you should experience some backlash for proving a legend to be nothing more than a fairy tale. Good stories attract a lot of faithful followers. To them, fiction is sometimes preferable to the facts.
