Many current and former students at UW-Whitewater have been curious about some of the legends of Whitewater related to witches, and these tales have often been associated with the spiritualism institute that existed in Whitewater from about 1889-1939. Carol Cartwright of the Whitewater Historical Society presented a local history program on Spiritualism and the Morris Pratt Institute online on Oct. 21, 2020, on the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library’s Facebook account. One of the few upsides of COVID is that interesting and educational programs like can be enjoyed after the fact if you weren’t able to attend live. Click below to view the presentation via YouTube!
If you’d like to learn more, Andersen Library may be able to help! Search Books, Media and more (UW Whitewater) to find books such as Body and soul: A sympathetic history of American spiritualism (online), Ghosts of futures past: Spiritualism and the cultural politics of nineteenth-century America (online), Handbook of spiritualism and channeling (online), and The spook temple: The Morris Pratt Institute in Whitewater, spiritualism, and the occult (1st-floor Special Collections, BF1261.2 .F39 2015 – call for appointment 262-472-5515 or x5520). Clippings related to the Morris Pratt Institute while it was in Whitewater are available at the Reference Desk or from Special Collections.
For assistance with finding additional resources, such as articles or additional books, please ask a librarian (visit or contact staff at the Reference Desk, email, chat, or make an appointment).
