Hazard's papers are part of the Nathaniel Terry Bacon collection, held by the Special Collections department of Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
Joseph Peace Hazard (1807-1892) was born into a wealthy Rhode Island family. When he failed in the family's textile manufacturing business, Hazard's family supported him in pursuing his personal interests, which included travel, architecture, and Spiritualism.
Things of Beauty: Joseph Peace Hazard's Observations of Nature (Online Exhibit)Joseph Peace Hazard: Rhode Island Spiritualist (Online Exhibit)
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![Record of Watch Ringing, From its Commencement at Beyrouth in Syria on June 27th 1878, to [September 1st 1891] by Joseph P. Hazard, Patricia McIvor, and J Bruscini](https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/jp_hazard/1038/thumbnail.jpg "Record of Watch Ringing, From its Commencement at Beyrouth in Syria on June 27th 1878, to [September 1st 1891] by Joseph P. Hazard, Patricia McIvor, and J Bruscini")
Record of Watch Ringing, From its Commencement at Beyrouth in Syria on June 27th 1878, to [September 1st 1891]
Joseph P. Hazard, Patricia McIvor, and J Bruscini
This document is a transcription of a journal kept by Joseph Peace Hazard during the late 19th century. The journal details instances of watch ringing which Hazard believed to be communication with a spiritual world. It also includes personal anecdotes relating to his life and travel in the 19th century.
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Letter to Hamilton, Hancock Co., 1891-03-03
Joseph Peace Hazard
Incomplete letter describing an Irishman's account of the Banshee.
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Letter to James Angell, 1891-02-21
Joseph Peace Hazard
Letter describing how Hazard scored eleven points in a billiards game through spiritual intervention.
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Letter to Mrs. F.W. Masters, 1891-02-08
Joseph Peace Hazard
Letter attesting to Hazard's personal experiences and belief in Spiritualism--that Hazard "never felt any apprehension of fraud at any of the thousands of Spiritual Seances" he had attended--and notes that the presence of skeptics at authentic seances may be "detrimental". Discusses experiences at private seances. Includes account of being knocked over by the "Materialized Spirit" of a friend the night before he received notice of his friend's death.
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Letter to Abby Quincy, 1891-02
Joseph Peace Hazard
Incomplete letter regarding tour of Scotland, including sitting with former servant of Sir Walter Scott and encounter with the ghost of Robert Burns.
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Letter to Sir, 1891-01
Joseph Peace Hazard
Description of spirit intervention which protected Hazard from a potentially dangerous encounter with a bull.
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Notes on Spirit of George Washington, 1890-12
Joseph Peace Hazard
Description of "Spiritual Manifestation" of George Washington at the Philadelphia World Exhibition in 1876.
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Letter to Luther Colby, 1890-11-11
Joseph Peace Hazard
Letter regarding the "Haunted house" in Wilmington, Delaware, which Hazard had mentioned to the Seybert Commission. Mentions Hazard's friendship with Henry Seybert. Includes account of John Ladd, a Newport carpenter-turned-"Spiritual Medium" who was summoned to Chicago to treat two "Invalids" and would be paid $2,000 for his services.
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Seven Months of Spirits, 1890-11
Joseph Peace Hazard
Clipping describing experiences in Phelps household, including bells ringing, spoons bending, objects flying through the air. Quotes Phelps’s description of phenomena as “visitation from God.”
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Letter to Henry Bede, 1890-09-20
Joseph Peace Hazard
Letter in which Hazard, at 83 1/2 years of age, expresses a "wish to be on the other side, so soon as I can arrange my affairs." Includes account of the "Palatine Ship", a ghost ship apparition around Block Island.
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Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel G. Ward, 1890-07
Joseph Peace Hazard
Letter discussing Spiritualism within the Hazard family, including employment of healing mediums by Rowland G. Hazard. Includes account of "the Banshee" and Hazard's travels in Italy and Ireland.
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Letter to Luther Colby, with Reply to Joseph Peace Hazard, 1890-04-13
Luther Colby
Request from Joseph Peace Hazard for recommendations for materializing mediums in the Boston area. Includes response from Luther Colby with names and addresses of materializing mediums.
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A Straightforward Statement, 1890-03-15
Joseph Peace Hazard
Clipping from “The Banner of Light,” sent by Luther Colby to Joseph Peace Hazard. Quotes another publication which refers to “the fraud-condoning concern known as the Banner of Light”; includes defense of the “The Banner of Light” as “slow to condemn those who at first sight seem to be guilty of wrong-doing, lest we should misjudge the innocent.”
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Bill from Colby & Rich, 1890-02-24
Luther Colby
Bill listing books Joseph Peace Hazard ordered from Colby & Rich, publishers of "The Banner of Light." Titles include:
Ghosts & Other Lect.
Ingersoll's Field Dis.
Ingersoll on Blasphemy
Orthodoxy
Prose Poems
Selections
Gods Other Lectures
Vindications of T. Paine
What must we do
Crimes Against Criminals
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Notes, 1890-02
Joseph Peace Hazard
Notes on Henry Olcutt and other mediums, who have traveled to India and "passed into a sphere beyond."
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Notes on Vernon spirit, no date
Joseph Peace Hazard
Describes Hazard's experience hearing and feeling the ghost of his friend's deceased father, who advised Hazard on how best to help his friend.
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Letter to Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-11-19
Luther Colby
Letter regarding mediums in Boston, including a healing medium who cured Colby of pneumonia while 100 people died in the care of "'regular' medical practitioners".
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Letter to Luther Colby, 1889-11-14
Joseph Peace Hazard
Letter asking for recommendations for "Healing Medium" in Boston. Mentions Sarah Rockwood, a healing medium who attended Rowland Gibson Hazard at the end of his life, and Mary Hull, who was employed as a medium by Thomas R. Hazard.
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Letter to Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-11-04
Luther Colby
Letter in which Colby describes divided state of Spiritualism:
"We are being kicked, as usual, by Spiritualists, who want to boss us, but can't - as well as by enemies of the Cause. I am getting tired of this sort of life. Do you wonder?"
Includes mention of Hazard's brother Thomas:
"Thomas R. comes to see us occasionally. He is, he says, more wide awake than ever before."
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Notes, 1889-07-25
Joseph Peace Hazard
Description of visit in June, 1857, to English windmill haunted by a female ghost.
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Letter to Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-05-09
Luther Colby
Letter defending medium Miss Debar, who is accused of "swindling" Judge Marsh. Includes note regarding "ascended brother Thomas":
"Whenever your ascended brother Thomas reports, I will send you whatever he communicates. He is somewhat annoyed just now because of the persecution and prosecution our mediums are receiving; and he is just as earnest in protecting them as he was when here in bodily form." -
Notes, Peacedale, 1889-05-02
Joseph Peace Hazard
Description of “Spiritual Sittings” with Edward Clark, during which “the table began to move, and before the close of the evening, it would not only rock most vigorously; and on the following evening, this Table would frequently run all about the room.” Includes description of conversation regarding Clark’s medical care with the spirits, who communicated through the movements of the table.
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Letter to Luther Colby, 1889-05-03
Joseph Peace Hazard
Letter regarding eulogy for Mr. Ayer, builder of "The Spiritual Temple" in Boston. Includes Hazard's thoughts on the Christian Church's beliefs in "the reality of Spiritual Manifestations of today, though most of them are opposed to them"; and notes that medical doctors "abhor 'Spiritual Healing Mediums'" due to the competition for patients.
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Letter to Joseph Peace Hazard, 1889-05-01
Luther Colby
Letter regarding persona article Hazard sent, which Colby does not wish to print. Includes message from "Spirit brother Thomas":
"While answering your note, I get this communication from your Spirit brother Thomas. He says, (which I copy below) what somewhat surprises me:
'Brother Joseph - If you have any money to leave, you had better give it to sustain the Banner of Light circle room meetings, instead of willing it to any other institutions.' "
