Harvard Shakers Record Spiritual Visit
On this day in 1841, the Shakers in Harvard reported a spiritual visit by their long-dead founder Mother Ann, "Holy Angels," and "ancient Saints and departed spirits." Shaker communities across New England were receiving such strange manifestations, called "Mother Ann's Work." This brief period of intense spiritualism peaked in the early 1840s, as Shakers reported spiritual visits from prophets, Indians, and historical figures such as Napoleon and Washington. These visitations inspired unusual songs, dances, and art. After 1845, the spiritual intensity of Mother Ann's Work began to wane; by the end of the decade, this remarkable period in Shaker history had closed.
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