William Mumler, a self-proclaimed “spirit photographer”, was a conman who targeted grieving families after the Civil War. At this time, photography was a popular new art form, and Matthew Brady had even taken President Lincoln’s portrait. Grifters soon used this art form to put the grieving in touch with dead soldiers—brothers, sons, and sweethearts. Capitalizing on the Spiritualist movement, and using sales techniques not unlike contemporary P.T. Barnum, Mumler made a fortune in the business of “spirit photography.” We look forward to discussing the work of this unusual conman.