Rufus Degranza Pease papers
Contributors: Weiss, Remigius; Harry Houdini Collection (Library of Congress)
Published: 1803
Language: eng
Subjects: Journal of man (Philadelphia, Pa.); Sources; Archives; National Christian Association; Reformers; History; Social movements
Description: Papers concerning the life and career of Pease and his involvement of various reform and religious movements of the time.
Notes: Bequest: Estate of Harry Houdini, April 1927.

Rufus Degranza Pease was born about 1825 in New York state.  He studied at Willoughby Medical College, Willoughby, Ohio 1843-1845, and became a physician, reformer, and anti-spiritualist.  Involved in the founding of the National Association of Christians Opposed to Secret Societies, he was a lecturer for them for several years.  His medical interests included physiognomy and phrenology; he also founded and was editor of the Journal of man (Philadelphia, Pa.)

The collection was sold by Remigius Weiss (also known as Remigius Albus, who exposed Dr. Slade, a slate-writing spiritualist) to Harry Houdini, probably as additions to Houdini's autograph collection.  There are some newspapers and other papers of Remigius Weiss's in Box 6, folder 10.