Catherine Fox

Catherine Fox, along with her sister Margaret, was an American medium who played a significant role in the mid-19th-century spiritualism movement. The sisters became famous for the "Rochester rappings," strange knocking sounds in their home that they and others attributed to spirits. These demonstrations led to public séances, which became quite lucrative and attracted attention from prominent figures. Their activities helped popularize spiritualism, leading to a fad and considerable controversy, with many imitators emerging. While Margaret later converted to Roman Catholicism and seldom served as a medium, Catherine continued her séances, which included various manifestations. Both sisters struggled with alcoholism later in life, and their last years were marked by poverty.12