Nienke Groskamp
@nienkegroskamp.bsky.social
PhD student in history & philosophy of science, studying esotericism and reproduction in 19th-century America @ Cambridge. All views are spirit-dictated.
I woke up yesterday thinking I was going to have a normal day but wound up performing with 35 strangers and Ólafur Arnalds in the Hammersmith Apollo
October 7, 2026 at 7:27 AM
I woke up yesterday thinking I was going to have a normal day but wound up performing with 35 strangers and Ólafur Arnalds in the Hammersmith Apollo
Somebody's flaunting their library access
September 16, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Somebody's flaunting their library access
Spirit Hair Restorer, 1899
September 13, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Spirit Hair Restorer, 1899
After a wonderful week in Leuven for an interdisciplinary summer school on health and healing, I'm afraid I will especially miss my hotel room windowsill where many pages were read and rambly voice notes were sent
September 12, 2026 at 9:01 AM
After a wonderful week in Leuven for an interdisciplinary summer school on health and healing, I'm afraid I will especially miss my hotel room windowsill where many pages were read and rambly voice notes were sent
To return the favor of @wendybm.bsky.social sharing a delightfully hokey tourist guide to Glastonbury, here's one for Salem that just surfaced from my bookshelf!
August 3, 2026 at 1:10 PM
To return the favor of @wendybm.bsky.social sharing a delightfully hokey tourist guide to Glastonbury, here's one for Salem that just surfaced from my bookshelf!
Reposted by Nienke Groskamp
!!!
THE BAT'S A CUTE LITTLE ANIMAL: WIGGLES ITS EARS AND EATS WORMS
(Evansville Press, Indiana, January 14, 1909)
(Evansville Press, Indiana, January 14, 1909)
July 27, 2026 at 9:38 AM
!!!
Happy 160th anniversary of the first transatlantic telegraph cable landing in Newfoundland to all who celebrate!
July 27, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Happy 160th anniversary of the first transatlantic telegraph cable landing in Newfoundland to all who celebrate!
in case of emergency:
steps 1-3: pull red handle
step 4: remove airplane door
step 5: enjoy the beautiful view and contemplate life
steps 1-3: pull red handle
step 4: remove airplane door
step 5: enjoy the beautiful view and contemplate life
July 24, 2026 at 9:51 PM
in case of emergency:
steps 1-3: pull red handle
step 4: remove airplane door
step 5: enjoy the beautiful view and contemplate life
steps 1-3: pull red handle
step 4: remove airplane door
step 5: enjoy the beautiful view and contemplate life
excuse me, the geese would like a tarot reading
July 21, 2026 at 10:29 AM
excuse me, the geese would like a tarot reading
Reposted by Nienke Groskamp
one for @nienkegroskamp.bsky.social as per chat. I thought it was really interesting that this was being reported in a local newspaper in England (13/9/1859)
July 17, 2026 at 10:03 AM
one for @nienkegroskamp.bsky.social as per chat. I thought it was really interesting that this was being reported in a local newspaper in England (13/9/1859)
Some editor felt it necessary to include a "gnaws-eating" (read: nauseating) joke between serious notices. Ha ha.
From the Spiritualist newspaper "The Banner of Light", oct 7, 1876
From the Spiritualist newspaper "The Banner of Light", oct 7, 1876
July 15, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Some editor felt it necessary to include a "gnaws-eating" (read: nauseating) joke between serious notices. Ha ha.
From the Spiritualist newspaper "The Banner of Light", oct 7, 1876
From the Spiritualist newspaper "The Banner of Light", oct 7, 1876
Another great spirit photograph. On the chair is London physician and mountaineer Stanhope Templeman Speer; standing behind him is William Stainton Moses, founder of London's College for Psychic Studies (still active!). The interesting figure is his 'spirit' control Rector.
July 15, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Another great spirit photograph. On the chair is London physician and mountaineer Stanhope Templeman Speer; standing behind him is William Stainton Moses, founder of London's College for Psychic Studies (still active!). The interesting figure is his 'spirit' control Rector.
when your friend texts "shall we buy a masonic hall in Norwich" you don't ask questions, you just do what needs to be done
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/7...
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/7...
July 14, 2026 at 12:36 PM
when your friend texts "shall we buy a masonic hall in Norwich" you don't ask questions, you just do what needs to be done
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/7...
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/7...
1878 diary entry: "The poor man who was working in the shed of Mr. Leet, who has been bringing detonating powders from L to analyze, was blown up today and instantly killed." 😳
July 13, 2026 at 11:12 AM
1878 diary entry: "The poor man who was working in the shed of Mr. Leet, who has been bringing detonating powders from L to analyze, was blown up today and instantly killed." 😳
Some flowers pressed in 1878 and still beautifully intact
July 13, 2026 at 10:56 AM
Some flowers pressed in 1878 and still beautifully intact
One early quibble with my american partner was that I suggested making chinese noodles and he said ‘we had noodles last night‘ referring to spaghetti. And I was shocked that these would be in the same category for him because to me these were absolutely not similar at all
July 12, 2026 at 10:18 AM
One early quibble with my american partner was that I suggested making chinese noodles and he said ‘we had noodles last night‘ referring to spaghetti. And I was shocked that these would be in the same category for him because to me these were absolutely not similar at all
WHAT
Tiny little stone stars from an ancient sea floor. These are star shaped crinoid columnals, the fossilized stem pieces of sea lilies that lived hundreds of millions of years ago.
Original post
Original post
July 11, 2026 at 10:25 AM
WHAT
The spiritualist lady whose diary I'm reading apparently sat for a spirit photograph with the famous William H. Mumler, but she is not pleased with its results! Here's a picture of Mary Todd Lincoln, Abe's widow, with her beloved husband behind her in spirit.
July 11, 2026 at 10:19 AM
The spiritualist lady whose diary I'm reading apparently sat for a spirit photograph with the famous William H. Mumler, but she is not pleased with its results! Here's a picture of Mary Todd Lincoln, Abe's widow, with her beloved husband behind her in spirit.
I'm reading the diaries of a young woman from rural Vermont, 1869, and she constantly misspelled "mopped" and thereby ends up moping almost every day :(
July 8, 2026 at 12:52 PM
I'm reading the diaries of a young woman from rural Vermont, 1869, and she constantly misspelled "mopped" and thereby ends up moping almost every day :(
Yesterday I visited Oxford to take part in the @bodyinhistoryox.bsky.social conference. Academically it was great, but I must say that the highlight was to sit on a square drinking Aperol slushies at golden hour. Thanks everyone!!
July 7, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Yesterday I visited Oxford to take part in the @bodyinhistoryox.bsky.social conference. Academically it was great, but I must say that the highlight was to sit on a square drinking Aperol slushies at golden hour. Thanks everyone!!
I'm learning so much!
Thank you so much to our keynote speakers Kierri Price and Elma Brenner for a fascinating talk on curating their Wellcome Collection's exhibition! Please see the link for more details: wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/...
July 6, 2026 at 12:07 PM
I'm learning so much!
Reposted by Nienke Groskamp
“Great cartomancer and palm reader
If you want to know your entire future by the cards or the lines of your hand, come to the person who lives at 18 rue du Collège, the only vendor of
AMERICAN POMMADE
which will radically cure sores, hair loss and encourage growth”
(Journal de Roanne, 9.12.1883)
If you want to know your entire future by the cards or the lines of your hand, come to the person who lives at 18 rue du Collège, the only vendor of
AMERICAN POMMADE
which will radically cure sores, hair loss and encourage growth”
(Journal de Roanne, 9.12.1883)
July 6, 2026 at 6:41 AM
“Great cartomancer and palm reader
If you want to know your entire future by the cards or the lines of your hand, come to the person who lives at 18 rue du Collège, the only vendor of
AMERICAN POMMADE
which will radically cure sores, hair loss and encourage growth”
(Journal de Roanne, 9.12.1883)
If you want to know your entire future by the cards or the lines of your hand, come to the person who lives at 18 rue du Collège, the only vendor of
AMERICAN POMMADE
which will radically cure sores, hair loss and encourage growth”
(Journal de Roanne, 9.12.1883)
Weird moment when the movie matches the mug
(mug is from Zabar’s, a deli on the upper west side in new york)
(mug is from Zabar’s, a deli on the upper west side in new york)
July 4, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Weird moment when the movie matches the mug
(mug is from Zabar’s, a deli on the upper west side in new york)
(mug is from Zabar’s, a deli on the upper west side in new york)