Doten, Lizzie

Lizzie Doten (1827–1913) was an American poet and a prominent figure in the Spiritualist movement, recognized for her public lectures and trance speaking. She gained particular notoriety for her claimed ability to channel poetry from deceased authors, most notably Edgar Allan Poe. Doten's writings encompassed poetry, fiction, and essays, and she also edited a Spiritualist publication.

Born into a family with Mayflower ancestry, Doten experienced what she described as psychic events in her youth, which fueled a lifelong interest in Spiritualism and the occult. She was educated in Plymouth and later attended a private school. Doten often expressed criticism of conventional religious doctrines, advocating for Spiritualism and the rights of mediums, though she maintained an independent stance, even protesting against Spiritualist organizations on feminist grounds. She was active on the lecture circuit from 1864 to 1880, discussing her spiritual philosophy, women's rights, and social reforms.

Lizzie Doten's engagement with Spiritualism was central to her public life. She described profound mystical experiences from her childhood, which she believed involved communion with disembodied spirits. This led her to assert that some of her poems were directly dictated by spirits, including prominent figures like Edgar Allan Poe and William Shakespeare. Her first book, "Poems of the Inner Life," detailed these experiences and included works she claimed were received through spiritual dictation. Doten's trance speaking was a key element of her public persona, where she would deliver extemporaneous speeches and often conclude by reciting poetry purportedly from beyond the grave. Her abilities were recognized by some contemporaries, with one source calling her a "greatest and best improvisatrice of the XIX Century."

Beyond her spiritual pursuits, Lizzie Doten was a vocal advocate for social change and a critic of established religious institutions. She openly challenged orthodox Christianity and organized religion, contrasting them with her understanding of Spiritualism. While she did not engage in private mediumistic sessions, she actively supported the rights of mediums. Doten also championed feminist causes, speaking out for equal pay for women and questioning the societal role of marriage. Her lectures frequently touched upon women's rights and broader social reforms, delivered with conviction during her trance states. She was known for her commitment to her principles, even when it meant disagreeing with fellow Spiritualists.

Doten ceased publishing new books in 1871 and retired from public speaking in 1880. The reasons for her withdrawal from the lecture circuit are attributed partly to health concerns and partly to a reported difficulty in distinguishing her own consciousness from spiritual influences. In her later years, she married Zabdiel Adams Willard in 1902. She spent time with her husband in California, where he was involved in mining, before they settled in Brookline, Massachusetts. Lizzie Doten Willard passed away in 1913 at the age of 85 and is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery.