Where do you land on Ouija boards? Do you believe they’re doorways to evil? Can they allow participants to speak with the other side? Ouija boards have been so mysterious from the time of the first U.S. patent to today that we still don’t fully understand how they work. They have been blamed for mysterious deaths, murders, and are even credited with writing books. They have their fair share of lore and history too. It seems we all know someone who has had or knows of someone who has had an experience with a Ouija board, don’t we?

Earliest Reported User of the Ouija Board

I found that Pythagoras, in 540 BCE, was the earliest reported person to have used a talking board. According to some sources I reviewed, Pythagoras would interpret the messages with one of his students, Phlolas.

This fun trivia tidbit got me thinking. Did Pythagoras use a modern Ouija board? Was it something similar but different? Is this how he came up with geometry? Okay, the last one is a random thought, but if I get a chance to blame my struggle with that subject on the devil, I’m running with it! Just sayin’.

Anyhow, I can’t seem to find any sources on what he might have used. I think it’s safe to say that he didn’t use a modern talking board, or what we now know as a Ouija board. I can say I honestly don’t know what form of divination Pythagoras and his student used.

Also, in Ancient China, objects similar to the Ouija board date as far back as 551 BCE. It seems in that time and place, spirit boards were commonplace items used to communicate with the dead.

On to the History

So, what is the history of the Ouija board? What did people use before? How did we get to the version we’re familiar with today?

I think I can answer some of these questions; I found that many people have tried to explore these questions before me. But it seems there is also a great deal of speculation. Let’s see what we can sort out.

Mr. Planchette Gave us a Pointer

Let’s go back to 1853 and talk a bit about the French spiritualist, Mr. Planchette. He developed a version of what we now call the planchette, which is actually French for “little plank.” His version had a heart-shaped wedge made of wood. This had two small wheels attached to it, and he would attach a pencil at the point of this wedge. The planchette would be placed on a large, blank sheet of paper. This is one of the more common versions of automatic writing.

Mr. Planchette would have the participants sit around the table and each person place their fingertips of both hands on the planchette. Then they would ask questions. And thanks to his handy dandy pencil, the participants would have answers to their questions written out on the paper.

Quick Sidebar

I have to take a quick moment to acknowledge that all automatic writing—including the talking boards—are pieces of a larger movement called Spiritualism. And as some of you may or may not know, Europe has a much longer history with Spiritualism than Americans do.

I am only pointing this out because people like Mr. Planchette were openly practicing for forty years before the American version of Spiritualism really took off. But truth be told, there are much older historical records in Europe and Asia that go back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. I know there are history buffs waiting to make this point, and I want to be clear, today’s topic is just focused on talking boards. I think that discussing Spiritualism, its history, and different forms and cultural significance is more than I can dream of covering in a single podcast or blog post. I’m fascinated by many aspects of Spiritualism, so I’m sure we will get back to some others at a later date.

For today, though, let’s go on and see who invented the modern version of the Ouija board. Who patented it? Who owns the rights to it now? Then we can explore some of the lore and pop culture of talking boards.

Mystery Surrounds the Ouija Board

The Ouija board is commonly known by various names such as spirit boards, witch boards, magic boards, or talking boards. With its flat surface adorned with the letters of the Latin alphabet, numbers from 0 to 9, and the words “yes,” “no,” and sometimes “hello” and “goodbye,” this mystical tool has intrigued many. Some versions of the board also feature intriguing symbols, including a sun, moon, stars, and angels. Its multifaceted nature makes the Ouija board an intriguing object of exploration and curiosity.

Now For the Who Invented It Part

I tried to find who definitively invented the Ouija board, but I’m not sure if it was a single person or a group of men. What I do know is that in 1890, Maryland businessman Charles Kennard established the Kennard Novelty Company to market the board. Some sources give credit to Charles Kennard and E. C. Reich alone. Others credit Elijah Bond since his name is the only one listed as the inventor on the original patent.

Patent from smithsonianmag.com who credits Robert Murch

It seems the credit for who invented the talking board was a newspaper soap opera that played out on the pages of the Baltimore Sun.

These articles were probably entertaining because sensationalism was popular back then. And journalism wasn’t always reliable. If anyone has pictures or links to these articles, please share them on any of our socials like Facebook and Instagram, or in the comments of the blog post.

What is in a Name, More Mysteries?

The Ouija board was originally called an Egyptian Luck board. This marketing seemed problematic, though. The founders of the Kennard Novelty Company rebranded the Egyptian Luck board, which involved giving it a new name.

Original Version

In one version of the story, the name Ouija came from the board itself. In this version, it was Elijah Bond’s sister-in-law, Helen Peters, whom Bond credited as being a powerful medium. Who asked the board what it should be called? The board spelled out O-U-I-J-A. Since no one in attendance knew the meaning of the word Ouija, the group again asked the board. “What does Ouija mean?”

The board answered with, “Good luck.”

Fuld’s Version

The second version comes from William Fuld after he took over the company in 1892. Fuld says the name is a mixture of both French and German words for yes, so the French “oui” and the German “ja.”

I’m in the group that says that the second version was a marketing ploy after Fuld took over the company. I wonder if it was strictly to distance his “new” company from the Baltimore Sun’s arguments about who invented the board. From all the sources I reviewed, Fuld never publicly claimed to be the board’s inventor. However, his obituary does.

Back to the History

Fuld saw a rapid rise in the demand for the Ouija board. In fact, business was so good that he had to expand from one factory to two in Baltimore, two in New York, two in Chicago, and one more in London in 1892. And by 1893, both Kennard and Bond were out of the Kennard Novelty Company. This left only Col. Washington Bowie, who was the majority shareholder, and E. C. Reiche, from the original four founding members of the Kennard Novelty Company. Col. Bowie gave the Ouija board license to William Fuld, who had worked his way up and was running the company.

The Ouija board company thrived and in 1919, Col. Bowie sold his majority share to Fuld for just one dollar. The Fuld family owned the business until 1966. Next the business went from the Fuld family to Parker Brothers. Parker Brothers then moved the manufacturing of Ouija boards to Salem, Massachusetts. Later on, in the 1990s, Hasbro acquired Parker Brothers.

There is a Ouija Board Museum, Y’all

Interestingly enough, do you know what else is in Salem, Massachusetts? The Ouija Board Museum.

Here is a quick clip that shows some displays and tells an eerie tale of one board: https://youtube/2bVTeNy6ADo

Whew, that was a lot of history. Now let’s get to some of the fun stuff.

Lore, Lore We Want More

The lore surrounding Ouija boards is something I find most intriguing. I love personal stories—good, bad, or otherwise. The stories allow me a sense of connection. For me, sharing human experiences is what life is all about. There are a couple of these stories, though, that stand out for me. All right, enough blabbering. Let’s move on to the good stuff.

Mysterious Death of William Fuld

You will remember that William Fuld bought the Kennard Novelty Company from Col. Washington Bowie. Well, it seems Mr. Fuld would consult with the Ouija board himself on questions about new factories, where to construct them, and things like this, or so the story goes. Some sources I reviewed stated that Mr. Fuld died after a fall from the top of one of his factories that the Ouija board had instructed him to build. This was too vague for me, so I did some web sleuthing, and here is what I found from the website www.williamfuld.com under his biography:

William Fuld from smithsonianmag.com credits Robert Murch for the image

“On February 24, 1927, while overseeing the replacement of a flagpole, William Fuld was tragically killed by complications falling from the roof of the three-story Harford, Lamont, and Federal Street factory. The iron support he was leaning on gave way, and he tumbled backward off the roof, grasping and catching one of the factory windows and then falling to the ground. He suffered a concussion of the brain, five fractured ribs, a broken arm, a fractured leg, and numerous cuts and bruises. An employee who witnessed the fall picked him up and rushed him to the hospital, where he later died from one of his broken ribs piercing his heart. Lying on his deathbed, he made his children promise they would never sell the Ouija board. The business was subsequently taken over by his children, headed by his son William A. Fuld. Due to the age and recurrent health problems of William Andrew, the entire business and the Ouija board were sold to Parker Brothers on February 24, 1966. It was the thirty-ninth anniversary of William Fuld’s death.”

The Ouija Board Wrote Books

Have you heard of Mrs. John H. Curran? If not, I have a story for you, though using a Ouija board for this one might not have been the best choice. Maybe automatic writing would have worked more quickly? Nonetheless, here goes . . .

Mrs. John H. Curran was Pearl Lenore Curran (Feb 15, 1883—Dec 2, 1937). From now on, I’m just going to refer to her as Mrs. Curran.

Mrs. Curran had a difficult time in school and dreamed of becoming a singer. Despite her lack of interest in academics, she received voice training and took on various music-related jobs. She even learned to play the piano. At the age of twenty-four, she married John H. Curran, and they led a simple life, enjoying playing cards with their neighbors and friends. However, their lives took a turn after seven years.

In July 1912, Mrs. Curran joined her friend, Emily Grant Hutchings, and the two visited a neighbor who had a Ouija board. During this visit, a relative contacted Ms. Hutchings, who later bought her own board and started coercing Mrs. Curran to join her for sessions.

The Spirit Writing Begins

This went on until June 22, 1913, when a communication came through from “Pat C.” Then on July 8, 1913, Patience Worth began coming through for Mrs. Curran. Some of Patience’s communications were: “Many moons ago I lived. Again, I come. Patience Worth my name. Wait, I would speak with thee. If thou shalt live, then so shall I. I make my bread at thy hearth. Good friends, let us be merrie the time for work has passed. Let the tabby drouse and blink her wisdom to the firelog.” In other statements, Patience attested to living from 1649-1694 and was from across the sea (England). All of this is creepy and cool, but the pair—Mrs. Curran and Patience—wrote several books and poems in an Old English style. These titles were:

Light from Beyond, Poems of Patience Worth
The Sorry Tale A Story of The Time of Christ
The Patience Worth Record: Volume I & II
Hope Trueblood
Light from Beyond: Poems of Patience Worth
The Pot Upon the Wheel
I Knew Patience Worth
Time, the Huntsman
Light from Beyond Medical Electricity

It seems the two had a twenty-five-year run together. This makes for interesting reading as many investigated Mrs. Curran, and we can verify that there are no records of Patience’s life in 1600s England. It turns out that Mr. Curran studied Chaucer, and this seems to be the closest dialect that Patience noted to have used in the vernacular. Some skeptics believe Mr. Curran helped his wife write the books, and it would explain why after his death Patience stopped writing shortly thereafter. Was it a hoax or a fraud? I don’t know; the Wikipedia link has a lot more information and additional sources. I only scratched the surface of this one.

Another Ouija Board Ghost Writer, Emily Grant Hutchings

The chances of both friends becoming authors after they passed away are quite remarkable. Emily’s experience is similar to Mrs. Curran’s, except Emily is only acknowledged for one book called “Jap Herron”. Interestingly, this book was dictated to her and medium Lola Hays by none other than Mark Twain, seven years after his own demise.

The world’s largest Ouija board is also in Salam, Massachusetts

The Ouija Board Made me do it

Next, let’s explore a few stories where the Ouija board might have helped to solve a murder, and another in which the board told someone to commit murder. I’m going to leave it up to you to decide if the board did any of these things, or if it was just the scapegoat.

Does the Ouija Board Help to Solve a Murder?

This story takes place in the 1920s in New York, and concerns the death of Joseph Elwell (Sept. 29, 1835 – Oct. 14, 1907). From about the age of eighteen, many people considered Joseph the “wizard of whist,” in a popular card game. He was highly sought after for tutoring wealthy families on how to play the game. In the early twentieth century, Joseph had moved on to a game known as contract bridge. He played among the elite of New York, with the likes of the Roosevelts and Vanderbilts, and again for high-dollar payouts.

Many of Joseph’s friends referred to him as a ladies’ man, even though he was married to Helen Derby. Some of his friends said he was cold-hearted to women, which seemed to attract them even more.

June 10, 1920, Joseph went out for “a night on the town” with Ms. Viola Kraus. The pair dined at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and later watched a show there. Joseph was dropped off at home by a taxi around 2:30 A.M. One of his neighbors later reported seeing him pick up his morning paper just after 7:00 A.M.

About an hour later, Joseph’s housekeeper, Marie Larsen, arrived and let herself into his home. After arriving, she went about her routine until she noted the living room door was locked from the inside. Marie pulled out her keys and let herself in. She greeted Joseph, but he didn’t respond. She noticed something was off when he didn’t respond and, upon closer inspection, she found that someone had shot him in the center of his forehead. Panicked, she called the police. Amazingly, Joseph was still alive but died about an hour after arriving at the hospital.

The coroner’s autopsy ruled Joseph’s death a homicide. The police and the coroner both agreed that the angle of the bullet wound would have been very difficult for Joseph to inflict himself. There was no thirty-eight-caliber pistol found at the crime scene only the shell casing. Slowly, the police ruled out one suspect after another. They asked the public for help. It seems that several well-intentioned people consulted their Ouija boards and reported their sessions back to the police. The police asked the public to stop. Unfortunately, even the leads from beyond didn’t get them any closer to solving Joseph’s murder.

For enthusiasts of true crime, this case is worth delving into as numerous attempts have been made to unravel this murder mystery, but without success. Within the crime community, this particular case is often referred to as a “perfect unsolvable murder”. If you enjoy engaging your analytical skills akin to the renowned detective Sherlock Holmes, I encourage you to delve into this intriguing case. However, even after thoroughly immersing myself in it for an entire afternoon, I must admit that I am no closer to deciphering how the murderer managed to escape or discerning their motive.

Ouija Board Can Not be Denied

A mother named Dorthea and her daughter Mattie were using a Ouija board on the ranch where they lived with Mattie’s father. One day, the board instructed Mattie to kill her father. I’m not sure how exactly the conversation between the mother and daughter went after this. But according to court documents, Dorthea instructed her daughter that “the board could not be denied.” Being an obedient daughter, Mattie went outside where her father was doing chores and shot him twice in the back with a shotgun. He died from his injuries two days later in the local hospital.

Mattie was sent to a reformatory school for three years until she reached the age of eighteen. On the other hand, Dorthea, who was found guilty of assault with the intent to commit murder, received a sentence of ten to twenty-five years. In 1936, after Dorthea had served three years of her sentence, the Arizona Supreme Court overturned her conviction.

At the End of the Day

I find all the back and forth about the origins of the Ouija board entertaining, to say the least. What I find most fascinating about the early origins is the board had to be tested before the patent was granted. Clearly, it passed.

I think Ouija boards in general are polarizing. There are a lot of people who feel they’re nothing more than a game, while others are astoundingly against their use. I’ve played with Ouija boards a few times in my life and my experiences weren’t bad, but they weren’t great either. I was never comfortable with them, so my choice has been not to use them or own them. I’m not going to advocate for or against them, only offer advice to do your own research. Only do what you feel comfortable with.

I think that Grim Papa and my oldest daughter have a point on their personal philosophies on them. Their belief is that you don’t really know if the spirit that comes through is good or bad, or if it’s lying to you.

The mystery of the Ouija board is something that allures and repels people, and that is one fact none of us can deny.

Thanks for Spending Time With Me!

Some final thoughts: First, I’m so glad you stopped by.

Next, if you want to read on, I have some other creepy Western posts you might enjoy, like New Hope Cemetery. New Hope has a fun urban legend I dug up while I was researching a lesser-known true crime story from my hometown. If you want a story about a reportedly cursed object, then check out Curse of the Destiny Ring.

Do you like podcasts? If so then please check out Grimming It Up on your favorite podcasting apps. Here is a link to Spotify https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/grimming-it-up

Lastly, I hope to see you again soon.