Possessed Pen: The Missouri Woman Who Channeled Books Through Haunted Ouija Board
🔮 Uncover the haunting mystery of a 17th-century spirit who wrote novels through an unsuspecting Missouri housewife! 📚 #MissouriNews #StLouisHistory #Paranormal
ST. LOUIS, MO – In the early 1900s, a remarkable story captivated the public’s imagination in St. Louis, Missouri, and beyond. Pearl Curran, a seemingly ordinary housewife with an unremarkable education, became the center of a fascinating case that challenged the boundaries between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Curran claimed to have channeled the spirit of a 17th-century Englishwoman named Patience Worth, who, through Curran, produced an astounding body of literature that left critics and readers alike in awe.

👩🏫 Pearl Curran: The Unlikely Vessel for a Literary Ghost
Born Pearl Lenore Pollard in 1883, Curran’s early life gave no indication of the extraordinary events that would unfold. She grew up in a family that moved frequently, from Illinois to Texas and eventually settling in St. Louis.
Curran’s education was limited, and she showed little interest in academics, instead focusing on her passion for music. She dreamed of becoming a singer and received training in both piano and voice.
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At the age of 24, Pearl married John Howard Curran, and the couple settled into a comfortable, if uneventful, life. However, in July 1913, a fateful encounter with a Ouija board would change the course of Pearl’s life forever.
Along with her friend Emily Grant Hutchings, Pearl began experimenting with the board, and soon, the alleged spirit of Patience Worth made her presence known.

📜 The Astonishing Works of Patience Worth
Over the course of several years, Patience Worth dictated an impressive collection of literature through Pearl Curran. The works included multiple novels, such as “Telka,” “The Sorry Tale,” “Hope Trueblood,” “The Pot upon the Wheel,” and “Samuel Wheaton.” Additionally, Worth produced an array of poetry and short stories, each displaying a unique style and depth of emotion.
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What made the case even more intriguing was the fact that the language used by Patience Worth was reminiscent of 17th-century English, a style far removed from Curran’s own manner of speaking. The literary quality of the works was also noteworthy, with some critics, like William Marion Reedy, hailing “The Sorry Tale” as a new classic of world literature.
🧐 Skepticism, Investigations, and Alternative Explanations
Despite the acclaim and fascination surrounding the Patience Worth case, skeptics and researchers sought to unravel the mystery behind Pearl Curran’s supposed spiritual connection. Many pointed out inconsistencies in the story, such as Worth’s ability to write about the Victorian era, a time period that occurred long after her alleged lifetime in the 17th century.
Psychologists and investigators delved into the case, offering various explanations for the phenomenon. Walter Franklin Prince conducted an extensive investigation, ultimately concluding that either the concept of the subconscious mind required a drastic reevaluation, or an external cause, separate from Curran herself, had to be acknowledged.
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Other researchers, including psychologist Morton Prince and philosopher Charles E. Cory, attributed the Patience Worth writings to psychological factors within Pearl Curran.
Some skeptics even suggested the possibility of fraud, speculating that Curran may have secretly read books and other materials to inform her writings. However, no concrete evidence of deception was ever uncovered.

🔮 The Enduring Mystery and Legacy of Patience Worth
As the years passed, Pearl Curran’s life took various turns. She lost her husband in 1922 and struggled financially, eventually remarrying twice more.
Throughout these changes, the spirit of Patience Worth remained a constant presence, continuing to communicate through Curran until November 25, 1937, when the final message was received. Just days later, on December 3, 1937, Pearl Curran passed away, leaving behind a legacy shrouded in mystery and intrigue.
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The case of Patience Worth continues to captivate researchers and enthusiasts of the paranormal and anomalistic psychology. While some view it as a genuine instance of spirit communication, others see it as a testament to the incredible power of the human mind and the potential for creative expression that lies within us all.
Regardless of one’s beliefs, the literary output attributed to Patience Worth stands as a remarkable achievement, showcasing a depth of emotion, historical knowledge, and literary prowess that challenges our understanding of the boundaries between the physical and spiritual realms.
The enduring legacy of Pearl Curran and her alleged spiritual muse serves as an invitation to explore the mysteries that lie beyond our everyday experiences, reminding us of the limitless possibilities that exist within the human experience.
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🗣 What do you think: were Pearl’s books really channeled and written by the spirit of Patience Worth… or was it all a hoax? Have you ever had a paranormal experience? We’d LOVE to hear from you in the comments section below. ⬇️