Guide to the Ecto Zine, 2004-2005 SPEC.RARE.MMS.0410 Finding aid prepared by Allison McPherson Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections

1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210

2025 June This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2025-06-26T10:50-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Ecto Zine SPEC.RARE.MMS.0410 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections MMS 17 0.02 Cubic feet 2004-2005 Laura Larson (1965-) created several projects that were inspired by the history of spirit photography. Using cigarette smoke, Larson created spirit photographs to reference female mediums and staged spirit photographs of the 19th century. Ecto Zine contains volumes #1, #2, and #3, which were created by Larson during 2004-2005. (1) letter file folder English Larson, Laura, 1965- Arrangement of Materials

Materials are arranged sequentially by issue number.

Acquisitions Information

RARE.2025.0059: Laura Larson, 2023 November

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Ecto Zine, SPEC.RARE.MMS.0410, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

Processing Information

Processed by: Allison McPherson, 2025 June; Finding aid written by: Allison McPherson, 2025 June

Biographical Note

Laura Larson (1965-) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Larson earned a B.A. in English at Oberlin College, an MFA in Visual Art from Rutgers University, and attended the Whitney Museum of Art Independent Study Program. In 2004, Larson accepted a position at Ohio University and taught there for sixteen years.

Spirit photography has been used by photographers to capture images of ghosts and spiritual entities. While at Ohio University, Larson created several projects that were inspired by the history of spirit photography, including Asylum, Ectoplasm, and Electric Girls and the Invisible World.

Scope and Contents

Ecto Zine contains volumes #1, #2, and #3. These zines were created during 2004-2005, while creator Laura Larson was teaching in the photography department at Ohio University. This series focuses on the representation of the female body based on historical 19th century photographs of séances and female mediums.

Larson, Laura, 1965- Fanzines Photographers--United States--21st century Photography of women--United States--21st century Spirit photography--Reproduction Zines--United States--21st century Ecto Volume #1 2004 Ecto Volume #2 2004 Ecto Volume #3 2005