Dr. Nick Richbell

Dr. Nick Richbell received his PhD in History from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. His research focuses on the history of Spiritualism, and his doctoral dissertation examined the life and influence of the medium Maurice Barbanell and his spirit guide, Silver Birch. While Silver Birch's teachings continue to be discussed in Spiritualist churches today, Maurice Barbanell's significant contributions are often overlooked. Barbanell devoted more than six decades to the Spiritualist movement, and Nick’s research seeks to restore his place in history as one of the twentieth century's most influential advocates of Spiritualism.
Nick recently completed his book, Silver Birch’s Medium: Maurice Barbanell & Twentieth-Century Spiritualism, scheduled for publication on September 10, 2026. Based on his doctoral research, the book expands on his dissertation with previously unpublished photographs, two new chapters, and substantial revisions incorporating newly discovered archival material.
Nick has long believed that there is more to existence than life on Earth. However, it was during his time as Head of Special Collections and Archives at the University of Waterloo Library that he began to explore questions of the afterlife more deeply. The archives housed two remarkable collections related to séance phenomena. The Maines-Pincock Family Collection contains records of séances conducted by the American medium William Cartheuser in the home of Jenny O'Hara Pincock in St. Catharines, Ontario. The Thomas Lacey Lecture Collection preserves more than 400 lectures allegedly delivered while Lacey was in trance.
During his tenure at Waterloo, Nick also acquired the Thomas Lacey Séance Collection, consisting of more than 100 reel-to-reel recordings of séances conducted in Kitchener, Ontario, during the 1960s. Fascinated by the personalities and history of the Spiritualist movement, Nick embarked on a research journey that continues today. He is frequently invited to speak about his research and these extraordinary collections. Nick also served as a research associate on The Ghost of Thomas Lacey, an audio documentary produced by Anthroscope Media.
As a Spiritualist himself, Nick embraces the movement's principle of thoughtful inquiry: to question what one reads and hears, and to accept only what resonates through personal experience and reflection.
Originally from London, England, Nick is currently Head of Special Collections and Archives at Clemson University in South Carolina. Prior to joining Clemson, he led the Special Collections and Archives department at the University of Waterloo. His professional career has also included managing the archives of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Montreal and working at both the McGill University Archives and the McGill University Health Centre.