Colby, Luther (18141894)
American Spiritualist, originally a materialist, who founded
and edited the journal Banner of Light in Boston beginning in
1857. Colby was born in Amesbury, Massachusetts, on October
12, 1814. He began his journalistic career at the Boston Daily
Post where he met William Berry, whom he attended séances
with. Over the course of their friendship, Colby developed a
strong interest and belief in Spiritualism, and the two men
founded Banner of Light. It became the longest running publication
of its kind in the nineteenth century. Colby remained its
editor until his death on October 7, 1894.
Sources
Garraty, John A., and Mark C. Carnes, ed. American National
Biography. 24 vols. New York Oxford University Press, 1999.
