Spiritualism, Insider Trading, and the Rise of Female Brokerage

This chapter examines New York City in the 1860s, focusing on the influential relationship between Cornelius Vanderbilt and sisters Victoria and Tenny Woodhull. It highlights the sisters' use of mediumship for insider trading and their pioneering role in creating the first female-owned brokerage firm, while also addressing broader themes of spiritualism, feminism, and societal norms.