Laurana P. Barnum (c.1820-1902) was born in Massachusetts and died in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She became interested in Christian Science after reading issues of The Christian Science Journal and studying various Christian Science pamphlets. While in Chicago she became acquainted with Mary Hinds Philbrick and Isabella A. Beecher, students of Mary Baker Eddy's. Barnum intended to study Christian Science with Philbrick and Beecher if she was unable to afford the tuition to study with Eddy. There is no record of her studying with Philbrick, Beecher, or Eddy, and there is no record of Barnum joining The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.

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