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With some of the country鈥檚 oldest cities and settlements dating back to pilgrim times, New England is in no short supply of 鈥渉aunted鈥� happenings and spine-chilling tales. Nichols is no exception, on a campus that dates back to 1815.

The region鈥檚 long and sometimes dark past provides fertile ground for spooky stories, which take on a life of their own as they continue to be told. This semester as Halloween approaches, Nichols students, with the help of their professor, are taking a deeper look at some of these dark corners of history: the witch hunt hysteria of American colonial times and the indelible mark it left on the region.               

Where history and legend meet

It鈥檚 just after 9 a.m. in Academy 304鈥攁 room that has been said to host supernatural activity鈥攁nd Professor Emily Thomas is projecting a centuries-old court record onto the screen. The names, inked in 17th-century script, belong to women once accused of witchcraft.

鈥淟ook closely,鈥� Thomas tells her students. 鈥淓very mark tells a story about fear, power and the human need to explain the unknown.鈥�

It鈥檚 a fitting start to History 270: History of Witchcraft, a new 红杏视频 course that blends historical research with a timely topic. Students study how myths, fear and social norms shaped accusations of witchcraft from medieval Europe to colonial New England to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.

This isn鈥檛 the first unique topic she has taught. Thomas has made it a practice to teach the unexpected. Her course list reads like a historian鈥檚 cabinet of curiosities: From Leeches to Listerine: 19th Century Medicine and Disease; Plagues, Poxes and Pandemics; Myths, Legends and Superstitions鈥攅惫别苍 History of Ghosts.

鈥淚 like to keep history interesting,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen students are engaged by unusual subjects, they鈥檙e more open to deeper learning. When they get to pick topics like vampires, fairies, witches or the Loch Ness monster, it motivates them a little more.鈥�

For added interest, the fall timing of the witchcraft course is intentional鈥攁nd so is a sprinkling of fun. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a serious class, with some dark history, but we also have a good time. That鈥檚 why we also cover black cats, witches in pop culture from the Wizard of Oz to Hocus Pocus, and even Halloween history.鈥� 

As a public historian, Thomas curates the Clara Barton Birthplace Museum in North Oxford, not far from the College. There, she brings the legacy of the American Red Cross founder and Civil War hero to life through careful interpretation of historical documents and artifacts. She brings that same experiential style into her Nichols classes. In the witchcraft course, students view images, videos and original records from witch trials in and . They make their own interpretations and discuss them in class.

Her only challenge, she says, is the cursive writing. 鈥淪o many students no longer read cursive, and so many documents from the past are in cursive. It means I have to find transcribed versions of primary documents or transcribe them myself.鈥�   

At the heart of History of Witchcraft is women鈥檚 history, says Thomas, which aligns with her research interests鈥攈er other reason for creating the course. 鈥淚n class, we spend a lot of time looking at the characteristics of accused witches, and so many women were targeted for strange behaviors, being independent or owning a black cat (which would put me at risk!). None of those accused were actually witches,鈥� said Thomas.

The course鈥檚 centerpiece is a group research project on men and women accused of witchcraft during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Students pore over trial transcripts, family records and colonial archives to reconstruct the lives of those swept up in the witch hunt hysteria that marked the time period.

鈥淚t鈥檚 learning by doing,鈥� Thomas explains. 鈥淧rimary documents are a way to see how real people experienced history, and not just read about how historians interpret history.鈥�

History at your doorstep

Thomas鈥� connection to the topic runs deep鈥攍iterally through her family tree. Her eighth great-grandmother, Alice Pickering, served on a committee that examined two women accused of witchcraft in Salem. Her 鈥渕ark,鈥� a circular symbol she used in lieu of her signature as she was illiterate, appears on a . 鈥淚t鈥檚 the only document I鈥檝e found with her name. Seeing that link across centuries was surreal,鈥� said Thomas, who said she discovered it while creating the course.

There鈥檚 also a local tie through Clara Barton, Thomas鈥� longtime historical muse. Barton鈥檚 third great-grandmother, Sarah Cloyce, was accused of witchcraft and jailed for nine months in 1692 before her case was dismissed. 鈥淗istory is never far away here,鈥� Thomas says. 鈥淲e can trace the Salem events right to our doorstep.鈥�

Learning that lasts beyond the semester

While the Halloween timing adds intrigue to the course鈥檚 topic, Thomas says the real lessons will endure well past October.

鈥淚 hope students learn to think critically鈥攖o question sources, avoid stereotypes and understand how fear can overtake communities,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hose are timeless skills that matter in every field.鈥�

Students taking the course agree.

First-year psychology major Mia Pittsley 鈥�28 found herself drawn into the deeper themes after signing up out of interest in the topic. 鈥淓ach class we learn about different trials and myths,鈥� she says. 鈥淪tudying witchcraft helps me understand how fear and social influence shape behavior. It鈥檚 like watching group psychology unfold in real time.鈥�

Fellow psychology major Nevaeh Pepper 鈥�27 connects those insights to her future career. 鈥淎s someone planning to become a therapist, I鈥檓 learning to look for the real causes behind problems. It reminds me how quickly misinformation can spread鈥攖hen and now.鈥�

Entrepreneurship student Hayden Munce 鈥�26 also sees how the course can help him reach his career goals. 鈥淚 think that part of being knowledgeable is to know and understand anything that you come across, which involves gaining different mindsets and perspectives. Looking at society during this time period adds to my understanding of the themes and values society can hold.鈥�

A hint of the supernatural

For Thomas, the classroom鈥檚 鈥渉aunted鈥� reputation adds a touch of fun. As faculty advisor to the 红杏视频 Paranormal Club, she spends some evenings helping students investigate local legends and historical sites. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a way for students to continue to explore the unknown, and to connect history with curiosity.鈥�

Does she believe Academy 304 is haunted? Thomas smiles. 鈥淟et鈥檚 just say enough people have had experiences in the room that it keeps life interesting.鈥�

(Pictured in header photo: Professor Emily Thomas leans in the doorway of Room 304 in Academy Hall at Nichols. On her shoulder rests her black cat plush toy Geillis Duncan, which she named after the young maidservant in 16th century Scotland accused of witchcraft.)

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