Salem Witch Museum: New Artifacts on Display

Witch Hunt

In this Bonus episode, we chat with Rachel Christ-Doane Director of Education for the Salem Witch Museum about their new artifacts for the exhibit, "Witches: Evolving Perceptions." The first case features four significant books from the 16th to 18th centuries:

- A 1600 edition of Heinrich Kramer’s Malleus Maleficarum.

- A 1586 edition of Johann Weyer’s De Praestigiis Daemonum.

- A 1729 edition of The Secrets of the Invisible World Disclos’d by Andrew Morton (Daniel Defoe).

- A 1796 edition of Robert Calef’s More Wonders of the Invisible World.

These books provide unique perspectives on early modern beliefs about witchcraft, from the notorious Malleus Maleficarum to the critical De Praestigiis Daemonum.

The second case explores witchcraft in popular culture with:

- An 1868 edition of the grimoire Les Secrets Merveilleux De La Magie Naturelle Du Petit Albert.

- A 1919 booklet, “Your Fortune in a Tea Cup,” by Dr. V.M Pierce.

- A signed first edition of Gregory Maguire’s Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

- A signed first edition of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Rachel shares the stories behind these artifacts and the ongoing renovations at the museum. These new additions provide a deeper understanding of how perceptions of witchcraft have evolved over time.

Tune in to learn about these fascinating artifacts and their impact on the narrative of witchcraft through history and culture and how you can see them for yourself.

Salem Witch Museum

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