Over three centuries after the infamous Salem Witch Trials, legal professionals and researchers continue probing the mysteries and lasting impact of these proceedings. This fall, the D’Angelo Law Library at the University of Chicago invites you to explore “The Salem Witch Trials: Legal Resources” web exhibit—a curated gateway to law-related books, articles, archival materials, and multimedia resources exploring the 17th-century witchcraft trials in Salem, Massachusetts.
Despite early attempts to ban the publication of books about the Salem Witch Trials, this harrowing moment in legal history continues to inspire new research and interpretation. The legal research opportunities (and challenges) are wide-ranging, touching on interdisciplinary and intersectional themes. To support this ongoing interest, we created the “Salem Witch Trials: Legal Resources” web exhibit.
Navigating the Web Exhibit:
The web exhibit is divided into two parts.
- Related Resources: A list of representative works in multiple formats, including some of the most widely owned books in U.S. libraries. This section is ideal for finding starting points and leading sources on the Salem Witch Trials and their related legal issues.
- The Salem Witch Trials: Illustrated: A growing collection of visual materials and juvenile literature, useful for researchers interested in public perception and educational approaches to the trials. As this section grows, it will also explore the Salem Witch Trials through special topics, including race, gender, and ethnicity lenses, beginning with illustrations of Tituba – an enslaved woman and one of the accused.
Access Tips:
- Visit the University of Chicago Library webpage, choose the “Collections & Exhibits” drop-down menu, and then select the specific exhibit from the list of Web Exhibits
- or go directly to the exhibit through this link.
Whether you’re assembling a guide for students, answering reference queries, or surveying the evolving legal historiography of the Salem Witch Trials, this exhibit offers authoritative starting points and inspiration for further exploration.
If you have questions or comments about the web exhibit, please contact Lyonette Louis-Jacques, Foreign and International Law Librarian, D’Angelo Law Library, University of Chicago llou@uchicago.edu
About the Authors
Lyonette Louis-Jacques is the Foreign and International Law Librarian at the University of Chicago’s D’Angelo Law Library.
Ariel Scotese is the Associate Director for User Services at the University of Chicago’s D’Angelo Law Library.