A Bibliography
This is a list of sources with historical and other background information on the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692. These include electronic sources: Web sites and journal articles available from electronic databases and print sources: journal articles, books and chapters from books. In each section there is a brief description on how to locate these items. If you have a question, need help finding a source or you want to find more resources, please ask a librarian for assistance.
Web Resources
Salem Witchcraft Trials
Includes primary sources--documents and images--relating to the trials of 1692 and an informative introductory essay that recounts events in Salem at the time of the trials. This is part of the Famous American Trials site of Douglas O. Linder at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
Salem Witchcraft Hysteria: An Original National Geographic Interactive Feature
This interactive site simulates the terrifying experience of being accused of witchcraft in Salem in 1692. After the interactive feature, users can ask questions of historians and view a bibliography. An excellent use of technology to bring history alive.
Salem Witch Museum
This official Web site of the Salem Witch Museum in Salem, Massachusetts includes essays on the hysteria surrounding the trials, a map of the surrounding area, and a tour of the sites from the Salem of 1692 that can still be seen today.
The Salem Witch Trials 1692: A Chronology of Events
A concise and straightforward timeline of the events in Salem surrounding the famous trials, from the first signs of strange behaviors exhibited by Salem girls in January 1692 to the final trials in May of 1693.
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
A trustworthy source of information about the Salem Village Witchcraft Trials of 1692, this site includes primary documents from the trials, essays about the trials, and a guide to historic places in Danvers, Massachusetts. A collaboration of the Danvers Archival Center and the University of Virginia Electronic Text Center.
Magazine Articles
The following is a list of periodical articles on the witchcraft trials in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Some of these articles are available in print format at the Central branch of the Houston Public Library. Most of the articles are available in electronic format in databases on the Houston Public Library Web site. Articles available electronically are accompanied by an abbreviation that indicates in which electronic source they can be located. Here is a guide to those abbreviations:
ASP= Academic Search Premier
GRC= General Reference Center Gold
MFP= MasterFILE Premier
PDC= Proquest Discovery Complete
To find these articles in a database simply click on the link or type the title, enclosed in quotation marks, into the search field in the indicated database. To find print articles, request the periodical at the Central HPL Express reference desk.
Davidson, Carla.
"Salem at Peace."
American Heritage 43
(October 1992): 28-30.
(MFP)
Gragg, Larry.
"Under an Evil Hand."
American History Illustrated 27
(March/April 1992): 55-59.
(MFP)
Rosenthal, Bernard.
"Tituba."
OAH Magazine of History
(Jul2003): Vol. 17 Issue 4, p48-50, 3p.
(MFP)
Book Sources
These books can be found at the Houston Public Library. Clicking on a linked title will automatically bring up a record for the title in the online catalog. The record will indicate branch location, department and status. If you need help, please ask a librarian for assistance.
Articles in Books
These books can be found at the Central branch of Houston Public Library. Check the catalog record for location and status as some are located in Stacks and some are "Library Use Only." Clicking on the titles will automatically bring up a record for the title in the catalog. If you need help, please ask a librarian for assistance.
Moore, George H.
"Notes on the history of witchcraft in Massachusetts; with illustrative documents." Witchcraft in colonial America.
edited with introductions by Brian P. Levack.
New York: Garland Publishing, 1992.
194-213.
(SR 133.409 W819 Vol. 8)
Wendell, Barrett.
"Were the Salem witches guiltless?" Witchcraft in colonial America.
edited with introductions by Brian P. Levack.
New York: Garland Publishing, 1992.
267-285.
(SR 133.409 W819 Vol. 8)
Further Reading
These books discuss related topics: witch trials and beliefs about witches in New England, England and Europe or background on witchcraft itself.
Videos
These videos are in the collection of the Houston Public Library.