The Salem Witch Trials
The infamous witch trials of 1692-1693 are one our most popular topics! Check out our various Salem class offerings below and contact Maya to schedule an event.
You can also follow along with a day-by-day chronicle of the Salem Witch Trials with our special Salem Oracle project on Twitter and Instagram.
Salem Witch Trials
“The devil came to me and bid me serve him.” These words of confession sparked the Salem Witch Trials in 1692, igniting a series of accusations, interrogations, and executions that continue to entrance people to this day. This class provides an opportunity to join in an exploration of these fascinating trials, as well as discuss how the story of Salem and portrayal of witches has developed over the past three centuries.
Maya Rook is also a direct descendant of a confessed witch from the Salem witch trials and shares family history throughout the talk.
Afflicted Girls of Salem
In January 1692, two girls began behaving strangely. From their bizarre symptoms, more and more young women fell into such grievous afflictions and fear spread over the small village of Salem. Whispers turned to cries that witches were to blame. Soon the trials consumed the whole village and beyond until over 200 people were accused of witchcraft.
Who were the girls that sparked the largest witch hunt in American history? What was really to blame for their strange behavior? And what became of them after the trials ended? Together we’ll explore the afflicted girls of Salem and dive deeper into these endlessly fascinating trials.
Tituba of Salem
Tituba is one of the most well known yet least understood figures of the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. She was the first to confess and one of the last people to be released from prison before she disappeared into the historical record. Since the trials, our understanding of Tituba has shapeshifted many times and the truth of her life seems almost impossible to pin down. So who exactly was Tituba? Together we will piece together what we do know about the critical player in the witch trials, as well as consider the many ways she has been presented in popular culture over the years.