The Other: Understanding Witch Hunts, Part I

Almost every culture across time and place has experienced witch hunts of one kind or another. Drawing upon the witch trials in Salem, Boston, and elsewhere in New England, renowned historian Emerson "Tad" Baker, together with guest moderators Sarah Jack and Josh Hutchinson, will explore the nature of witch hunts. Join a remarkable three-way conversation by some of the most knowledgeable and insightful observers of witch hunts, about the questions that persist more than 350 years after the 20 Salem executions.

In this first of two eye-opening discussions, The Other explores why witch hunts happen and how they progress. Why are certain people accused? What characteristics did people like Tituba, Bridget Bishop, and Goody Glover have that made them targets rather than their neighbors? What set them off as "others"? How and why did Tituba’s accusation lead to more accusations, while Glover’s did not? What role did misinformation and rumor play in witch hunts? And, most puzzlingly, what motivated the accusers?

Part 2: Resistance, on September 22, 7:00-8:30pm, will explore how people fought against accusations, at risk to themselves, and worked to end the witch hunts. How did family, friends and neighbors help defend the accused? What role did spiritual and political leaders play? How did families and communities heal from witch hunts, and prevent them from happening again? Above all, what gave these people, in the midst of increasing danger, the courage to resist?

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Emerson "Tad" Baker is a professor of history at Salem State University and has previously served as vice provost and dean. He is the award-winning author or co-author of six books on the history and archaeology of early New England, including A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience.

His current book project explores the aftermath of the Salem witch trials. Baker has served as consultant and on-camera expert for documentaries and TV shows for networks ranging from PBS and the BBC to Smithsonian and TLC.

Josh Hutchinson is a podcaster, writer, and advocate. As a descendant of people involved in New England witch trials, co-founder of End Witch Hunts, and creator of the podcasts The Thing About Witch Hunts and The Thing About Salem, Josh blends historical knowledge and modern activism in his work. Josh continues to shed light on historical injustices while advocating for the elimination of modern harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks.

Sarah Jack, a descendant of colonial-era witch trial victims, is the founding executive director of the nonprofit End Witch Hunts. Based in Colorado, Sarah also hosts the podcasts The Thing About Witch Hunts and The Thing About Salem. She specializes in consulting and teaching about witch hunts, past and present, leveraging her extensive networks to bring these conversations to broader communities and platforms. Her work has been highlighted globally and featured in outlets including the New York Times and NPR.

End Witch Hunts brings light to the true nature of witch trials and witch hunts through public education, advocacy, memorialization, and exoneration. The sole nonprofit in the United States prioritising awareness about modern-day witchcraft, End Witch Hunts tells the stories of victims both past and present to generate discussion of lessons to be learned. End Witch Hunts offers two weekly podcasts, blogs, online presentations, conference addresses, live events, and collaboration with organizations including the International Network Against Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Attacks.

FIND OUT MORE

READING

Baker, Emerson W. A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Baker, Emerson W. The Devil of Great Island: Witchcraft and Conflict in Early New England. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2007.

Gaskill, Malcolm. The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2022.

Norton, Mary Beth. In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2002.

Roach, Marilynne. The Salem Witch Trials: A Day by Day Chronology of a Community under Siege. New York: Cooper Square Press, 2002.

Rosenthal, Bernard et al, eds. Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009.

WEBSITES

Salem Witch Trials: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project https://salem.lib.virginia.edu

17th Century New England, with Special Emphasis on the Essex County Witch Hunt of 1692 http://www.17thc.us/

Cornell University Witchcraft Collection https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/witchcraftcoll/

Salem’s Trials: Lessons and Legacies of 1692. A Symposium held at Salem State University on June 10, 2017, to commemorate the 325th anniversary of the witch trials. Available at: https://www.c-span.org/organization/salem-state-university/45222/

WATCH AND LISTEN

"The Salem Witch Trials: Interpreting History and Finding Relevance" a presentation by Dan Lipcan and Paula Richter, curators at the Peabody Essex Museum, for PHB. Watch it here.

Unobscured with Aaron Mahnke, Season One: The Salem Witch Trials https://www.grimandmild.com/unobscured

The Thing About Witch Hunts witchhuntshow.com

The Thing About Salem aboutsalem.com

The Partnership of Historic Bostons is an all-volunteer organization. As always, our events are free. But we welcome donations to defray our (mounting) expenses – whether it’s $10, $25, $50 or more. Please support 17th century public history!

Image: A replica of the meeting house in Salem Village (now Danvers), where Rebecca Nurse, an elderly woman accused of witchcraft, was tried and found guilty. She was one of twenty people executed in the Salem trials. Emerson Baker.