In History of Witchcraft, students study hysteria of the past up close
With some of the country’s oldest cities and settlements dating back to pilgrim times, New England is in no short supply of “haunted” happenings and spine-chilling tales. Nichols is no exception, with its own ghostly stories on a campus that dates back to 1815. The region’s long and sometimes dark past provides fertile ground for spooky stories, which take on a life of their own as they continue to be told.
This semester as Halloween approaches, Nichols students, with the help of their professor, are taking a deeper look at some of these dark corners of history: the witch hunt hysteria of American colonial times and the indelible mark it left on the region.
Where history and legend meet
It’s just after 9 a.m. in Academy 304—a room that has been said to host supernatural activity—and Professor Emily Thomas is projecting a centuries-old court record onto the screen. The names, inked in 17th-century script, belong to women once accused of witchcraft.
“Look closely,” Thomas tells her students. “Every mark tells a story about fear, power and the human need to explain the unknown.”
It’s a fitting start to History 270: History of Witchcraft, a new Nichols College course that blends historical research with a timely topic. Students study how myths, fear and social norms shaped accusations of witchcraft from medieval Europe to colonial New England to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
This isn’t the first unique topic she has taught. Thomas has made it a practice to teach the unexpected. Her course list reads like a historian’s cabinet of curiosities: From Leeches to Listerine: 19th Century Medicine and Disease; Plagues, Poxes and Pandemics; Myths, Legends and Superstitions—even History of Ghosts.
“I like to keep history interesting,” she says. “When students are engaged by unusual subjects, they’re more open to deeper learning. When they get to pick topics like vampires, fairies, witches or the Loch Ness monster, it motivates them a little more.”
For added interest, the fall timing of the witchcraft course is intentional—and so is a sprinkling of fun. “It’s a serious class, with some dark history, but we also have a good time. That’s why we also cover black cats, witches in pop culture from the Wizard of Oz to Hocus Pocus, and even Halloween history.”
As a public historian, Thomas curates the Clara Barton Birthplace Museum in North Oxford, not far from the College. There, she brings the legacy of the American Red Cross founder and Civil War hero to life through careful interpretation of historical documents and artifacts. She brings that same experiential style into her Nichols classes. In the witchcraft course, students view images, videos and original records from witch trials in England, Scotland and Salem. They make their own interpretations and discuss them in class.
Her only challenge, she says, is the cursive writing. “So many students no longer read cursive, and so many documents from the past are in cursive. It means I have to find transcribed versions of primary documents or transcribe them myself.”
At the heart of History of Witchcraft is women’s history, says Thomas, which aligns with her research interests—her other reason for creating the course. “In class, we spend a lot of time looking at the characteristics of accused witches, and so many women were targeted for strange behaviors, being independent or owning a black cat (which would put me at risk!). None of those accused were actually witches,” said Thomas.
The course’s centerpiece is a group research project on men and women accused of witchcraft during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Students pore over trial transcripts, family records and colonial archives to reconstruct the lives of those swept up in the witch hunt hysteria that marked the time period.
“It’s learning by doing,” Thomas explains. “Primary documents are a way to see how real people experienced history, and not just read about how historians interpret history.”
History at your doorstep
Thomas’ connection to the topic runs deep—literally through her family tree. Her eighth great-grandmother, Alice Pickering, served on a committee that examined two women accused of witchcraft in Salem. Her “mark,” a circular symbol she used in lieu of her signature as she was illiterate, appears on a surviving trial record. “It’s the only document I’ve found with her name. Seeing that link across centuries was surreal,” said Thomas, who said she discovered it while creating the course.
There’s also a local tie through Clara Barton, Thomas’ longtime historical muse. Barton’s third great-grandmother, Sarah Cloyce, was accused of witchcraft and jailed for nine months in 1692 before her case was dismissed. “History is never far away here,” Thomas says. “We can trace the Salem events right to our doorstep.”
Learning that lasts beyond the semester
While the Halloween timing adds intrigue to the course’s topic, Thomas says the real lessons will endure well past October.
“I hope students learn to think critically—to question sources, avoid stereotypes and understand how fear can overtake communities,” she says. “Those are timeless skills that matter in every field.”
Students taking the course agree.
First-year psychology major Mia Pittsley ’28 found herself drawn into the deeper themes after signing up out of interest in the topic. “Each class we learn about different trials and myths,” she says. “Studying witchcraft helps me understand how fear and social influence shape behavior. It’s like watching group psychology unfold in real time.”
Fellow psychology major Nevaeh Pepper ’27 connects those insights to her future career. “As someone planning to become a therapist, I’m learning to look for the real causes behind problems. It reminds me how quickly misinformation can spread—then and now.”
Entrepreneurship student Hayden Munce ’26 also sees how the course can help him reach his career goals. “I think that part of being knowledgeable is to know and understand anything that you come across, which involves gaining different mindsets and perspectives. Looking at society during this time period adds to my understanding of the themes and values society can hold.”
A hint of the supernatural
For Thomas, the classroom’s “haunted” reputation adds a touch of fun. As faculty advisor to the Nichols College Paranormal Club, she spends some evenings helping students investigate local legends and historical sites. “It’s a way for students to continue to explore the unknown, and to connect history with curiosity.”
Does she believe Academy 304 is haunted? Thomas smiles. “Let’s just say enough people have had experiences in the room that it keeps life interesting.”
(Pictured in header photo: Professor Emily Thomas leans in the doorway of Room 304 in Academy Hall at Nichols. On her shoulder rests a black cat plush toy she’s named Geillis Duncan, after the young maidservant in 16th century Scotland accused of witchcraft.)
About Nichols College
Nichols College has earned business accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1815, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. Nichols offers real-world learning focused on professional depth – combined with vibrant living, competitive athletics, and an unmatched alumni advantage – equipping students to exceed their own expectations. To learn more about Nichols College, visit www.nichols.edu.
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