PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Sunsets creep across the East Side skyline earlier each evening, the harvest moon rises over Providence and the autumn air gets chillier — Halloween is fast upon College Hill. What better time to unearth some of Brown's supernatural and spooky traditions, collections, events and more? Bet you didn't know about at least a few of these, from anthropodermic books in the Hay and midnight organ recitals to the many Brown connections to horror writer H.P. Lovecraft.
1. Books bound in human skin
2. Midnight organ recital on Halloween
Every year, Sayles Hall plays host to a full-capacity crowd for the University's annual midnight organ concert. In lieu of traditional seating, audience members bring blankets and pillows to cozy up on the floor and listen to pieces ranging from Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" to the "Monster Mash." The music is all performed on Brown's circa-1903 Hutchings-Votey pipe organ by Mark Steinbach — University organist, instrument curator and music lecturer — who revived the musical tradition in 1993 after an eight-year hiatus. Details on this year's version are here.
3. H.P. Lovecraft at the Ladd
Annual gatherings at the Ladd Observatory recognize the life and unique literary contributions of legendary horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft was an avid amateur astronomer who regularly visited Ladd during his teen years. This event, which typically draws about 120 people to the Ladd's front lawn in the spring, has become a Providence tradition.
4. Halloween pumpkin carvings
Happy Halloween!
— Brown University (@BrownUniversity) October 31, 2014
Photo by christylinh. #BrownUniversity pic.twitter.com/KXOqh9Ljjx
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5. Occult and visionary literature in the Hay
The Damon Collection of Occult and Visionary Literature in the John Hay Library includes rare editions of early occult books and numerous chronicles of demonology, secret societies, theosophical orders and ancient mystery relitions. The collection deals primarily with alchemy, the interpretation of dreams, mysticism, black magic and the Kabbalah plus visionary testaments and manifestations of all kinds.
6. Revolutionary War hauntings at University Hall
The Encyclopedia Brunonia states that "the College edifice was first taken in December 1776 for the use of barracks and an hospital for the American troops and retained for that use until the Fall before the arrival of his most Christian Majesty’s fleets and armies in this State..." The Providence Ghost Tour even claims that you can even see a ghost in one of the windows at night, if you look long and hard enough.
7. "Love is Strong as Death"
Carrie Tower has an engraving on its foundation that reads "Love is Strong as Death." Carrie Tower was erected in 1904, a gift of Paul Bajnotti of Turin, Italy, and a memorial to his wife, born Caroline Mathilde Brown, granddaughter of Nicholas Brown 1786, for whom the University is named, and daughter of Nicholas Brown 1811.
8. Annmary Brown Memorial crypt
Founder General Rush C. Hawkins and his wife are entombed in a crypt at the rear of the Annmary Brown Memorial. The Memorial houses exhibits of European and American paintings from the 17th through the 20th centuries, the Cyril and Harriet Mazansky British Sword Collection, as well as personal mementos of Hawkins and the Brown family.
9. H.P. Lovecraft collection
Seeing the Lovecraft papers at Brown University. #Necon pic.twitter.com/23hIrTLRuk
— Trick Kaufmonster (@TheKaufmann) July 17, 2015
Brown's H.P Lovecraft collection includes extensive holdings of manuscripts, letters, editions of Lovecraft's works in all languages, periodicals, biographical and critical works, and many supportive collections of manuscript and printed materials of Lovecraft friends and associates.
10. Collection of conjuring and magicana
The H. Adrian Smith Collection of Conjuring and Magicana, long considered one of the finest private libraries on conjuring and magic, includes 16th century titles on natural magic, alchemy, astrology, religious rites and witchcraft. Later holdings include sections on conjuring, card tricks and games, magicians as performers, magic periodicals and other works intended for practicing magicians, posters, ephemera and realia. The collection is the gift and bequest of the collector, Class of 1930, who as an undergraduate put himself through Brown by giving magic performances.