In this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, we talk about the primary source documents that form the backbone of our understanding of the Salem Witch Trials. They highlight the monumental work behind the 'Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt,' published in 2009, which involved 12 scholars over a decade to compile. Despite the loss of official court records, 980 surviving documents provide a tangible and chilling glimpse into the events of 1692, including arrest warrants, interrogation records, jailers' accounts, and personal petitions. The episode emphasizes the importance of these documents in rectifying historical inaccuracies and connecting with the past.
00:00 Introduction to Salem Witch Trials Daily
00:16 The Importance of Primary Source Documents
00:41 Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
01:23 Challenges in Preserving Historical Documents
01:51 Types of Surviving Documents
03:02 Personal Connections to the Trials
03:37 The Role of Handwriting Analysis
04:34 Accessing the Documents Today
04:54 Teaser for the Next Episode
Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt
The Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel
Salem Witch Trials Daily Course Week 5: The Framework of Death
Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience
Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege
Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692
