Date:
Monday, 10/26/2026
Time: 7:00 pm
Category:
Salem, 1692: Two young girls living in the household of one of the town’s ministers are acted strangely—having fits. The doctor is called and he tells the minister that his girls are suffering from the action of the Devil’s ‘Evil Hand’ upon them. News of the doctor’s diagnosis quickly spreads and confirms what many in town are already whispering: that these girls are the victims of witch-craft; that they have been cursed by witches living somewhere in Salem. Join University of Maryland historian Dr. Richard Bell for a deep dive into witch-hunting in early America.
About the Presenter:
Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland and author of the book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home which was a finalist for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize. He has held major research fellowships at Yale, Cambridge, and the Library of Congress and is the recipient of the National Endowment of the Humanities Public Scholar award and the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. His new book, “The American Revolution and the Fate of the World,” was published by Penguin in November 2025.
This is a Virtual (Zoom) Event. Scroll down to register or call the Library at 734-426-4477 (ext 120). A Zoom link will be emailed the day before the event.
