This spooky season, explore “Witchcraft, Magic, and Medicine in the Early Modern Period,” located in the Mervyn H. Sterne Library lobby between the Café Collection and Starbucks.
Curated from books in the Reynolds-Finley Historical Library, the Sterne Rare Books Collection, Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences, and Sterne Library, the exhibit examines the blurred spaces witchcraft occupied during the Early Modern period, when magic users were known by names like “cunning folk,” “astrologers,” alchemists,” and “wise women,” to cite just a few.
“Working in a health sciences historical library, it has always fascinated me that health care providers of the early modern period walked a fine line between respected authorities and witches,” said Peggy Balch, curator of the Reynolds-Finley Historical Library. “At a time when astrology governed so many aspects of medical and surgical treatment and the alchemical philosopher’s stone was the ultimate quest of many of the biggest names in the Scientific Revolution, the witch hunts and trials were plaguing Europe and colonial America.
“So, I am interested in how one came to be deemed a scientist or a witch, and to what degree gender, education level and the intent of the magic were determining factors? The exhibit explores many facets of this issue and introduces the visitor to some of the sources available at UAB Libraries for further investigation.”
Visitors can check out several books that are on display in the exhibit’s upright cases; to request them, inquire at the HUB Desk. For inquiries about non-circulating items, contact Balch at pbalch@uab.edu.
“Witchcraft, Magic, and Medicine in the Early Modern Period” will be on display through the fall 2025 semester.
Get a sneak peek of the exhibit in the photos below.
