“Crazed in Her Understanding”: Women’s Woes During the Salem Witch Trials

Studying the lives of colonial women can be a difficult undertaking. Ferreting out basic information, from a birthday to a maiden name, is often impossible. This is particularly challenging when one comes across a woman who is described as mentally unwell. What does it mean to be “crazed in her understanding,” “melancholy,” or “one part off the moon”?
 
In this free, virtual program, Salem Witch Museum Director of Education Rachel Christ-Doane and Assistant Director of Education Jill Christiansen will discuss several women involved in the 1692 witch trials who appear to have struggled with mental health issues. We will consider how these records paint a picture of each of these seventeenth-century women, providing clues about their personal struggles.

No registration is required for this virtual program. The webinar link will be shared on the Salem Witch Museum event webpage on the day of the lecture. The presentation will be recorded and shared on the Salem Witch Museum website for future accessibility.