Pictorial: Collecting the macabre, Part 1

In the spirit of Halloween, we’ve gathered here some of the most macabre items from Central University Libraries’ special collections.

Halloween party games

A Masquerade at the Seminary_Trying_on_the_costumes
A Masquerade at the Seminary. Trying on the costumes by C. H. Graves. From the Banks McLaurin, Jr. stereograph collection, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University
The Halloween Party: Cant I get in the game?
The Halloween Party — Can I get in on the Game? From the Banks McLaurin, Jr. Stereograph Collection, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.

Graveyards

Graveyards are well represented in our special collections, but we prefer to reflect on these artistic expressions of burial places. And also this photograph of a horse cemetery.

Clowns

Even if you don’t suffer from coulrophobia, you might find these clowns a little unsettling. To make amends, we’ll leave you with the affable clowns of the Sulphur Springs Collection of Pre-Nickelodeon Films.

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La Clownesse fantôme (Star Film’s English title, The Shadow-Girl), Melies-Star Films. From the Sulphur Springs Collection of Pre-Nickelodeon Films, G. William Jones Film & Video Collection, Hamon Arts Library.

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Inexhaustible Cab by Lubin. From the Sulpher Springs Collection of Pre-Nickelodeon Films, G. William Jones Film & Video Collection, Hamon Arts Library.

Sara Outhier, Digital Media Librarian, Hamon Arts Library | southier@smu.edu


Featured image: Unidentified gigaku mask photographed by Brad Flowers from the Mary McCord-Edyth Renshaw Collection on the Performing Arts, Bywaters Special Collections, Hamon Arts Library.

More: Central University Libraries Digital Collections.

Graveyards:

Untitled by DeForrest Judd. From DeForrest Judd art work and papers, 1936-1990, Bywaters Special Collections, Hamon Arts Library.

‘Garden of the Glorious Mysteries’, mosaic, Calvary Hill Cemetery, Dallas, by Octavio Medellin. From Bywaters Special Collections, Hamon Arts Library.

Mexican Graveyard – Terlingua by Jerry Bywaters. From Jerry Bywaters Collection on Art of the Southwest, Bywaters Special Collections, Hamon Arts Library.

Palo Alto Stock Farm Horse Cemetery Monument from Tourist album: Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado and Utah. DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.

Clowns:

[Young Child Dressed as a Clown]  from Tourist album: Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado and Utah, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.

Old Clown by Jerry Bywaters. From the Jerry Bywaters Collection on Art of the Southwest, Hamon Arts Library.

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