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Photo Gallery – 2025 Haunted Histories

by | Oct 30, 2025 | Events, Holidays, Library Work, Public Programs

Last night, October 29, we hosted our third annual Haunted Histories event. Organized by student intern Sam Huck, the historic murder mystery featured a variety of activities which provided guests with clues to solve the case.

Sign reading "Paper Dolls with Angela Cruing" with sample paper dolls.
Sign reading "Puzzling with Katie Curio."
Sign reading "Trivia with Heather van Dagger."
Sign reading "Fortune Telling with Anne Cattrell."
Sign reading "Pop-up Exhibit with Sierra Playfair."
Sign reading "Old Bachelor with Meghan Betford."

Guests explored hands-on activities throughout the Avenir Foundation Reading Room.

Christina Karas dressed as a fortune teller in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room.
Anne Bennington-Helber in a Victorian-era dress, holding a plush cat.
Student interns Annalia Buchanan, Evelyn Best, and Ella Brooks-Kamper in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room.
Angela Oonk posing with a pair of scissors and colored in paper dolls.
Annalia Buchanan and Katie Jaede in costume, posing with a clue in the form of a puzzle in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room.

Clements staff got in character to welcome guests to the 1883 masquerade ball.

SMTD student Sarah Hartmus holding a book of Edgar Allan Poe stories next to a screen reading "The Black Cat Edgar Allan Poe."

School of Music, Theater, and Dance student Sarah Hartmus performed dramatic readings of Poe’s The Black Cat.

The Gage and Clinton trunks in the Clements Library Avenir Foundation Reading Room, with fake candles added as decor.
Cardboard cut out of William L. Clements surrounded by fake cobwebs.

The Avenir Foundation Reading Room was decorated for this spooktacular event.

Three guests in costume in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room. One is in a red dress and has fake blood coming from her mouth, one has a real pumpkin over their head, and the other is in a black and white dress.
Guests in costume in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room. One is wearing a blue blazer and hate with a frilly white top, and the other has a brown cloak with gold floral details.
Two guests in costume in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room. One dressed in mourning attire with skeletal makeup, and the other is in a white dress.
A guest dressed as Howl holding a "Clue Game Sheet" in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room.

We were blown away by the costumes our guests wore!

Guest looking at a pop-up exhibition of toys and games.
Guest looking at a pop-up exhibition of toys and games.

A special pop-up exhibit featuring board games that didn’t make it into the For All Ages exhibit were on display.

Facsimile of a paper doll from the General Ephemera collection.
Coloring page of an owl from the game "The Magic Blackboard" with a jack-o-lantern drawn over its head.

Guests got crafty with paper dolls and coloring pages!

Meghan Arends dealing cards in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room.
Fake "Receipt of Sale" taped to an exhibit case in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room.
Sierra Laddusaw interacting with guests in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room.

Clues were hidden throughout the room, both in activities and the decorations.

The staff of the Clements Library in the Avenir Foundation Reading Room.

Thank you from all of us at the Clements to everyone who attended last night. Hope to see you all next year! 🎃