WCU Special Collections & Archives contains a small collection of books with a certain creepy, spooky subject matter. These books are collections of inscriptions and poetry from tombstones found in graveyards throughout the United States and Britain. Some are sad, some are inspiring, and some are just plain silly.
These books were all published during the Victorian era (in the first half of the 19th century), when death and romanticism combined to create a readership for these rather morbid collections.
William Graham published his volume of epitaphs in 1821, citing that "having always a particular pleasure from a walk among the tombs" he wrote the book to "dispose the mind to ponder on the brevity of life, on the imperfections and unsatisfactory nature of our enjoyments, and on the instability of the nature of all earthly possessions."
Other items in the collection express a slightly less noble purpose, citing the "ludicrous" and "witty" eptiaphs that they have come across during their strolls through the graves, like the following examples:
"Here snug in her grave my wife doth lie,
Now she's at rest and so am I"
"Here lies the bones
of Joseph Jones
Who at whilst he was able;
But once o'erfed,
He drop't down dead
And fell beneath the table."
If you'd like to take a look at any of these items in more detail, stop by FHG Library to see the "Spooky Scribbles and Entertaining Epitaphs" display on the 2nd floor (near the elevators). This display will run through the beginning of November. You can also contact the Special Collections librarian.
Hope you enjoy - and Happy Halloween.
