Nova Nation—Thank you for stopping by Distinctive Collections and Digital Engagement‘s (DCDE) annual Halloween event on Tuesday, Oct. 31, in Speakers’ Corner! It was fun telling Villanova ghost stories and sharing some of DCDE collections’ spookiest items. For more on this eerie event, check out Preservation & Digital Archivist Beaudry Allen’s blog post.
Thank you to all the students and staff that attended DCDE’s annual Halloween event on Tuesday! Each year DCDE opens our deepest darkest vault to unveil our spookiest material as well as bring some levity to your day’s studies in Falvey.
Many treats, from candy to pizza, were available to Halloween revelers to enjoy. In addition, DCDE had wooden block prints created by our DCDE coordinator, Mike Sgier, available for people to take home.
A print demonstration was done at the event and intended to highlight the type of printing done for some of the bibles on display in the our new exhibit, Divine Inspiration: Revealing the Sacred in Biblical Texts and Imagery.
This year was a return of our Haunted Villanova Map with attendees placing stickers on places at Villanova they think are eerie or know of a good ghost story. Alumni Hall, Tolentine Hall, Middleton Hall, and Falvey Library seemed to be the spookiest places on campus lately.
And as we do every year we had on display some of DCDE collections’ spookiest and fantastical items. These items illustrate the discourse around the unexplained in the past or what was considered popular stories of ghosts, monsters, etc.
Always a fan favorite is hand drawn jack-o-lanterns of Halloween letter from 1925, which demonstrates how Halloween was celebrated in the past.
On display and available to see by appointment in Special Collections:
Irish Witchcraft and Demonology from the McGarrity Collection
Letter, To: “Dear Papa” From: Catherine Meave McGarrity, October 22, 1925 from the McGarrity Collection
Issues from Weird Tales from our Dime Novel Collection
The Amateur’s Guide to Magic and Mystery and the Black Art: Fully Exposed
Halloween may be over, but we’re still celebrating spooky season! This week, we asked students, “What’s your favorite film to watch around Halloween”
Cole Jackson ’24
Brooklyn Phang ’25
Carissa Van Veen ’25
Be on the look out for our team when you’re studying in Falvey, because we’re always giving treats to anyone who answers our weekly questions!
Rebecca Amrick is a first-year graduate student in the English Department and a Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.
Jadyn Piotrowski ’26 VSB is a Communication & Marketing Student Assistant at Falvey Library.
In The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown wrote, “Men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire.”
Fears and anxieties are normal and, unfortunately for us, pretty unavoidable. Whether it’s public speaking, trying something new, or thinking about the future, everybody has something that makes them a bit anxious or afraid. It’s seemingly part of being a human.
But, as tempting as it may be, don’t let your fear stop you from exploring your future and pursuing your goals. Trying and failing often feels better than not trying at all.
Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Multifaith Prayer Room, St. Rita’s Hall | Virtual Option | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, & Staff
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free
Who Bans Books in the U.S.—And What are They So Afraid of? | 5 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to the Public
Tricks and Treats from the Vault | 12-2 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | Free & Open to the Public | Treats Served
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free
Who Bans Books in the U.S.—And What are They So Afraid of? | 5 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to the Public
Philosophy and Film Series on “Creativity and Madness”: Ron Howard’s A Beautiful Mind (2001) | 5:30 p.m. | VR3, Falvey Ground Floor | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Community | Light Refreshments Served
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free
Senghor-Damas-Césaire Lecture for Africana Studies Featuring Wale Adebanwi, PhD. | 5-6:30 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Community | Light Refreshments Served
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free
For fans of this divisive candy, today, Oct. 30, is National Candy Corn Day. Personally, although it’s not my favorite candy by any means, I think the bad rap candy corn gets doesn’t do it justice. It’s nothing if not whimsical and festive. For anyone on the pro-candy corn side of the debate, today is for you.
As I’m sure you probably know, Halloween is this Tuesday, Oct. 31, but did you know that it’s also National Caramel Apple Day? If you want a Halloween treat that’s more substantive and a bit more nutritious than candy, you can enjoy this classic fall treat.
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
Wednesday, Nov. 1 is National Stress Awareness Day. With the semester ramping up, it’s easy to get caught up in papers, exams, and projects, but be sure to give yourself time to relax and recharge. Avoiding burnout now might just help you come finals week. Fittingly, Wednesday is also Scented Candle Day. So, if you’re living off-campus, light your favorite scented candle and de-stress with some aromatherapy. If you’re living on-campus, even spraying a nice air freshener can help you relax.
Don’t feel like cooking? National Chinese Takeout Day is this Sunday, Nov. 5. If you want to enjoy some good comfort food (and support a local business), order some Chinese takeout.
Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.
Shawn Proctor, Communication and Marketing Program Manager.
Any guesses for Falvey’s “tent” theme at Villanova’s trick-or-treat community event tomorrow?
Stop by the Riley Ellipse on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 5 p.m. There will be treats, crafts, music, and more. Costumes are encouraged! The rain date will be Monday, Oct. 30, at 5 p.m. We hope to see you Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches people there!
Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Library.
Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week.
Photo by Jake Hills on Unsplash
If you’re someone who enjoys movies, you’ve probably heard a film, typically one that didn’t hit it off with mainstream audiences, get called a “cult classic.” While these films may not be everyone’s cup of tea, cult classics take off with one niche audience, a cult-like audience that turns into a passionate, loyal fandom.
While cult classics can come from any genre, it does seem that cult classics and Halloween sometimes go hand-in-hand, with the most famous example being The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This weekend’s recs will share some cult classic recommendations that might just get you ready for Halloween.
If you have 10 minutes…and want to read about a recent film that’s slated to be a “cult classic,” read this article about M3GAN.
If you have 15 minutes…and want to know what makes a movie a “cult classic,” read this article.
If you have 1 hour and 37 minutes…and like cheesy “scary” movies, watch The Lost Boys. While calling this vampire cult classic a “horror movie” might be a stretch, it’s just spooky enough to get you into the Halloween spirit.
If you have another 1 hour and 37 minutes…and like horror, watch the quintessential zombie film Night of the Living Dead, available to stream through Falvey. If you like contemporary zombie movies, this movie might be considered required watching.
Bonus: if you want to watch another horror cult classic (although it might just be an actual classic), watch Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, available to stream through Falvey. It may have come out in 1960, but it surprisingly still manages to be suspenseful and creepy today.
If you have 1 hour and 57 minutes…and Halloween movies aren’t your thing, watch The Big Lebowski, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. This movie features some recognizable faces, including Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and Julianne Moore (among others).
If you have 4 hours…and you like musicals, go to a screening of the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Or, if you want to plan a night-in with some of your friends, you can host your own screening. If there’s one thing about Rocky Horror, it’s always better with good company.
If you have 8 hours…and prefer books, read satirical cult classic Fight Club, available at Falvey.
Bonus: you can also watch Fight Club, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection.
If you’re in the mood for even more Halloween fun, stop by DCDE’s Tricks and Treats from the Vault event this Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 12-2 p.m. in Speakers’ Corner for some festive treats and activities.
Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.
It’s officially spooky season at Villanova, and we searched to find out what the “It” look will be. “What Halloween costume do you plan to wear?” we asked.
Sure, a few people responded “Nope” to dressing up, but we found a trio of Falvey student patrons who will put “The Shining” on their outfits this upcoming holiday. (Apologies for the terrible movie puns!)
Justin Sloan ’27
Gabriella August ’24
Theodore Runiewicz ’26
Be on the look out for our team when you’re studying in Falvey, because we’re always giving treats to anyone who answers our weekly questions!
Curious Cat Team: Rebecca Amrick, Timothy Cincotta ’24, and Shawn Proctor
As Falvey’s Cat in the Stax, Rebecca writes articles covering a broad range of topics, from academics to hobbies to random events. All the while highlighting how Falvey Library can enhance your Villanova experience!
Welcome back to campus! I hope you enjoyed your fall break and took time to relax and spend time with friends and family and are now returning refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of the semester!
Halloween is in less than two weeks. That means it’s time to sit down and decide on a costume idea if you haven’t already. If dressing up on Halloween is your jam, but you’re stumped on what to be this year, this article is for you!
Google has a new experiment out right now that’ll tell you what costumes are trending and will also help you choose a costume based on your preferences. You can search top costume ideas based on location and see the most popular Halloween costumes nationally. The Costume Wizard portion of this website will generate a costume idea for you based on how spooky and unique you want to be. It’s definitely worth checking out for inspiration or even just to see what’s currently trending! Below are some examples from the site for you to consider. Note: these examples feature popular characters from film and TV, but the website has plenty generic costume suggestions if that’s more up your ally.
Falvey has two Halloween-themed events coming up to help you get into the spirit of spooky season! On Sunday, Oct. 29, the Library will be having a Halloween Tent-or-Treat where we will be giving out snacks and other goodies. On Tuesday, Oct. 31, Falvey will host its annual DCDE Halloween Event: Tricks and Treats from the Vault. This event features items from the Library’s Distinctive Collections as well as some delicious Halloween treats.
Halloween Costume Ideas:
Picture courtesy of Jaap Buitendijk
Barbie
This probably comes as no surprise to anyone, but Barbie is the #1 nationally ranked costume for this upcoming Halloween. The Barbie movie took the world by storm and is a huge feature of pop culture at the moment. A lot of people are planning to dress up as Barbie, and Barbie and Ken will be staple couple’s costumes this year.
Photo courtesy of Matthias Clamer
Wednesday Addams
Another huge pop culture character is Wednesday Addams, thanks to Netflix’s original series Wednesday, which was released in 2022. Ranked #6 nationally, Wednesday Addams is both popular and fitting with the spirit of Halloween.
Photo from Shout! Studios
Power Ranger
Not interested in having the same costume as others? Maybe consider being a Power Ranger. Ranked #60, there is a lower chance of matching with other people. This is also a great idea for a group costume!
Rebecca Amrick is a first year graduate student in the English Department and a Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.
Fall, with all its gloomy skies yet cozy days, is known as time for a rewatch for fans of the cartoon, Over the Garden Wall. Since 2014 and with each passing year the cartoon has garnered new fans of all ages. The richness in storytelling interweaving childhood hurt, fear, insecurity, and sense of adventure against the backdrop of the unknown. The story draws on folk and fairy tale conventions and forms a story where the tone seems familiar yet unrecognizable at the same time that seems to keep audiences captivated. Adventure Time storyboard artist, Patrick McHale, created the ten-part Cartoon Network miniseries which draws inspiration from Dante’s Inferno, nineteenth to early-twentieth century Halloween cards, lithography, 1930s animation linework, the illustrations of John Tenniel, a 1890 board game called Game of Frog Pond, folk art, early twentieth century American music, and, for those in the know, McLoughlin Brothers children’s books.
Distinctive Collections has a small collection of McLoughlin Brothers Inc. children’s books in our Dime Novel and Popular Literature collections. McLoughlin Brothers Inc. produced children books, board games, puzzles, and paper toys between 1858 and 1920. The artwork was considered vibrant for the time as the company pioneered color printing technologies for children’s books with chromolithographs and photo engravings. The company specialized in retelling of classic stories for children. Their success and influence went hand in hand with the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries growth of children’s literature, also known as the Golden Age of Children’s Literature. Even many of the earliest board games in America were produced by McLoughlin Brothers, though, in 1920, the company’s board games were sold to Milton Bradley & Company. Today, the American Antiquarian Society holds one of the largest collections of McLoughlin Brothers archives including over 1,700 toy books, games, paper toys, publishers’ catalogs, and original art work. But you can view Distinctive Collections’ small collection in the Digital Library and/or in person in our reading room.
The cartoon pays homage to the McLoughlin Brothers in subtle ways as many believe in the opening credits the two boys playing with the steamboat in the creek to be the McLoughlin brothers. In the episode, “Lullaby in Frogland,” the steamboat Wirt, Greg, and Beatrice sneak on board is called the “McLoughlin Bros” steamboat. Throughout the episodes it’s easy to see the influence from color palette and style to characters.
Join Falvey Library’s Distinctive Collections and Digital Engagement staff for “Tricks and Treats from the Vault” on Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 12-2 p.m. Visitors can view spooky highlights from the collections in Speakers’ Corner and enjoy ghostly activities and treats. We’ll have tarot readings, ink blocking, and a haunted Villanova map. This event, sponsored by Falvey Library, is free and open to the public.
