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Hallowe'en and Dia de Muertos Resources

Album Description

Fun things to share with your students, or to use in your own home! 

Library of Congress Page with Links

Teaching Notes

Provides a good introduction to both holidays with the history of each that can be used as context for older students. 

Library of Congress Page with Links

Free to Use and Reuse Sets: Autumn and Hallowe'en

Free to Use and Reuse Sets: Autumn and Hallowe'en

The Wilmingtonian., October 02, 1823, Image 2

Teaching Notes

Very early reference to Halloween, Wilmington, DE, 1823

Reference link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88053079/1823-10-02/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1777&sort=date&rows=20&words=Halloween&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=0&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=Halloween&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

Reference note

Newspaper: The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1823-1824
Newspaper Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88053079/1823-10-02/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1777&sort=date&rows=...
Image provided by: University of Delaware Library, Newark, DE
PDF Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88053079/1823-10-02/ed-1/seq-2.pdf

The national Republican. [volume], October 31, 1861, Image 3

Teaching Notes

The last Halloween before the start of the Civil War. 

Reference link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014760/1861-10-31/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1777&sort=date&rows=20&words=Halloween&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=17&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=Halloween&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2

Reference note

Newspaper: The national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1860-1862
Newspaper Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014760/1861-10-31/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1777&sort=date&rows=...
Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC
PDF Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014760/1861-10-31/ed-1/seq-3.pdf

Daily Ohio statesman. [volume], October 31, 1865, Image 3

Teaching Notes

The Dayton newspaper in 1865 declares Halloween may be a "thing of the past".

Reference link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84028645/1865-10-31/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1777&sort=date&rows=20&words=Hallowe%27en&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=17&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=Halloween&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=3

Reference note

Newspaper: Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870
Newspaper Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84028645/1865-10-31/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1777&sort=date&rows=...
Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH
PDF Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84028645/1865-10-31/ed-1/seq-3.pdf

La opinión. [volume], October 30, 1926, Image 1

Teaching Notes

La Opinion -- Halloween en Espanol! 

Reference link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn81004351/1926-10-30/ed-1/seq-1/#date1=1777&index=3&rows=20&words=de+dia+d%C3%ADa+los+muertos&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=Dia+de+los+Muertos&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

Reference note

Newspaper: La opinión. [volume] (Los Angeles, Calif.) 1926-current
Newspaper Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn81004351/1926-10-30/ed-1/seq-1/#date1=1777&index=3&rows=20...
Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA
PDF Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn81004351/1926-10-30/ed-1/seq-1.pdf

La opinión. [volume], January 02, 1938, Page 4, Image 24

Teaching Notes

Noche de Muertos is another term for Dia de Muertos -- it specifically refers to the night families spend at the cementario welcoming back the spirits of their loved ones. 

Reference link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn81004351/1938-01-02/ed-1/seq-24/#date1=1777&index=6&date2=1963&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=de+D%C3%ADa+los+Muertos&proxdistance=5&state=&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=Dia+de+los+muertos&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

Reference note

Newspaper: La opinión. [volume] (Los Angeles, Calif.) 1926-current
Newspaper Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn81004351/1938-01-02/ed-1/seq-24/#date1=1777&index=6&date2=...
Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA
PDF Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn81004351/1938-01-02/ed-1/seq-24.pdf

La prensa. [volume], November 02, 1919, Image 11

Teaching Notes

Ofrendas or altars are an important part of honoring someone who passed in the last year. It should have elements of flowers, light, food, drink, salt, incense, and papel picado. Photos and a resting mat are also often included in 20th century ofrenda. States that have large populations of people from Mexico tend to honor Dia de Muertos.

Reference link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045395/1919-11-02/ed-1/seq-11/#date1=1777&index=8&date2=1963&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=de+d%C3%ADa+los+muertos&proxdistance=5&state=&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=Dia+de+los+muertos&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

Reference note

Newspaper: La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962
Newspaper Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045395/1919-11-02/ed-1/seq-11/#date1=1777&index=8&date2=...
Image provided by: University of North Texas; Denton, TX
PDF Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045395/1919-11-02/ed-1/seq-11.pdf

El Mundo. [volume], November 03, 1924, Page Página 3, Image 3

Teaching Notes

It is rare to see Dia de Muertos celebrated in Puerto Rico today. 

Reference link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86077151/1924-11-03/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1777&index=10&date2=1963&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=de+d%C3%ADa+D%C3%ADa+los+muertos+Muertos&proxdistance=5&state=&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=Dia+de+los+muertos&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

Reference note

Newspaper: El Mundo. [volume] (San Juan, P.R.) 1919-1990
Newspaper Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86077151/1924-11-03/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1777&index=10&date2=...
Image provided by: University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Library System
PDF Link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86077151/1924-11-03/ed-1/seq-3.pdf

Conversation with Tlacuatzin Son Huasteco Huapango Music from Mexico

Teaching Notes

Dia de Muertos figures into art, music, and literature throughout Mexico. 

Link: https:https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/media/webcasts/2022/220928afc1201/220928afc1201-1280x720_2000.mp4

Bessie Jones Tells a Spooky Story

Teaching Notes

The Sea Island Singers are a Gullah group that shares music and folk traditions handed down through generations of Black families on the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia. 

Bessie Jones Tells a Spooky Story

Ghost Stories in Song

Teaching Notes

In the early to mid-20th century, ethnomusicologists traveled throughout Appalachia "collecting songs."  These were ballads and rounds brought with early immigrants from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and England, that became integral parts of daily life in Appalachia. The songs and tales often have a moral or message in them. 

Ghost Stories in Song

Halloween party at Shafter migrant camp, California

Teaching Notes

"In 1935, the Resettlement Administration (RA), and later the FSA, began to establish migratory labor camps to house the destitute migrants. Many migrants living in cars, tents, and shacks along “ditchbank” settlements were attracted to the sanitary, newly constructed camps located along a 600-mile-long corridor through central California… One of the first such camps [was] constructed…at Shafter, California.”   -- The Living New Deal

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2017770943/

Reference note

Contributor Names

  • Lange, Dorothea, photographer

Created / Published

  • 1938 Nov.

Subject Headings

  • -  United States--California--Kern County--Shafter
  • -  Camp Shafter--California

Genre

  • Safety film negatives

Notes

  • -  Title and other information from caption card.
  • -  Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944.
  • -  More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is available at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.fsaowi
  • -  Temp. note: usf34batch2
  • -  Film copy on SIS roll 19, frame 2241.

Repository

Digital Id

  • fsa 8b15418 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8b15418

Halloween roller skating carnival Bring your skates : Prizes will be awarded for costumes / / M. Weitzman.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/98518524/

Reference note

Summary

  • Poster announcing roller skating carnival in Central Park, New York City, showing a boy and a girl skating.

Contributor Names

  • Weitzman, Martin, artist

Created / Published

  • [New York] : Federal Art Project, 1936.

Subject Headings

  • -  Roller skating--New York (State)--New York--1930-1940
  • -  Halloween--1930-1940
  • -  Contests--New York (State)--New York--1930-1940

Notes

  • -  Date stamped on verso: Oct 20 1936.
  • -  Work Projects Administration Poster Collection (Library of Congress).

Repository

  • Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

  • cph 3b48904 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b48904

October's "bright blue weather" A good time to read!.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/98509532/

Reference note

Summary

  • Poster for the WPA Statewide Library Project, showing a boy reading a book, surrounded by a bat, ghost, witch, and other images of Halloween.

Contributor Names

  • Bender, Albert M., artist
  • Federal Art Project, sponsor

Created / Published

  • Chicago : Illinois WPA Art Project, [between 1936 and 1940]

Subject Headings

  • -  Boys--Illinois--1930-1940
  • -  Reading--Illinois--1930-1940
  • -  Halloween--1930-1940

Notes

  • -  Date stamped on verso: Aug 30 1940.
  • -  Work Projects Administration Poster Collection (Library of Congress).
  • -  Attributed to Albert M. Bender.
  • -  Posters of the WPA / Christopher DeNoon. Los Angeles: Wheatly Press, c1987, no. 161

Repository

  • Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

  • cph 3b48754 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b48754