Robert H. West Collection of Books on Demonology and Witchcraft
Abstract
The Robert H. West Collection of Books on Demonology and Witchcraft, 1530s-1990s, contains rare books and unique ephemeral material on the study of witchcraft, the persecution of suspected witches, as well as the overall political, social, and religious aspects of demonology and the occult from early modern Europe to 20th-century North America.
Dr. Robert West taught at Vanderbilt University while earning his doctorate in English during the 1930s. He had a strong interest in 17th-century witch trials in England and the United States, and built a strong book collection on this topic. Upon his retirement, West generously donated his rare books to the Vanderbilt University Libraries as a resource for scholars.
Dates
- Creation: 1530s-1990s
Conditions Governing Access
The physical materials in this collection may be viewed only in the reading room of the Vanderbilt Special Collections and University Archives. Materials should be requested two to three days in advance to facilitate easier access. Contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu to schedule an appointment.
Full Extent
255 Items
Language of Materials
English
Latin
French
Hebrew
Greek, Modern (1453-)
Topical
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Robert H. West Collection of Books on Demonology and Witchcraft
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Sarah Calise
- Date
- 2026
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives Repository
Special Collections Library
1101 19th Ave. S.
Nashville TN 37212 United States
specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu
About this Site
This site contains collection guides, or finding aids, to the archival collections held by Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives, the History of Medicine Collection, and the Scarritt Bennett Center. Finding aids describe the context, arrangement, and structure of archival materials, allowing users to identify and request materials relevant to their research.
Requesting Materials
Each finding aid contains a link to request materials from the collections. Collections can also be requested by emailing the repository directly through the library website. Each repository has its own location, hours, and contact information. Please consult the repository with questions about using the materials. Collections are non-circulating and must be used in the repository’s reading room. In many cases, the collections are stored off-site and require advance notice for retrieval.