Ohio State Archives Share Campus Ghost Tales

The Ohio State University Archives has released a series of short posts on social media this month to mark the Halloween season. The campaign, titled “Terrifying Tuesday,” shares brief historical accounts and campus legends to engage followers with the university’s past. The series draws from documents and records held in the university’s vast archival collection.

Michelle Drobik, the reference archivist at Ohio State, stated that the project aims to make history more accessible. She noted that ghost stories provide a unique entry point for people to connect with the past. Drobik explained that these narratives help the campus community bond by showing how previous generations faced various situations. She added that this connection to history offers a level of comfort to current students and staff.

The social media series evolved from in-person ghost tours that archivists like Drobik lead for alumni and student groups. These tours typically take place on the Oval campus. The stories shared on social media are condensed versions of the material presented during those live events. The content is sourced from a specific file in the university archives dedicated to ghost subjects.

While the supernatural elements of the stories are based on hearsay, the historical events behind them are factual. For example, a man’s ashes were placed within the walls of Bricker Hall. Hayes Hall was also used as military barracks during World War I. The archives confirm that an Ohio State professor attempted to reanimate a corpse using electricity.

Thomas C. Mendenhall, hired in 1873 as the first faculty member of the then-Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, was a psychics professor. He received approval from the Ohio Penitentiary to transfer the body of John Carclay, a prisoner hanged for murder, to Starling Medical College in downtown Columbus. Mendenhall used electric shocks on the corpse in an attempt to bring it back to life, but the experiment failed according to the archives.

Bridget McGuinness, a fourth-year history student and employee in the history department, said the series helps make archival research seem less intimidating. She observed that history can feel exclusive or walled off to the general public. McGuinness believes that sharing fun, bite-sized facts encourages people to get more involved with the subject. She suggested this could lead individuals to study history, choose a minor in the field, or watch related documentaries.

Drobik selected the three featured stories because the individuals involved played key roles in the founding of Ohio State. She argued that knowing the full story makes the campus buildings more interesting for students walking by. For instance, a student might not know who Hayes Hall is named for until they read the history behind the building.

McGuinness added that reading these stories helps people understand their place within the larger community. She stated that the university’s effort to preserve and share this history shows deep care for the institution. The posts serve to remind the campus that Ohio State has a lengthy history worth exploring.