Halloween and Other Festivals of Life and Death

Tired of being a  vampire or a witch every October 31? Whether you are researching the history of Halloween, Halloween costumes, masquerades, oppositions to Halloween, or just looking for inspiration for your own costume, the University Libraries has books, articles and databases that will help your research.

“For one night a year, we can act out whims and realize fantasies. Men can be women, children adults, milquetoasts heroes, good girls bad, devils saints, and vice versa. For a single night we all can star in the roles of our choice. The secret of Halloween’s success is that it is more than a holiday. It is a brief and titillating vacation from our lives and ourselves.”

 -Feldman, E. (2001). Halloween. American Heritage, 52(7), 63.

The following list of titles compiled by our librarian for design, housing, and apparel will help you create your costume whether you’re looking for instructions on how to make steampunk accessories, an authentic Elizabethan dress, or a classic bumblebee costume. 

• Asher, J. (1991). Jane Asher’s costume book. Menlo Park, CA: Open Chain Pub.
• Bell, D. (2015). Masquerade : Essays on tradition and innovation worldwide. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company.
• Bloom, C. (1998). Nifty, thrifty, no-sew costumes & props. Glenview, Ill.: Good Year Books.
• Cosplay girls 2 : [Japan’s live animation heroines]. (2007). Tokyo: DH Pub.
• Cowles Creative Publishing. (1997). Halloween costumes. (Singer sewing reference library). Minnetonka, Minn.: Cowles Creative Pub.
• Galembo, P., & Durant, M. (2002). Dressed for thrills : 100 years of Halloween costumes & masquerade. New York: H.N. Abrams.
• Harriman, A., & Bontje, M. (2014). Some Wear Leather, Some Wear Lace A Worldwide Compendium of Postpunk and Goth in the 1980s. Bristol: Intellect.
• Morris, M. (2002). The costume book : The non-professional’s guide to professional results (Schiffer book for designers). Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub.
• Huang, H., Hoem, E., & Hunt, K. (2015). Elizabethan costume design and construction (Focal Press costume topics series). Burlington, MA: Focal Press.
• Reedstrom, E. (1992). Authentic costumes & characters of the Wild West. New York: Sterling Pub.
• Tedman, N., & Skeate, S. (2012). Steampunk accessories : 20 projects to help you nail the style, from goggles to cell phone cases, pocket gauntlets, and jewelry (1st ed.). Hauppauge, N.Y.: Barron’s Educational Series.
• Thudium, L. (1999). Stage makeup : The actor’s complete step-by-step guide to today’s techniques and materials. New York: Back Stage Books.
• Walford, J. (2013). Sixties fashion : From ‘less is more’ to youthquake. London: Thames & Hudson.