Halloween is right around the corner, and at the National Archives we are well versed in the creepiest, weirdest records of the Federal government. Here’s our list of favorites that are sure to make you shudder with fear!
What’s more dangerous- a poison bottle equipped with spikes or the poison itself?:
![Patent Drawing for T. Newman's Poison Warning Bottle, 06/02/1908](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/rg241_utility_889394.jpg?resize=388%2C579)
In doubtful cases of actual death:
![Drawing for a Life - Preserving Coffin, 11/15/1843 - 11/15/1843](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/07258_2003_001_a.jpg?resize=455%2C294)
But if you are buried alive, you’ll want someone to find you, right?:
![Patent Drawing for J. G. Krichbaum's Device for Indicating Life in Buried Persons, 12/05/1882](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/utility268693_a.jpg?resize=414%2C626)
A fire mask that looks like it will do more harm than help:
![Patent Drawing for C. McIntosh's Fire Mask, 05/01/1883](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/utility276699_a.jpg?resize=376%2C564)
A rascal officer in front of a creepy house:
![Photograph of John F. Kennedy as a "Keystone Kop", ca. 1925](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/06383_2003_001_a.gif?resize=331%2C480)
Some spooky visitors in the Oval Office:
![Halloween Visitors to the Oval Office. Caroline Kennedy, President Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Jr. White House, Oval Office., 10/31/1963 http://research.archives.gov/description/194260](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/04-0103a.gif?resize=432%2C432)
Food safety is a big concern on Halloween. Let’s hope this doesn’t show up in a trick or treat bag:
![Early ketchup was made from fermented skins and cores. These fermenting tomato leftovers could explode and burst their containers, so benzoate of soda was added a preservative. However, the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, meant that ketchup—and its rotting, explosive tomato ingredients—was now regulated. In the image above 1909, the company making “Squire Tomato Catsup” was prosecuted and fined $50 for making ketchup from “Decomposed Material.”](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/ketchup-3.jpg?resize=406%2C598)
However, the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, meant that ketchup—and its rotting, explosive tomato ingredients—was now regulated. In the image above 1909, the company making “Squire Tomato Catsup” was prosecuted and fined $50 for making ketchup from “Decomposed Material.” See the Prologue Blog for the full story.
This kind of mystery meat is more trick than treat:
![Postcards Regarding the Chicago Meatpacking Industry, 10/09/1907](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/http-makeagif-com-media-10-25-2013-k_mqyz.gif?resize=484%2C302)
This creeping doll is just creepy:
![Drawing of Creeping Baby Doll, 03/14/1871 - 03/14/1871](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/08805_2003_001_a.jpg?resize=387%2C576)
But not as creepy as this wall of “heads”:
![Holyoke, Massachusetts - Paragon Rubber Co. and American Character Doll. Spraying face, hands, and arms (Jewish) A plus., 1936 - 1937](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/16-1358a.gif?resize=432%2C314)
A very scary rodent trap:
![Drawing of an Animal Trap by J. A. Williams, 12/26/1882](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/rg_241_utility269766.jpg?resize=420%2C282)
Animals in the Archives make us squeamish, especially when they are a part of the record:
![Letter from Charity Snider, with accompanying mole skin, from her Civil War Widow's Pension Application File. The paper bears the discoloration from the unusual enclosure. (WC843258, Record Group 15)](https://i0.wp.com/narations.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2013/10/mole-composite-photo.jpg?resize=445%2C249)
Many thanks to Today’s Document and the Prologue blog for their spooky contributions. What is the creepiest, most skin crawling record you’ve found at the National Archives? Let us know, and have a very spooky Halloween!
Thank you with Halloween coming up this is great.Keep up the great work and glad everyone is back to work.Have a great weekend.
This is a great post! The fear of being buried alive (especially pre-embalming) was very real. Some coffins had bells that could be wrung… just in case. This blog should be a regular feature and not just for the Halloween season.
Back in the late ’70s, we considered putting the patent drawing of the life preserving coffin on exhibit. I don’t remember that we actually did exhibit it, though…. 🙂
We used this as part of our Halloween display!
Could be a semi regular feature Halloween, Christmas, Valentines, related patents etc.
very funny..thank you
I think that I know where to find a mole trap, and flea markets have almost everything around here.
Wonderful post – and these inventors were serious. Wonder what the folks in 2113 will think about some of today’s inventions.
Those post cards go by too fast for you to be able to read them.
Hi Tim, You can click on the cards and the link will take you directly to see all 6 in our catalog.
Hi Mary, It’s funny archives, cann’t stop to read. Especially, I just love the mystery meat section. really, you nailed it. 🙂
Reid Foster