The allure of strange curses, obsessive research and mysterious sightings brought Day of the Dead enthusiasts and Penn history buffs alike to the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology yesterday evening.
The Mexican holiday, which follows Halloween on the first and second of November each year, was celebrated yesterday.
Participants were treated to a first-hand survey of eerie encounters at the museum involving curators, expedition leaders and volunteer staff.
The program "Mystery at the Museum" was led by Senior Archivist Alex Pezzati and incorporated not only ghost stories, but also the structural and intellectual progression of the museum and its activities since the 1800s.
Through more than a century of University-wide intellectual development, many senior administrators have left their mark in specific areas of the museum.
William Pepper, who served as provost from 1881-1894 and is considered the museum's founder, was "restless" in his initial designs for the architectural layout of the museum, says Pezzati. Before the first building was completed, however, Pepper died.
Pezzati also told the audience of the premature death of Eckley Coxe, who was "obsessed with ancient Egypt" and acquired most of the artifacts currently on display in the Egyptian Galleries. While serving as president of the board of managers of the museum from 1910-1916, Coxe was unselfish in his financial donations. However, he died at the age of 44.
In addition to a history lesson, tourgoers also found out about the museum's more ghoulish side. Many staff have reported seeing anonymous "odd characters," Pezzati said.
The ghost of George Vaillant, however, is the only spirit that has been specifically identified in a sighting.
The ghost of Vaillant -- who was named the museum's director in 1941-- has been sighted by numerous people in the hallway devoted to the Ban Chiang exhibit. Pezzati led attendees through this very area before showing a collection of photographs in the museum archives.
Many participants, including Penn alumnus Sam Brewer, were members of Young Friends, a group of active museum members. Brewer appreciated Pezzati's many historical anecdotes. He said the museum provided "the perfect setting" for investigating the spooky side of the museum's history, particularly on the Day of the Dead.
