Williams College Libraries Ask Students to Put Their Thinking Caps on to Find Out "How Did He Lose H

12:00AM / Monday, September 25, 2006Print Story | Email Story

Last year, first-year students at Williams College used library resources to solve a theft of Shakespeare's First Folio from the college's Chapin Library of Rare Books in 1940. This fall's introduction to the campus libraries and their resources asked first-year students to put on their thinking caps to solve yet another college mystery - more macabre than the last: What happened to founder Ephraim Williams head? In 1854, a group of Williams alumni went to place a memorial on Ephraim Williams grave and found that Ephraim's skull was missing. A cloud of suspicion has hung over Ephraim's nephew and Williams graduate, Williams H. Williams! Was he the thief? Did he steal the head? Why? More than 450 first-year students began the mystery tour by watching a humorous welcome video starring librarians and students. Along the way, the first-years used archival material and online resources, including the library's catalog, a database containing historical New York Times articles, and the course reserved readings system. Students also gathered clues from members of the library staff, who, entering the spirit of the game, swore them to secrecy saying, "We're not supposed to talk about it." Students also gathered clues from videos of Williams professors who, entering the spirit of the game, swore them to secrecy saying, "We're not supposed to talk about it." First-year student Brookes Clemmons, from Charlotte, Vt. was enthusiastic about the tour. "I thought it was a good introduction to the different library computer systems," she said. "I got to see how I'll be using them in courses. I also liked the fact that we did this in groups because it was a great way to meet people." The main point of the exercise said Lori DuBois, reference and instruction librarian, was to bring students into the library. "By making the introduction fun, I hope we've encouraged students to feel more comfortable in the library," she said. "When it's time for them to do research, they'll know we're approachable and ready to help them." As a further step in enhancing the approachability of librarians, students received two Librarian Trading cards in their campus mailboxes. Each card bore the picture of a librarian and provided details about his/her "superpowers" (specialties), vulnerabilities, and contact information. All of the cards may be seen on the library website at http://www.williams.edu/library/trading-cards.php . Evan Seely of Woodstock, Vt., the first to finish the Library Mystery Tour, said the game was a great way to introduce students to the libraries and to the campus. He also learned a little bit about the history of the college. "We had fun," he said. "And that, after all, is what the Mystery Tour was all about," said DuBois. As to the answer to The Mystery Tour: How Did He Lose His Head? Sorry, but she's sworn to secrecy.

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Mount Greylock School Race Will Not Be Called Until Nov. 16

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:28PM / Monday, November 09, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Before Election Day, we knew that it would take a while to get results from the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee races.

We just did not know how long.

On Monday morning, Lanesborough officials said that it will be at least until Monday, Nov. 16, before we know the official outcome of the Nov. 3 balloting.

That is because the Lanesborough Town Clerk Ruth Knysh, who runs elections and certifies the vote, is out of the office until that date, according to a bounceback message on her town email account.

On Monday, Lanesborough officials confirmed that the town's votes will not be certified until Knysh is back in the office.

Both Lanesborough and Williamstown voters cast ballots for all seven members of the School Committee.

This fall, four of the committee seats were on the ballot – two for Lanesborough residents and two for Williamstown residents. There were six qualified candidates for the four seats, three from each town, and three incumbents on the ballot (two incumbents in Williamstown and one in Lanesborough, where one of the town's three sitting members chose not to seek another four-year term).

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