Manson fingerprints, ‘Exorcist’ manuscript on display at Central Florida museum for Halloween
While many Central Floridians are gearing up for Halloween with simulated horror and creepy costumes, a new museum in Lake Mary is showcasing letters from murderers, fingerprints of assassins and other dark, macabre manuscripts this weekend.
The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, which has locations in nearly a dozen cities around the United States, is pulling from its collection of more than 10,000 letters, documents, sheets of music and sketches to show spooky manuscripts for Halloween. The Lake Mary location will be open to the public on Oct. 28 for a free event with candy and adult beverages.
Fingerprints and a letter from cult leader Charles Manson, a manuscript of “The Exorcist,” Benito Mussolini’s death certificate and documents about the invention of the guillotine are among the items that will be displayed.
“We tried to curate some interesting, dark things here,” said Alexis Karpeles, the museum’s national curator and director of the Lake Mary location. “It’s the 50th anniversary of ‘The Exorcist’ this year. People can see what the original film script looks like.”
While some of the manuscripts might seem dark or controversial, the museum doesn’t endorse any ideas or concepts displayed (or take any stances on religion, politics or otherwise) — but rather wants to showcase materials for educational and historical purposes.
The project was started by Dr. David Karpeles, a mathematician from Santa Barbara, California, who invested in real estate in the late 1960s. Although the National Archives boasts millions of records, the agency wasn’t founded until the 1930s, leaving many important documents in the hands of private collectors.
Dr. Karpeles, who passed away in early 2022, began to buy manuscripts from auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s in the 1970s and then became obsessed with collecting.
“He did get to the point where he felt a responsibility to share them, plus he thought it would be fun to share them,” said Cheryl Alleman, Dr. Karpeles’ daughter who serves as the museum’s CFO and COO. “The majority of the collection has manuscripts involving people who have changed or made an impact on society.”
The Karpeles Museum recently hosted a banned books exhibit and also has important records from literature, science, religion, music, art and more. Highlights include pages from the Gutenberg Bible, a letter from Galileo, notes from Charles Darwin, a letter written by Albert Einstein and a handwritten account by Christopher Columbus.
Other pieces of history on display at the Lake Mary museum are early Disney storyboards and sketches, a copy of Richard Wagner’s “Wedding March” (think, “Here Comes The Bride”) and a note written by Helen Keller.
“We have the largest private collection of important original documents and manuscripts in the world,” Alexis Karpeles said.
If you go
The Karpeles Museum is open for a spooky tour of historic manuscripts from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 28 at 115 International Parkway #101 in Lake Mary. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit karpeles.com.
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