While he sure didn’t invent the spooky season, no modern observation of it would be complete without fond allusions to Edgar Allan Poe. His larger-than-life persona in pop culture and his literary works make references to him a mainstay in gothic media (looking at you, “Wednesday,” with your Nevermore Academy). But before he became a legend, Poe was a broke college student who attended the University of Virginia. This year marks the 200th anniversary of his 1826 matriculation to the university.
What
Visit Edgar Allan Poe’s room at 13 West Range.
Why
My own enjoyment of the macabre in literature was forged by the power of Poe’s pen.
How it went
The experience was a marvelous way to hear about a lesser-known time in Poe’s life, feel close to him in a relatable way (as a former broke college student myself), and learn about a heartwarming facet of his legacy.
Once upon a morning bright and cheery, as I wandered insufficiently caffeinated and bleary, I gently rapped on Poe’s chamber door. It was lucky timing as the room is regularly available for interested folks to peek into through a locked glass door, but it’s only open for the public to enter on one day a year. When I reached out to Raven Society President Mariam Parray, she told me that Poe’s room would be open during UVA family weekend.
A recorded narration, available via a button that looks like a very modern doorbell for a very 1826-looking interior, tells visitors a bit about Poe’s time at UVA. Parray shared that student neighbors on the range anecdotally report frequently hearing the recording. Unless Poe’s ghost or some other persnickety specter finds that funny, it’s more probable that passersby want to learn more.
I had reached out to the Ravens because their interdisciplinary honor society has been responsible for Poe’s room’s upkeep since 1907. The modestly furnished room features a raven statue sitting atop a small table underneath a wavy period mirror. A raven painting hangs above the fireplace. There’s a Raven Society banner. Just inside the door to the right hung several black velvet robes, which piqued my interest. Parray explained that the Ravens wear the robes as part of their initiations, though she was beholden to say no more since they’re a semi-secret society.
Most of the room’s furnishings are from around the 1820s, and the bed on display belonged to Poe—but not from his time at UVA. It’s from a residence in Richmond where he lived as a teen after his mother passed away.
When asked about her favorite object on display, Parray said, “In terms of references, this is the bust of Pallas Athena, and it’s referenced in the poem, ‘The Raven.’”
An unexpected delight was that the history in the room does not belong to Poe alone. Several mementos are there because they matter to Raven Society members. An event nametag that belonged to Sandy Gilliam, a beloved former Raven Council member who passed away, rests upon the mantle, and the aforementioned painting was created by an alumnus.
In a pensive moment, Parray opined that Poe might have benefitted from an organization like the Raven Society when he was a student.
Explaining what drew her to the group, Parray said, “What stands out to me is that it is so diverse of a group. Just in being president and being at all these different events, I’ve met so many people I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
As part of activities to commemorate the momentous anniversary of Poe’s matriculation at UVA, an exhibition at UVA’s Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library will be on view through April 9, 2027.
Writer Edgar Allan Poe spent 10 months at the University of Virginia, where his legacy is preserved in a room at 13 West Range.
The Raven Society at the
University of Virginia
aig.uvaalumni.org/raven
