In 1933, Howard Phillips (H.P.) Lovecraft published the story “At the Mountains of Madness,” creating a world that has captured imaginations. It is the looming ancient god of the story, Cthulhu, who gives the Cthulhu Mythos its name, both of which have spawned countless works (and nightmares) since.

Stories, films, songs and more have been written within the Cthulhu Mythos, characterized by creeping dread, disgusting creatures and cosmic horror. Its abundant cultural presence lends the mythos the ubiquity of an inside joke among science fiction, fantasy and weird fiction aficionados, and resonance far beyond.

Charting the Cthulhu Mythos through time is akin to charting plant and animal evolution: environmental adaptation is necessary to survival — and cultural relevance. It is important to note that the constant appropriation of Lovecraft’s work has allowed the mythos to move away from its racist origins. As flora and fauna develop tougher bark and thicker coats to adapt to changes in climate, so too have the themes, places, figures and creatures of the Cthulhu Mythos taken new shapes to suit modern understanding and culture.

The Library’s extensive H.P. Lovecraft Collection includes extensive holdings of manuscripts, letters, editions of Lovecraft‘s works in all languages, periodicals, biographical and critical works, and many supportive collections of manuscript and printed materials of Lovecraft‘s friends and associates. There are more than 1,000 books and magazines in 20 languages containing material by or about Lovecraft plus over 2,000 original letters and manuscripts of his essays, fiction and poetry. Many of the papers were given to the Library a few months after his death in 1937.

In honor of Necronomicon Providence, here is a sample of items held by the Library that demonstrate some of the ways that the Cthulhu Mythos has been adapted, remixed and changed from the mythos of Lovecraft’s time.