Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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Notes on Directions for Cookery by Miss Leslie

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Handwritten notes primarily on a recipe for Apees cakes, written by Alfred Shoemaker and copied from Directions for Cookery by Eliza Leslie. The documents contain additional notes from other sources regarding Shrewsbury Cakes and Yorkshire Christmas Pie.
Notes on "Hotch-Potch" From the Lancaster Farmer, January, 1881

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A set of handwritten notes copied from the Lancaster Farmer of January 1881, written by Alfred L. Shoemaker. Within, a recipe for a 'hotch-potch' (stuffed pig stomach) is detailed by J. G. Warwick, with additional commentary provided by the editor of the periodical.
Notes on Husbands and Wives, and Other Folk Beliefs

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A handwritten, untitled note transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker dating from circa 1950. Within, some beliefs surrounding husbands and wives are noted along with other folk sayings.
Notes on Liberty From the Chronicle of the Times, June 7, 1825

Alfred L. Shoemaker

These typed notes from a Reading, Pennsylvania newspaper column, The Chronicle of the Times, June 7, 1825, were recorded by Alfred L. Shoemaker. The notes concern the origins of the Liberty cap emblem often used as a symbol against tyranny.
Notes on New Year's Customs From the Berks & Schuylkill Journal, January 5, 1828

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A set of typed notes from the Berks and Schuylkill Journal dating from January 5, 1828, written by Alfred L. Shoemaker. The notes record the story of a wound sustained from a pistol being used in the tradition of "shooting in the New Year."
Notes on Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Types

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A set of handwritten notes by Alfred L. Shoemaker copied from material by Charles Dornbush, circa 1950. Shoemaker describes eleven barn types, detailing their differences in construction, materials used and layout. He also notes the counties in Pennsylvania where these barns are typically seen.
Notes on Public Sales From the Reading Gazette, 1878

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A set of handwritten notes copied from the Reading Gazette, transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker, originally dated from March 23 to April 6, 1878. Within, excerpts from accounts of public sales detail a basket maker's wares, food and drink, and the cries of hucksters selling their products.
Notes on Rhymes and a Folk Cure for Hemorrhaging

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Handwritten notes transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. The notes cover a folk cure and rhymes related by three different informants: Caroline Stadtman, Butcher Henninger and Emma C. Jenkins.
Notes on "Stirrings" and Amusements

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A set of handwritten notes copying various excerpted stories, transcribed by Alfred L Shoemaker. Within, a traditional apple butter "stirring" party is detailed as well as a story involving indigenous basket weavers and a man named Yoder.
Rejecting Suitors, April 28, 1905

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A handwritten set of notes from an unknown source dating from 1905 entitled, "Rejecting Suitors", transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker. The notes document the practice of giving butter bread (or apple butter bread) to an unwanted lover. The practice is noted as being particular to the western portion of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the 1860s.
Transcription of the Poem "Bells Nickle"

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Handwritten notes copying a poem by F. L. Sallade entitled "Bells Nickle", transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker, originally published in the Reading Weekly Eagle in 1896. The poem relates the stories of Christmas figures such as Belsnickel and their interactions with children.
Undated Notes and Rhymes From Various Sources and Informants Including G. A. Berner

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A set of compiled notes transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Shoemaker documents various topics, ranging from folk cures and childhood pranks to women's methods of working and caring for children.
William H. Newell Notes at Pottsville

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Shoemaker's handwritten entry documents his notes copied from William H. Newell, detailing superstitions and folktales including the removal of rats and mice, making deals with the devil, bird omens and weather predictions.
Witchcraft Story: Notes From the York Daily, March 5, 1898

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Handwritten notes from the York Daily newspaper of a story reprinted from the New York Sun compiled by Alfred L. Shoemaker, originally dated March 5, 1898. Within, a tale about witchcraft is recounted, dealing with an old witch hexing a baby and the subsequent cure provided by a witch doctor.
Undated Letter From Elsie M. Smith to Alfred L. Shoemaker

Elsie M. Smith

A handwritten letter from Elsie M. Smith addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Smith provides Shoemaker with a list of weather prediction beliefs and other superstitions involving animals and luck.
Folklore Term Paper: Pow-wow

John D. Trout III

A typed term paper entitled, "Pow-Wow", completed at Franklin and Marshall College by John D. Trout III, dating from circa 1950. Within, Trout details a variety of pow-wow cures he learned during his fieldwork in Lancaster, Berks and Chester County, Pennsylvania, ranging from cures for toothache to a method to relieve bloated cows.
Letter From George Yeagley to Alfred L. Shoemaker

George Yeagley

A handwritten letter from George Yeagley addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Yeagley provides old weather superstitions and predictions that were uncovered within an 1842 diary belonging to Peter Derr.
Old Home Remedies and Beliefs of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Alice Ziemer

A handwritten set of old folk remedies and cures of the 19th century South Eastern Pennsylvania Dutch community compiled by Alice Ziemer, dating from circa 1950. Within, Ziemer provides remedies for ailments such as pneumonia, whooping cough, epilepsy, warts and the common cold. The notes also contain folklore surrounding infants and rhymes in Pennsylvania Dutch dialect.
Program for the Sixty-First Annual Meeting of the American Folklore Society, December 28 and 29, 1949

American Folklore Society

A typed program for the sixty-first Annual Meeting of the American Folklore Society, dated December 28, 1949. The pamphlet details the schedule for the upcoming conference, including a talk by Alfred L. Shoemaker on Franklin and Marshall College's Pennsylvania Dutch folklore program.
Letter to Alfred L. Shoemaker, December 15, 1949

Unknown

A handwritten letter from a descendent of Peter Derr addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated December 15, 1949. Within, the author provides information about folk cures, Harvest Home services and the tradition of "serenading" newlyweds with loud music.
Letter From Ira D. Landis to Alfred L. Shoemaker, October 29, 1949

Ira D. Landis

A handwritten letter from Ira D. Landis addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated October 29, 1949. Within, Landis encloses his paper entitled, "The Dutch-Calcium Carbonate Compound", with hopes of it finding a home within Shoemaker's Dutchman newspaper.
Letter From Irwin J. Landis to J. William Frey, October 10, 1949

Irwin J. Landis

A typed letter from Irwin J. Landis addressed to J. William Frey, dated October 10, 1949. Within, Landis writes to remark on his own Pennsylvanian-Dutch background and provides a contribution for an "all" story. Landis details an encounter at a Hollywood restaurant with a waitress from Pennsylvania.
Letter From G. C. Kershner to Alfred L. Shoemaker, September 15, 1949

George C. Kershner

A hand-written letter from G. C. Kershner addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated September 15, 1949. Within, Kershner writes to provide a humorous story surrounding a husband and wife during the night of falling stars in 1833. He also includes some Pennsylvania Dutch riddles.
Letter From Helen Moser to Alfred L. Shoemaker, July 1, 1949

Helen Moser

A handwritten letter from Helen Moser addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated July 1, 1949. Within, Moser provides a list of rhymes and riddles she remembers from her childhood, translated from Pennsylvania Dutch into English.
Notes to Wishbone

Rudolf Hommel

A typed document entitled, "Notes To Wishbone", by Rudolf Hommel, dating from circa June 1949. Within, Hommel writes of the various wishbone traditions he remembers and the practice of arm hooking in relation to eating almonds and filberts or drinking wine or beer.