Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.

Switch View to Grid View Slideshow

Letter From Lee A. Waerner to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 26, 1948

Lee A. Waerner

A handwritten letter from Lee A. Waerner addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 26, 1948. Within, Waerner writes to provide Shoemaker with a Pennsylvania-Dutch lullaby and a Zodiac rhyme he heard as a child.
Letter From Raymond Hollenbach to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 17, 1948

Raymond Hollenbach

A typed letter from Raymond Hollenbach addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 17, 1948. Within, Hollenbach writes an impassioned letter detailing the proper way to make Fasnacht doughnuts along with traditions surrounding those who are last to get out of bed on Shrove Tuesday.
Letter From Mrs. Harvey Rothermel to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 17, 1948

Mrs. Harvey Rothermel

A handwritten letter from Mrs. Harvey Rothermel addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 17, 1948. Within, Rothermel details various school games she grew up playing, including "Crack the Whip" and "Baker's Bread." She also notes traditions concerning Ash Wednesday.
Letter From George A. Gerhart to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 12, 1948

George A. Gerhart

A typed letter from George A. Gerhart addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 12, 1948. Within, Gerhart writes in response to an inquiry made by Shoemaker in a recent edition of the Reading Eagle, asking for the term used to describe late risers during the week of Lent.
Letter to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 10, 1948

Unknown Author

A handwritten letter from an unknown author addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 10, 1948. Within, the author discusses the Pennsylvania Dutch word for Ash Wednesday, along with traditions associated with this day.
Letter From Henry K. Deisher to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 10, 1948

Henry K. Deisher

A handwritten letter from Henry K. Deisher addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 10, 1948. Within, Deisher writes to provide information on traditions practiced on Ash Wednesday and the courting ritual of bundling. He also describes ideas for a publication about farming.
Letter From Clayton N. Fidler to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 10, 1948

Clayton N. Fidler

A handwritten letter from Clayton N. Fidler addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 10, 1948. Within, Fidler provides Shoemaker with knowledge about what Ash Wednesday was called in his locality and the customs that followed. A story about a childhood game like hide and seek is also detailed.
Letter From Elizabeth D. Naftzinger to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 10, 1948

Elizabeth D. Naftzinger

A handwritten letter from Elizabeth D. Naftzinger addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 10, 1948. Within, Naftzinger details how the last boy to arrive at school on Ash Wednesday was dubbed "Esha Puddle" and rolled in the school's ash pile by the other boys.
A Few More "Alter Weiver Glawe"

H. Wayne Gruber

A set of typed superstitions and beliefs by H. Wayne Gruber, dating from circa 1948. Within, Gruber details more beliefs, presumably originating from Berks County, ranging from methods of gaining a husband to warding off bad luck and witches.
More Alte Weiver Glawe

H. Wayne Gruber

A typed set of Pennsylvania German folk beliefs ("old women's beliefs" or "old wives' tales") by H. Wayne Gruber, dating from circa 1948. Included are cures for whooping cough and superstitions about fishing and death.
Notes on Bleeding and Cupping, 1948

Unknown

Handwritten notes by an unknown author, dated 1948. The notes relate a story of a man who practiced bleeding and cupping, but nearly killed a woman when he practiced on a "bad luck" day.
Letter From Charles N. Parkes to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 18, 1947

Charles N. Parkes

A typed letter from Charles N. Parkes addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 18, 1947. Within, Parkes writes on his favorite "all" story and provides information on a play titled "Papa Is All", that was performed by the Thalian Society in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Account of Bundling Related by Christ Geiger, March 5, 1940

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Handwritten notes compiled by Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated March 5, 1940. Within Christ Geiger relates an informant's experience with the courtship practice of bundling.
Folktale About Rising Bread, June 30, 1939

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Handwritten notes recounting an informant's story about a Pennsylvania German baker with supernatural powers. When the baker was not present in the bake-shop, the dough would refuse to rise for his assistants.
Stories and Notes From the Dietrich Family, 1939

Unknown Author

A handwritten set of notes documenting various stories passed down through the Dietrich family by an unknown author, dating from circa 1939. Within, the author details various tales involving early settlers and Native Americans, folk cures, hypnotism, a grandfather clock and a peddler of eyeglasses.
Superstitions, Proverbs and Notes From the Dietrich Family, 1939

Unknown Author

A handwritten set of notes documenting various stories and superstitions passed down within the Dietrich family, author unknown, dating from circa 1939. Within, the author documents a number of folk beliefs, riddles, proverbs, and anecdotal stories - many written in Pennsylvania Dutch dialect.
Shadows of the Long Ago or Early Day History Retold

W. L. Fox

A typed essay entitled, "Shadows of the Long Ago or Early Day History Retold", dating from circa 1932. The story is attributed to a Mr. W. L. Fox and obtained by Mrs. E. L. Esher. Within, the author tells the tale of Esther Dreibelbis and Henry Koch, providing an example of a courting practice involving quilting parties and grubbing bees.
Folklore of the Pennsylvania Germans

Isaac Shirk Simons

A typed thesis paper completed at Franklin and Marshall College entitled, "Folklore of the Pennsylvania Germans", by Isaac Shirk Simons, dated May 20, 1915. Within, Simons covers a range of topics pertaining to Pennsylvania Germans, including history, superstitions, religious sects and witchcraft.
Complete History of the Execution of Susannah Cox!: Her Life, Crime, Trial, and Death on the Scaffold

Unknown Author

An undated pamphlet (circa 1880) titled "Complete History of the Execution of Susannah Cox! Her Life, Crime, Trial, and Death on the Scaffold." It provides information about Reading, Pennsylvania in 1809, discusses coverage of the story in the newspaper, and details the trial, execution and its aftermath. The pamphlet also includes information about published ballads related to the incident and mentions other Berks County hangings.
Copy Book Transcription of The Ballad of Susanna Cox, 1862

Unknown Author

In this student copybook dating from circa 1862, the writer transcribes the ballad of Susanna Cox in both German and English. It recounts the trial and execution of a woman named Susanna Cox who killed her child, conceived out of wed-lock. The work copied in the book appears to be based on the Louis Storck translation of the ballad by Johann Philip Gombert.
Excerpt of Sketches of Pennsylvania From the Commercial Herald, July 1833

Unknown Author

A typed excerpt of an essay entitled "Sketches of Pennsylvania", originally appearing in the Commercial Herald and dated July 1833. Within, the author details the dialect and ways of life of the Pennsylvania Dutch in Lancaster County.
"The Barber's Ghost," January 7, 1825

Unknown Author

Typed copy of a folk tale appearing in the Chronicle of the Times of Reading, dated January 7, 1825. The unknown author tells the story of a man pretending to be a ghost in order to trick the gambling patrons at an inn and take their money.
Anecdote From the Chronicle of the Times, July 30, 1823

Unknown Author

A typed copy of a humorous anecdote taken from the Reading, Pennsylvania Chronicle of the Times, dated July 30, 1823. The tale concerns the occupation of grave diggers in the afterlife.
Copy of Advertisements in The Marietta Pilot Newspaper, January 5, 1816

Marietta Pilot Newspaper

A typed set of advertisements found in The Marietta Pilot newspaper, dated January 5, 1816. Within, a wife named Catherine responds to a previous advertisement placed by her husband, John Galbaugh, which discredited her character. Catherine refutes her husband, claiming that he is the cause of any financial hardship they must endure.