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Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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Letter From Helen Moser to Alfred L. Shoemaker, January 25, 1954

Helen Moser

A handwritten letter from Helen Moser addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated January 25, 1954. Within, Moser provides details of old schoolhouse rhymes and games as well as sayings she remembers from her childhood.
Dutch Haven Mail Order Flyer

Dutch Haven

A printed mail order flyer for Dutch Haven in Soudersburg, Pennsylvania dated 1954. The flyer features advertisements for shoofly pies and other Amish goods such as dolls, puzzles, aprons, toleware plaques and tea towels. It also contains a map of the "heart of Amish country" in Lancaster County and prints a description of Amish and Mennonite traditions.
Notes on Thatching from Stowe and Milne

Alfred L. Shoemaker

These handwritten notes by Alfred Shoemaker, circa 1954, contain information about thatching straw, known as "yelm." They also refer to thatcher's tools. The information was recorded from a book by E. J. Stowe and a journal article by O. P. Milne.
Letter From Helen Moser to Alfred L. Shoemaker, November 4, 1953

Helen Moser

A handwritten letter from Helen Moser addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated November 4, 1953. Within, Moser provides some Pennsylvania German rhymes and riddles she's gathered for Shoemaker.
Letter From Esther Moser to Alfred L. Shoemaker, October 19, 1953

Esther Moser

A handwritten letter from Esther Moser addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated October 19, 1953. Within, Moser responds to an inquiry made in Shoemaker's radio program and provides a Pennsylvania Dutch rhyme entitled "Schlummer Gabade."
Dieffenbach On Orchards, October 5 - October 19, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Orchards", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated from October 5 through October 19, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach details his grandfather's apple orchard and the tradition of tree grafting, along with the many different apple varieties that could be encountered within Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Dieffenbach on Corn, October 1, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

Handwritten manuscript entitled, "Corn", by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated October 1, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach details various processes of harvesting and husking corn that he gathered from Berks County, Lebanon County and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Also included are lore and superstitious beliefs related to corn.
Letter From Esther Moser to Alfred L. Shoemaker, September 14, 1953

Esther Moser

A handwritten letter from Esther Moser addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated September 14, 1953. Within, Moser provides a number of old sayings, rhymes and tongue twisters from Bally township in Pennsylvania Dutch dialect. She also suggests that Shoemaker visit John Yerger in Bechtelsville.
Letter From Helen J. Moser to Alfred L. Shoemaker, August 17, 1953

Helen Moser

A handwritten letter from Helen J. Moser addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated August 17, 1953. Within, Moser details the story of a strange rock formation dubbed the "Poshdt Yockel".
Dieffenbach on Beets, August 10, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

Handwritten manuscript entitled, "Beets!: De Rode-reeva!", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated August 10, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach discusses the various ways to cultivate beets and their subsequent uses thereafter. He also provides anecdotes and superstitions surrounding this vegetable.
Dieffenbach on Parsnips, August 3, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

Handwritten manuscript entitled, "Parsnips", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated August 3, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach details how to grow and cultivate parsnips and relates the various uses, sayings and folklore surrounding this vegetable.
Dieffenbach on Radishes, July 27, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Radishes! - "De Reddich!", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated July 27, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach details a number of different radish cultivation techniques, anecdotes and the various uses one could have for the crop.
Dieffenbach on Turnips, July 20th, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

Handwritten manuscript entitled, "Turnips", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated July 20, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach details how turnips are best planted, when to harvest them and explains how turnip-tops can be used in cow-feed. He also recounts superstitions related to turnips.
Letter From Helen Moser to Alfred L. Shoemaker, July 8, 1953

Helen Moser

A handwritten letter from Helen J. Moser addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated July 8, 1953. Within, Moser mentions a number of topics including a plant she calls "Farsomling Kraut", which was rubbed in the hands to create a pleasant smell at the church meeting house.
Dieffenbach On Lettuce, July 6, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

Handwritten manuscript on lettuce compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated July 6, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach writes a personal history of his grandmother's beliefs and techniques used to grow lettuce when he was a child, along with methods he used once he was married with his own garden.
Dieffenbach on Garlic, June 22, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Garlic - 'Gnuvlich'!", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated June 22, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach describes the varieties of garlic and its various uses in folk medicine and cooking.
Dieffenbach on Endive, June 15, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Endive - "der Ondiffy!", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated June 15, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach details the cultivation methods his family employed as a child to successfully grow endive.
Dieffenbach on Beans, May 25, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Beans - De Boona!", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated May 25, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach details various bean cultivation methods, superstitions, recipes, songs and anecdotes about bean consumption - some in Pennsylvania Dutch dialect.
Dieffenbach on Onions, May 18, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Onions - "De Tswivla", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated May 18, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach details his knowledge of onions, including farming techniques, superstitions, and breed varieties.
Letter From Esther Moser to Alfred L. Shoemaker, March 23, 1953

Esther Moser

A handwritten letter from Esther Moser addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated March 23, 1953. Within, Moser writes on a number of subjects including bird and animal sayings, St. Gregory's Day, and recipes for dishes involving ham and dough.
Dieffenbach On Dogs: Superstitions and Beliefs, March 9, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

Handwritten manuscript entitled, "Dogs: Superstitions and Beliefs", by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated March 9, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach details a number of folk beliefs and superstitions surrounding dogs, ranging from secret breeding techniques to a tale about a dog trying to save his master from suicide.
Letter From Agnes Geiger to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 17, 1953

Agnes Geiger

A handwritten letter from Agnes Geiger addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 17, 1953. Within, Geiger writes about various farming chores, including sprinkling ashes and caring for livestock.
Our Sturdy Forefathers, Their Health and Longevity: Strong Men, February 2, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

A handwritten manuscript compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated February 2nd, 1953. Within he details stories of exceptional feats of strength by men of various families in his community. He recounts their strength and often their humbleness when fixing broken wagons and bridges or performing barn raisings, for example.
Our Sturdy Forefathers, Their Health and Longevity: Big Families, January 26, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

A handwritten manuscript compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated Jan. 26 1953. Within, Dieffenbach records two exceptional cases of large farming families: the Ziegler family with twenty-two children and the Batdorff family with eighteen. Dieffenbach then explains how each locality had a "bully" or someone with super-human strength.
Dieffenbach on Superstition Among the Pennsylvania Dutch, January 12, 1953

Victor C. Dieffenbach

A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Superstition Among the Pennsylvania Dutch", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated January 12, 1953. Within, Dieffenbach discusses a number of superstitions he grew up hearing, ranging from the neigh of a black horse signifying an upcoming funeral to the existence of fairy dance circles.