Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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  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.

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  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.

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  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".

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  Postcard From Morris Reppert to Alfred L. Shoemaker, January 3, 1953

  Morris Reppert

  In a handwritten postcard dated January 3, 1953, Morris Reppert responds to Alfred L. Shoemaker's WEEU radio program request for the Pennsylvania Dutch name for baking soda.

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  Dieffenbach on Bees: Honey and Wax, November 17, 1952

  Victor C. Dieffenbach

  A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Bees: Honey and Wax", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated November 17, 1952. Within, Dieffenbach details the extensive ways in which honey and wax from bees were used in everyday life, ranging from folk medicine to candles, water-proofing and house construction.

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  Dieffenbach on Bees, November 10, 1952

  Victor C. Dieffenbach

  A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Bees", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated November 3 and November 10, 1952. Within, Dieffenbach details the various methods he knows for constructing bee hives and collecting honey.

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  Series of Adam and Eve in Paradise Engravings

  Henry B. Sage, H. W. Villee, Samuel Bauman (1788-1820), and M. Dahlem

  This series of five photographs of woodcut engravings depicts Adam and Eve in Paradise along with the serpent and Tree of Knowledge. The engravings originally accompanied ballad broadsides printed by various firms including Schneider and Meyers, Heinrich B. Sage, Samuel Bauman, M. Dahlem and H. W. Villee. These photograph reproductions were used by Alfred Shoemaker in the production of an article for The Pennsylvania Dutchman and contain his notations on the reverse of the photos.

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  Dieffenbach on Swine, September 1, 1952

  Victor C. Dieffenbach

  A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Swine", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated September 1, 1952. Within, Dieffenbach details various anecdotes concerning breeding practices, pig-chases, hog raffles, butchering and more.

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  Letter From Helen J. Moser to Alfred L. Shoemaker, August 14, 1952

  Helen Moser

  A handwritten letter from Helen J. Moser addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated August 14, 1952. Within, Moser provides four riddles and answers in Pennsylvania German.