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 Ben Fisher to Alfred L. Shoemaker

Ben Fisher

A handwritten letter from Ben Fisher addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Fisher writes to describe a peculiar birthmark his daughter possesses that he believes is correlated to bruise salve her mother used on her throat.
Note on Ash Wednesday Traditions

Samuel J. Fritch

A typed document noting the customs and traditions observed by the Pennsylvania Dutch community on Ash Wednesday, composed by Samuel Fritch and dating from circa 1950. Within, Fritch details how those who rise last in the morning are dubbed "Esha Puddle".
Letter From James H. Groff to Alfred L. Shoemaker

James H. Groff

A handwritten letter from James H. Groff addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Groff writes to detail some of his childhood memories involving Pennsylvania Dutch customs and superstitions.
Childhood Recreations of H. Wayne Gruber in His Boyhood Days, 1875-1885

H. Wayne Gruber

A typed document entitled, "Recreations of H. Wayne Gruber in His Boyhood Days", by H. Wayne Gruber, dating from circa 1950. Within, Gruber details various activities he engaged in growing up, including farm chores and hoop rolling.
Dialect Stories of William Bickel, 1877-1879

H. Wayne Gruber

Typed stories by H. Wayne Gruber, mainly in Pennsylvania German dialect, dating from circa 1950. Gruber describes stories he heard as a young boy as related by a neighbor named William Bickel.
Games Played by H. Wayne Gruber, 1876 to 1892

H. Wayne Gruber

In this typed essay dating from circa 1950, H. Wayne Gruber lists and describes games he played as a child: Creitz Mill, Bally Over, Town Ball, Rabbit Ball, Room Ball, horseshoes, Peg, Fox and Goose and Drop the Handkerchief.
Letter From H. Wayne Gruber to Alfred L. Shoemaker, Undated

H. Wayne Gruber

A typed letter from H. Wayne Gruber addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, circa 1950. Within, Gruber provides some Pennsylvania Dutch beliefs from Berks County, Pennsylvania and stories of farmer Christian Gruber's ability to remove hexes from people.
Pennsylvania Dutch Rhyme on the Twelve Constellations

H. Wayne Gruber

A clipping from John Gruber's Hagerstown almanac showing how the constellations correspond to parts of the human body and a childhood rhyme about the signs of the Zodiac recounted by H. Wayne Gruber. Gruber provides Pennsylvania Dutch translations for the star signs along with the rhyme his mother, Mary Ann Schaeffer, repeated to him as a child.
Stories and Incidents, 1880

H. Wayne Gruber

A set of typed stories, compiled by H. Wayne Gruber, circa 1950. The humorous anecdotes, featuring Pennsylvania German dialect, were related to Gruber in the year 1880. Subjects include a haunted farmhouse, butchering, fence posts and a city girl's first visit to a farm.
Babies and Superstitions

Ida Hollenbach

A handwritten set of notes entitled, "Babies and Superstitions", compiled by Ida Hollenbach, dating from circa 1950. Within, various beliefs surrounding newborn babies are documented including hair cutting, baptism and a birthday ritual to determine the life path a baby will follow.
Blutkraut Notes

Raymond E. Hollenbach

A handwritten set of notes compiled by Raymond E. Hollenbach, dating from circa 1950. Hollenbach reviews entries from the Herbal books of German and Italian botanists related to the Blutkraut plant.
Charivari Notes

Raymond E. Hollenbach

A typed document entitled "Charivari", signed by Raymond E. Hollenbach, dating from circa 1950. Within, Hollenbach quotes from John Long's Voyages and Travels in the Years 1768-1788, describing the custom of making raucous noise outside the home of a newlywed couple.
Letter From Raymond E. Hollenbach to Alfred L. Shoemaker

Raymond E. Hollenbach

A handwritten letter from Raymond E. Hollenbach addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Hollenbach discusses the plant lore of a tree known as Ailanthus. Hollenbach speculates that Ailanthus might also be what the Pennsylvania-Dutch call the Himmelsbaum.
Baskets and Basket

Paul B. Horning

A typed essay entitled, "Baskets and Basket", by Paul B. Horning, dating from circa 1950. Within, a brief history of the Reifsnyder basket weaving shop in the village of Basket in Ruscombmanor Township is detailed along with its lasting legacy through the work of Milton Lorah.
Folk Beliefs of Mifflin County

John A. Hostetler

Two typed folk beliefs or superstitions compiled by John A. Hostetler, dating from 1950. These Mifflin County, Pennsylvania superstitions concern the prevention of convulsions in babies and a warning for pregnant women.
Letter From Mrs. Elmer L. Krick to Alfred L. Shoemaker

Mrs. Elmer L. Krick

A handwritten letter from Mrs. Elmer L. Krick addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Krick writes in response to an inquiry made by Shoemaker asking about men who wore earrings.
Folklore Term Report

Raymond J. Krushinski

A handwritten, untitled term paper completed at Franklin and Marshall College by Raymond J. Krushinski, dating from circa 1950. Within, Krushinski provides his findings from speaking with two women named Ethel McNelic and Dorothy Echert of Lancaster, Pennsylvania about folk sayings, beliefs and folk medicine.
Letter From M. Kunkel to Alfred L. Shoemaker

M. Kunkel

A handwritten letter from M. Kunkel addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Kunkel writes about the "Escha Puddle", the person last out of bed on Ash Wednesday who had to carry the ashes outside each morning for a year.
Folklore Term Paper on Folk-Medicine

Robert B. Long

A typed term paper completed at Franklin and Marshall College by Robert B. Long, dating from circa 1950. Within, Long details responses to questions about local folk medicine practices he gathered via interviews with people residing in Lancaster County and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Gan-sho-han-ne Poem

C. Z. Mast

A handwritten copy of a poem entitled, "Gan-sho-han-ne", by C. Z. Mast, date unknown. The poem is dedicated to the Amish of Kishacoquillas Valley and the surrounding area and was perhaps transcribed by Edwin Earl Espenshade circa 1950.
Folklore Term Paper: Folk Medicine

Edward J. Matey

A typed folklore term paper completed at Franklin and Marshall College and entitled, "Folk Medicine", by Edward J. Matey, dating from circa 1950. Within, Matey details various folk cures and pow-wow practices derived from interviews in Lancaster County.
Letter From Dorothy Palmer to Alfred L. Shoemaker

Dorothy Palmer

A handwritten letter from Dorothy Palmer addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Palmer expresses her enjoyment of Shoemaker's column in the Reading Eagle, and provides folk cures from her grandmother.
Tales of an Eccentric Character of Old Dover Township, York County, Pennsylvania

David M. Quickel

A typed submission to Alfred L. Shoemaker entitled, "Tales of an Eccentric Character of Old Dover Township, York County, Pa.", by David M. Quickel, dating from circa 1950. Within, Quickel recounts humorous sayings and tales surrounding the eccentric character he calls "Mr. Bull".
Folklore Term Paper: Christmas and New Years Customs

John A. Rhode

A typed term paper completed at Franklin and Marshall College by John A. Rhode, dating from circa 1950. Within, Rhode details his interview findings surrounding Christmas and New Year's customs as observed in Lancaster County and York County, Pennsylvania.
Copied Letter From the Easton Sentinel, January 10, 1826

Jacop de Schleeber

A typed copy of a satirical letter found within the Easton Sentinel, dated January 10, 1826. Within, a man going by the name 'Jacop de Schleeber' writes to Mr. Brinder and provides a short parody he entitles, "Do My Sussy" (To My Susie).