Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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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).
Account of an Amish Husking Party and Note on Peter Muhlenberg

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A set of handwritten excerpts from the Lancaster Intelligencer newspaper composed by Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated originally from September 11 and October 25, 1894. The first note concerns a nickname given to Peter Muhlenberg by a Hessian regiment while the second details an Amish corn husking party held on a farm near Intercourse, Pennsylvania.
Amish Notes From the Kishacoquillas Valley

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Handwritten notes on the Amish in Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania, written by Alfred L. Shoemaker circa 1950. From Volume 28 of the Bulletin of the Geographical Society of Philadelphia, Shoemaker notes a story about the Amish aversion to cameras and photography. From the New York Times of June 29, 1929, Shoemaker notes information about the history of the Amish and the ethnic populations of Belleville.
A Wild Amishman

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A typed copy of an Amish folktale entitled, "A Wild Amishman", dating from circa 1950 and presumably recorded by Alfred Shoemaker. Within, the story is said to have occurred during 1900 and concerns the excommunication of a rebellious Amish man from his community.
Ballad of Jacob and Tillie

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A handwritten ballad on note paper from the University of Illinois' Department of Germanic Language and Literatures, presumably copied by Alfred Shoemaker circa 1950. The bawdy rhyme concerns the courtship of a young Amish couple named Jacob and Tillie, who must suffer the strict Amish courting practices before they are wed.
Excerpt From a Broadside Dated June 17, 1833

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Notes on a broadside excerpt concerning a man named Johannes Henner by Alfred L. Shoemaker dating from circa 1950. The broadside originates from the Unger collection and may date from June 17, 1833. The excerpt is written in the German language. Shoemaker notes variant spellings of the name Johannes contained therein.
Excerpts From Diary of William B. Wilson, 1832-1836

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A set of handwritten, copied excerpts from the diary of William B. Wilson of York County, Pennsylvania dated circa 1832 to 1836, transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker. The notes pertain to apple butter, barn raising and repair, orchard planting and lightning rods.
Mr. Beiler Wanted a Wife and Folk Tale Medicine

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A typed copy of two folktales entitled, "Mr. Beiler Wanted a Wife", and, "Folk Tale Medicine", dating from circa 1950. One tale describes the case of Mr. Beiler who wished to find a wife through a matrimonial advertisement but needed a photograph of himself to send in the mail. The second tale describes how a young woman was cured of her pneumonia-induced fever via salted mackerel.
Notes From Annals of Luzerne County, A Year’s Residence in the United States of America and Other Sources, 1818-1900

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Handwritten notes by Alfred L. Shoemaker from various sources including Annals of Luzerne County and A Year's Residence in the United States of America, copied circa 1950. The notes include a poem by a Methodist preacher entitled "Mush and Milk," descriptions of Pennsylvania barns, and an account of Pennsylvania Dutch dialect and customs.
Notes From Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania: A Collection of Historical and Biographical Sketches

Alfred L. Shoemaker

A set of handwritten, copied notes from Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania: A Collection of Historical and Biographical Sketches transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker. The notes describe the process of making apple butter and include a humorous interview with a local resident.
Notes From Fragments of the Past: Historical Sketches of Oley and Vicinity

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Handwritten notes copied from the unpublished volume Fragments of the Past: Historical Sketches of Oley and Vicinity by P. G. Bertolet, compiled by Alfred L. Shoemaker, originally dated 1860. Within, a number of stories collected from the Oley Valley detail various subjects including encounters with Native Americans, churches, rock formations, Revolutionary War encampments and husking parties.