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  Notes to Wishbone

  Rudolf Hommel

  A typed document entitled, "Notes To Wishbone", by Rudolf Hommel, dating from circa June 1949. Within, Hommel writes of the various wishbone traditions he remembers and the practice of arm hooking in relation to eating almonds and filberts or drinking wine or beer.

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  Letter From Rose Labrasca to Alfred L. Shoemaker, May 23, 1949

  Rose Labrasca

  A handwritten letter from Rose Labrasca addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated May 23, 1949. Within, Labrasca inquires if Shoemaker knows anyone who is well-versed in lifting spells or jinxes.

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  Letter From Viola Kohl Mohn to Alfred L. Shoemaker, May 23, 1949

  Viola K. Mohn

  A typed letter from Viola K. Mohn addressed to Alfred L Shoemaker, dated May 23, 1949. Within, Mohn details a few superstitions surrounding cows and whooping cough, explaining variations on the theme of buttered bread as a folk remedy.

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  Letter From Daisie Wagner to Alfred L. Shoemaker, March 11, 1949

  Daisie Wagner

  A handwritten letter from Daisie Wagner addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated March 11, 1949. Within, Wagner discusses her family's almanac and the figure of a man surrounded by the Zodiac signs that perplexed her as a child, along with providing an almanac rhyme in Pennsylvania-Dutch.

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  Letter From Elsie M. Smith to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 24, 1949

  Elsie M. Smith

  A handwritten letter from Elsie M. Smith addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 24, 1949. Within, Smith provides a list of beliefs, superstitions and old sayings that her grandmother used to talk about, including many related to weather, luck, animals, sewing and witchcraft.

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  Letter From H. Wayne Gruber to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 4, 1949

  H. Wayne Gruber

  In a typed letter to Alfred L. Shoemaker, H. Wayne Gruber lists two humorous stories: one about a preacher's best sermon and the other about a lying farm boy. Following Gruber lists four pieces of advice, which he titles: "Alte Weiver Clawwe."

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  Letter From H. Wayne Gruber to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 4, 1949

  H. Wayne Gruber

  A typed letter from H. Wayne Gruber addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 4, 1949. Within, Gruber inquires about a potential interest in some Pennsylvania Dutch verses he composed regarding his childhood.

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  Letter from Colsin R. Shelly to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 3, 1949

  Colsin R. Shelly

  A handwritten letter from Colsin R. Shelly, Principal of Lafayette School, to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 3, 1949. In the letter Shelly details stories of barring out the schoolmaster on Shrove Tuesday and traditions associated with Ash Wednesday.

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  Letter From Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Rothenberger to Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 1, 1949

  Harvey Rothenberger

  A handwritten letter from Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Rothenberger addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 1, 1949. Within, the Rothenbergers detail a number of old sayings and rhymes associated with different herbs and teas, along with some of their uses in folk remedies.

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  Letter From H. Wayne Gruber to Alfred L. Shoemaker, January 11, 1949

  H. Wayne Gruber

  A typed letter from H. Wayne Gruber addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated January 11, 1949. Within, Gruber provides information on the variety of garden vegetables he remembers being grown in his mother's garden.

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  Sports and Pastimes of the Amish

  Frank Diaco and William Di George

  A typed term paper completed at Franklin and Marshall College by Frank Diaco and William Di George, dating from circa 1949. Within, Diaco and Di George write on the pastimes, games and sports practiced within the Amish community as learned from Aaron Glicks of West Lampeter Township, Pennsylvania.

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  Letter From H. Wayne Gruber to Alfred L. Shoemaker, 1949

  H. Wayne Gruber

  A typed letter from H. Wayne Gruber addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated 1949. Within, Gruber writes on a variety of topics including a cure for horse colic, uses for leftover pie dough, and quarreling between town folk and country folk.

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  Term Report on Folklore

  Darrell M. Nixdorf

  A handwritten, untitled term paper completed at Franklin and Marshall College by Darrell M. Nixdorf, dating from circa 1949. Within, Nixdorf details a number of subjects relayed to him by locals from Lancaster County ranging from humorous jests to local folk beliefs and stories of witchcraft, "Negro" folktales, and Chinese folktales.

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  Letter From Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Rothenberger to Alfred L. Shoemaker

  Harvey Rothenberger

  A handwritten letter to Alfred L. Shoemaker consisting of a list of old sayings and superstitions from Berks County, Pennsylvania, compiled by Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Rothenberger, dating from circa 1949. Within, the Rothenbergers detail a number of beliefs on various subjects including rain, days of the week, falling objects, spilled salt, sewing, ironing, animal behavior and children.

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  Letter From Earl L. Ruppert to Alfred L. Shoemaker, January 1, 1949

  Earl L. Ruppert

  A handwritten letter from Earl L. Ruppert to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated January 1st, 1949. It describes the Native American origins of the name "Neversink." Ruppert also discusses lore surrounding bake ovens and marriage.

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  Notes From The Acorn and Germ

  Alfred L. Shoemaker

  Handwritten notes by Alfred L. Shoemaker regarding the newspaper, "The Acorn and Germ", dating from circa 1949. The notes detail items from various issues of the newspaper, including German, English, and Pennsylvania Dutch words for various tree types as well as Bible verses and dialect columns.

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  Letter From Herbert Hummel to Alfred L. Shoemaker, December 29, 1948

  Herbert Hummel

  A handwritten letter from Herbert Hummel addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated December 29, 1948. Within, Hummel writes to provide Shoemaker with a few old folk beliefs he learned from his grandfather in Bernville, Pennsylvania. Topics range from witches and sewing to beliefs surrounding Christmas and whistling on Sundays.

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  Letter From H. Wayne Gruber to Alfred L. Shoemaker, December 18, 1948

  H. Wayne Gruber

  A typed letter from H. Wayne Gruber addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated December 18, 1948. Within, Gruber lists various beliefs and superstitions that can be found within Berks County, Pennsylvania, ranging from signs of good luck to omens of death and misfortune. Gruber also inquires about a verse called "Die Schnitzel Bunk" and hopes that Shoemaker will be able to visit and view his diary and scrapbooks.

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  Letter From Anna W. Frey to Alfred L. Shoemaker, December 16, 1948

  Anna W. Frey

  A handwritten letter from Anna W. Frey addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated December 16, 1948. Within, Frey writes about her Pennsylvania Dutch upbringing, detailing various aspects she remembers including a custom surrounding Ascension Day where you cannot work.

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  Letter From A. Miriam Herr to Alfred L. Shoemaker, November 20, 1948

  A. Miriam Herr

  A handwritten letter from Mrs. Leslie H. Shannon (A. Miriam Herr) addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated November 20, 1948. Within, Herr writes to respond to Shoemaker's question on a favorite "all" story. Herr details her encounter with an Amish man while buying blackberries at a market stall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

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  Letter From Helen D. Witmer to Alfred L. Shoemaker, November 17, 1948

  Helen D. Witmer

  A typed letter from Helen D. Witmer addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated November 17, 1948. Within, Witmer details her favorite "all" story about asking for directions in Columbia, Pennsylvania. She also details her family's experiences growing up with Pennsylvania Dutch expressions and suggests Shoemaker look into the use of the word "wonderful" by people in Lancaster County.

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  Lancaster County "Sayings"

  Unknown Author

  A typed set of Lancaster County sayings and folk beliefs by an unknown author, dated November 16, 1948. Within, beliefs pertaining to luck and folk cures for various ailments are detailed.

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  Letter From Charles Ezra Bowman to Alfred L. Shoemaker, November 12, 1948

  Charles E. Bowman

  A handwritten letter from Charles Ezra Bowman addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated November 12, 1948. Within, Bowman provides his contribution to Shoemaker's request about favorite Pennsylvania Dutch "all" stories.

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  Letter From Mrs. E. H. Mull to Alfred L. Shoemaker, November 11, 1948

  Mrs. E. H. Mull

  A typed letter from Mrs. E. H. Mull addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated November 11, 1948. Within, Mull recalls her favorite Pennsylvania Dutch "all" story, detailing the exasperated words from a neighbor towards her sons at meal time.

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  Letter From O. S. Sprout to Alfred L. Shoemaker, November 11, 1948

  O. S. Sprout

  A typed letter from O. S. Sprout addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated November 11, 1948. Within, Sprout details two separate Pennsylvania Dutch "all" stories, one occurring between an Amish son and father and the other regarding an off-duty train operator. Sprout also seeks information on the value of a book printed in German.