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Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

Superstitions

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Dieffenbach On Diapers: "Die Windla," April 10th, 1956, Victor C. Dieffenbach Apr 1956

Dieffenbach On Diapers: "Die Windla," April 10th, 1956, Victor C. Dieffenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten manuscript entitled "Diapers: die Windla," written by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated April 10, 1956. Within, Dieffenbach details superstitions about diapers and their effects on children later in life, as well as omens and tales related to witchcraft and pow-wowing cures.


Dieffenbach On Corn, October 1, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach Oct 1953

Dieffenbach On Corn, October 1, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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.


Dieffenbach On Beets, August 10, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach Aug 1953

Dieffenbach On Beets, August 10, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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 Endive, June 15, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach Jun 1953

Dieffenbach On Endive, June 15, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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 May 1953

Dieffenbach On Beans, May 25, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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 May 1953

Dieffenbach On Onions, May 18, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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.


Dieffenbach On Dogs: Superstitions And Beliefs, March 9, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach Mar 1953

Dieffenbach On Dogs: Superstitions And Beliefs, March 9, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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.


Dieffenbach On Superstition Among The Pennsylvania Dutch, January 12, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach Jan 1953

Dieffenbach On Superstition Among The Pennsylvania Dutch, January 12, 1953, Victor C. Dieffenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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.


Dieffenbach On Steers: Superstitions, April 12, 1952, Victor C. Dieffenbach Apr 1952

Dieffenbach On Steers: Superstitions, April 12, 1952, Victor C. Dieffenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten manuscript entitled, "Steers: Superstitions Relating to", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated April 12, 1952. Within, Dieffenbach details various superstitions surrounding the practice of gelding, including ways to induce proper healing and warnings of death post-surgery.


Dieffenbach On Cows: Addenda, March 24, 1952, Victor C. Dieffenbach Mar 1952

Dieffenbach On Cows: Addenda, March 24, 1952, Victor C. Dieffenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

Handwritten manuscript entitled, "Cows: Addenda", compiled by Victor C. Dieffenbach, dated March 24, 1952. Within Dieffenbach lists a series of anecdotes involving butter churning, farm irrigation, planting seeds and producing and selling hay and dairy products. It also includes a section about the many uses of cow parts after butchering and a list of superstitious beliefs surrounding cows.


Letter From Russell S. Baver To Alfred L. Shoemaker, January 15, 1951, Russell S. Baver Jan 1951

Letter From Russell S. Baver To Alfred L. Shoemaker, January 15, 1951, Russell S. Baver

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from Russell S. Baver addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated January 15, 1951. Within, Baver details his feelings on barn decorations and describes superstitions surrounding horseshoes and cattle castration.


Folklore Term Report: Folk Lore Concerning Christmas Customs, May 29, 1950, Robert J. Fehr May 1950

Folklore Term Report: Folk Lore Concerning Christmas Customs, May 29, 1950, Robert J. Fehr

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten term paper entitled, "Folk-Lore Concerning Christmas Customs", completed at Franklin and Marshall College by Robert Fehr, dated May 29, 1950. Within, Fehr details the information he gathered from Pennsylvania Dutch residents in Northampton County, including details of "Belsnickel" and superstitions pertaining to the Christmas season.


Folklore Term Paper: May 22, 1950, Price Norris May 1950

Folklore Term Paper: May 22, 1950, Price Norris

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten, untitled term paper completed at Franklin and Marshall College by Price Norris, dated May 22, 1950. Within, Norris documents the findings he compiled from two Pennsylvania Dutch households regarding folk cures and superstitions.


Folklore Term Report, Raymond J. Krushinski Jan 1950

Folklore Term Report, Raymond J. Krushinski

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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.


Babies And Superstitions, Ida Hollenbach Jan 1950

Babies And Superstitions, Ida Hollenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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.


Notes From The Reading Gazette: January 15 To September 30, 1876, Alfred L. Shoemaker Jan 1950

Notes From The Reading Gazette: January 15 To September 30, 1876, Alfred L. Shoemaker

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A set of handwritten notes copied from the Reading Gazette of 1876, transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker, circa 1950. Within, a number of excerpts are compiled on topics such as witchcraft, cock fighting, women going to market in Philadelphia and superstitions about bed bugs.


Undated Letter From Elsie M. Smith To Alfred L. Shoemaker, Elsie M. Smith Jan 1950

Undated Letter From Elsie M. Smith To Alfred L. Shoemaker, Elsie M. Smith

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from Elsie M. Smith addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Smith provides Shoemaker with a list of weather prediction beliefs and other superstitions involving animals and luck.


Letter From George Yeagley To Alfred L. Shoemaker, George Yeagley Jan 1950

Letter From George Yeagley To Alfred L. Shoemaker, George Yeagley

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from George Yeagley addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Yeagley provides old weather superstitions and predictions that were uncovered within an 1842 diary belonging to Peter Derr.


Notes From The Reformed Messenger, 1844-1854, Alfred L. Shoemaker Jan 1950

Notes From The Reformed Messenger, 1844-1854, Alfred L. Shoemaker

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten set of notes from The Reformed Messenger transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker circa 1950. Topics include religious practice among the Pennsylvania Germans, the importance of vehicle sheds at churches, newlywed customs, and the German language.


Letter From Mrs. Charles Binkley To Alfred L. Shoemaker, Mrs. Charles Binkley Jan 1950

Letter From Mrs. Charles Binkley To Alfred L. Shoemaker, Mrs. Charles Binkley

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A typed and handwritten letter from Mrs. Charles Binkley addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Binkley provides a superstition about eggs, a Pennsylvania Dutch poem, and an alphabet rhyme. She also asks Shoemaker to consider writing a column on butchering and soap-making practices.


William H. Newell Notes At Pottsville, Alfred L. Shoemaker Jan 1950

William H. Newell Notes At Pottsville, Alfred L. Shoemaker

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

Shoemaker's handwritten entry documents his notes copied from William H. Newell, detailing superstitions and folktales including the removal of rats and mice, making deals with the devil, bird omens and weather predictions.


Undated Notes And Rhymes From Various Sources And Informants Including G. A. Berner, Alfred L. Shoemaker Jan 1950

Undated Notes And Rhymes From Various Sources And Informants Including G. A. Berner, Alfred L. Shoemaker

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A set of compiled notes transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker, dating from circa 1950. Within, Shoemaker documents various topics, ranging from folk cures and childhood pranks to women's methods of working and caring for children.


Second Letter From Luella Kern Engelhart To Alfred L. Shoemaker, May 27, 1949, Luella Kern Engelhart May 1949

Second Letter From Luella Kern Engelhart To Alfred L. Shoemaker, May 27, 1949, Luella Kern Engelhart

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from Luella K. Engelhart addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated May 27, 1949. Within, Engelhart praises Shoemaker's work with the Pennsylvania Dutchman periodical and recounts her experiences with pow-wowing and superstitions.


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

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

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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.


Term Report On Folklore, Darrell M. Nixdorf Jan 1949

Term Report On Folklore, Darrell M. Nixdorf

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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.


Letter From Mr. And Mrs. Harvey Rothenberger To Alfred L. Shoemaker, Harvey Rothenberger Jan 1949

Letter From Mr. And Mrs. Harvey Rothenberger To Alfred L. Shoemaker, Harvey Rothenberger

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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.


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

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

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

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.


Letter From Violet Rothenberger To Alfred L. Shoemaker, May 18, 1948, Violet Rothenberger May 1948

Letter From Violet Rothenberger To Alfred L. Shoemaker, May 18, 1948, Violet Rothenberger

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from Violet and Harvey Rothenberger addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated May 18, 1948. Within, Rothenberger expresses her enjoyment of Shoemaker's radio program and newspaper column and provides folklore about planting crops and other folk sayings.


A Few More "Alter Weiver Glawe", H. Wayne Gruber Jan 1948

A Few More "Alter Weiver Glawe", H. Wayne Gruber

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A set of typed superstitions and beliefs by H. Wayne Gruber, dating from circa 1948. Within, Gruber details more beliefs, presumably originating from Berks County, ranging from methods of gaining a husband to warding off bad luck and witches.


More Alte Weiver Glawe, H. Wayne Gruber Jan 1948

More Alte Weiver Glawe, H. Wayne Gruber

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A typed set of Pennsylvania German folk beliefs ("old women's beliefs" or "old wives' tales") by H. Wayne Gruber, dating from circa 1948. Included are cures for whooping cough and superstitions about fishing and death.