Anthropology Commons^™

Letter From John B. Prutzman To Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 26, 1948, John B. Prutzman

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from John B. Prutzman addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 26, 1948. Within, Prutzman recalls some Pennsylvania German rhymes.

Letter From Raymond Hollenbach To Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 17, 1948, Raymond Hollenbach

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A typed letter from Raymond Hollenbach addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 17, 1948. Within, Hollenbach writes an impassioned letter detailing the proper way to make Fasnacht doughnuts along with traditions surrounding those who are last to get out of bed on Shrove Tuesday.

Letter From Mrs. Harvey Rothermel To Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 17, 1948, Mrs. Harvey Rothermel

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from Mrs. Harvey Rothermel addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 17, 1948. Within, Rothermel details various school games she grew up playing, including "Crack the Whip" and "Baker's Bread." She also notes traditions concerning Ash Wednesday.

Letter From George A. Gerhart To Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 12, 1948, George A. Gerhart

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A typed letter from George A. Gerhart addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 12, 1948. Within, Gerhart writes in response to an inquiry made by Shoemaker in a recent edition of the Reading Eagle, asking for the term used to describe late risers during the week of Lent.

Letter To Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 10, 1948, Unknown Author

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from an unknown author addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 10, 1948. Within, the author discusses the Pennsylvania Dutch word for Ash Wednesday, along with traditions associated with this day.

Letter From Elizabeth D. Naftzinger To Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 10, 1948, Elizabeth D. Naftzinger

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from Elizabeth D. Naftzinger addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 10, 1948. Within, Naftzinger details how the last boy to arrive at school on Ash Wednesday was dubbed "Esha Puddle" and rolled in the school's ash pile by the other boys.

Letter From Clayton N. Fidler To Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 10, 1948, Clayton N. Fidler

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from Clayton N. Fidler addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 10, 1948. Within, Fidler provides Shoemaker with knowledge about what Ash Wednesday was called in his locality and the customs that followed. A story about a childhood game like hide and seek is also detailed.

Letter From Henry K. Deisher To Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 10, 1948, Henry K. Deisher

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A handwritten letter from Henry K. Deisher addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 10, 1948. Within, Deisher writes to provide information on traditions practiced on Ash Wednesday and the courting ritual of bundling. He also describes ideas for a publication about farming.

Ua37/44 Tidbits Of Kentucky Folklore, Gordon Wilson

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Tidbits of Kentucky Folklore nos. 676-749:

• A Changing Christmas – 79
• A Dry Moon – 42
• A Folk Triumph – 4
• A Folklore Map of Kentucky – 46
• A Glossary of Passing Words – 135
• A Healthful Sign – 10
• Advancing or Retreating? – 36
• Analogy, Good & Bad – 28
• Ancestry & Common Sense – 105
• Another Dopester Wrong – 66
• Are You Superstitious? – 44
• Back on the Old Party Line – 145
• Blind, Deaf & Dumb – 141
• Bossy & Dobbin – 91
• Bucket Jelly – 16
• By Any Other Name – 147
• By Eye or By …

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.

Notes On Bleeding And Cupping, 1948, Unknown

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

Handwritten notes by an unknown author, dated 1948. The notes relate a story of a man who practiced bleeding and cupping, but nearly killed a woman when he practiced on a "bad luck" day.

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.

Letter From Charles N. Parkes To Alfred L. Shoemaker, February 18, 1947, Charles N. Parkes

Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents

A typed letter from Charles N. Parkes addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated February 18, 1947. Within, Parkes writes on his favorite "all" story and provides information on a play titled "Papa Is All", that was performed by the Thalian Society in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Ua37/44 Tidbits Of Kentucky Folklore, Gordon Wilson

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Tidbits of Kentucky Folklore nos. 566-669:

• A Few Generations – 57
• Agreeable Fans – 7
• All Tied Up with Memories – 95
• An Ivory Tower – 15
• As In the Days of Methuselah – 188
• Bowser & the Wildcat – 126
• By Their Fruits – 154
• Chicken Coops & Horse Troughs – 196
• Chicken Hawks & Tom Paine – 47
• Childish Fears – 27
• Chimneys – 140
• Communal Culture – 51
• Contiguous Areas – 138
• Country Hicks – 112
• Cradles – 108
• Culture in Hymns – 59
• Cycles of Teaching – 162
• Didn’t It Rain? – 164
• Digging in the …

Letter From Heinrich Harmjanz To Wolfram Sievers, February 10, 1944, Heinrich Harmjanz

Atlas of German Folklore

Heinrich Harmjanz writes to Wolfram Sievers in 1944 to thank him for his holiday wishes and for thinking of him. Now in the military, he discusses former colleagues, whether or not to continue the Ahnenerbe folk studies journal, the protection of the Atlas of German Folklore materials during the war, and complexities of publishing.

Ua37/38 Correspondence, John Vincent

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Correspondence from John Vincent to Alan Lomax regarding the Rosenwald Project, the collection of folk songs and shortages caused by World War II. Three letters from October 1942 through January 1943.

Ua37/44 Tidbits Of Kentucky Folklore, Gordon Wilson

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Tidbits of Kentucky Folklore nos. 428-503:

• A Cycle of Fences – 100
• Afraid of Science – 90
• Art Through the Side Door – 116
• As Big as All Out-of-Doors – 134
• Asking the Way – 108
• Backing Up the Preacher – 96
• Barriers – 72
• Baying the Moon – 46
• Blackberries – 86
• Borrowing Books – 118
• Bound Each to Each – 126
• Branch Water – 94
• Brandon’s Mill – 12
• Come to Dinner – 128
• Condescension – 68
• Cutting a Splurge – 88
• Elocution – 18
• Eyes That See Not – 50
• Fidelity – Where Is It? – 34 …

A Study Of Zuni Myths As Literature, Elizabeth Jean Lange

Anthropology ETDs

The realm of mythology seems at present to be one of the neglected fields of anthropology. There is an abundance of recorded myths available, which if intensively studied, would indoubtedly reveal much of great interest and real value to the anthropologist. The nature of the work done heretofore has been for the most part comparative, with only a few individuals attempting the detailed study of the folk-lore of a specific people. From time to time it has been pointed out that in mythology there is much of interest tor the student of culture in that through a study of myths, …

Letter From Dr. Spengler To Wolfram Sievers, December 3, 1941, Wilhelm Spengler

Dowsing Research

In a letter to Obersturmbannführer Sievers, Dr. Spengler notes that dowsing rod researchers/users were not targeted in action taken against occult groups, but some may have been arrested if they were active in other occult activities. The letter states that the head of the security police and the SD want to meet with these groups to discuss scientific problems related to the occult. It was not expected that research of dowsing rods would be included in the planned work.

Letter From Josef Wimmer To Walther Wüst, August 7, 1941, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

In a letter dated August 7, 1941, Josef Wimmer asks Ahnenerbe Curator Walther Wüst and Ahnenerbe Reichsgeschäftsführer Wolfram Sievers for information regarding an article in the Journal of Dowsing Rod Research. The article addresses the future of dowsing rod research. Wimmer adds that it is rumored that a research institute will be created to manage future research. He requests information first from Wüst and in the second part of the document, reports that Wüst had no information and asks that Sievers please find out what he can and let Wimmer know.

Letter From Josef Wimmer To Walther Wüst Forwarded By Wolfram Sievers To Rudolf Brandt, July 22, 1941, Josef Wimmer, Wolfram Sievers

Dowsing Research

In this letter, Josef Wimmer asks for direction on whether or not to carry out dowsing studies on the mountain Hohenwehen in Hegau. Sievers forwards the note to Rudolf Brandt asking if there are objections and stating that he believes it fine for Wimmer to travel.

Report By Josef Wimmer To The Ahnenerbe Regarding An Investigation In His Apartment By Criminal Police On June 10, 1941, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

This letter from Josef Wimmer to Ahnenerbe Curator Walther Wüst reports on a visit to his apartment by the criminal police. The police interrupted his work day, seized all documents related to dowsing rod research, including his correspondence with the Ahnenerbe. They also confiscated his dowsing rods and magnetic theodolite. He then spent 2 1/2 hours in interrogation at the police station before a call to the state police in Munich led to his release.

Letter From The Personal Staff Of The Reichsführer Ss To Wolfram Sievers, April 10, 1941, Personal Staff Of The Reichsführer-Ss

Dowsing Research

A letter from the office of the Reichsführer-SS to Wolfram Sievers regarding dowsing rods. The letter states that a report from the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD is attached and expresses the wish of the Reichsführer-SS, Heinrich Himmler, to continue discussing the reorganization of dowsing rod research in conjunction with the Reich Main Security Office. It is asked that certain points be clarified and the document returned.

Letter From Reinhard Heydrich To Heinrich Himmler, March 29, 1941, Reinhard Heydrich

Dowsing Research

In this letter from Reinhard Heydrich to Heinrich Himmler, Heydrich summarizes the books confiscated from the publisher J. Huber and lists his recommendations based on the petition by the Reich Association for Dowsing and the assessment conducted by Josef Wimmer. The document includes notes on the side in response to the recommendations. It is also noted the Dr. Lutz of the Propaganda Ministry does not need to be involved in these discussions as a middleman.

Letter From Wolfram Sievers To The Reich Main Security Office, December 2, 1940, Wolfram Sievers

Dowsing Research

This note from Wolfram Sievers to the Reich Main Security Office accompanied forwarded documents related to dowsing - a letter to the Reichsführer-SS (Heinrich Himmler) and a position paper by Josef Wimmer of the Ahnenerbe Department of Applied Geology.

Letter From The Ahnenerbe To Rudolf Brandt, November 25, 1940, Ahnenerbe

Dowsing Research

In this letter to Rudolf Brandt of the Reichsführer-SS's personal staff, the writer states that Ahnenerbe Curator Walther Wüst has spoken to Dr. Lutz regarding dowsing rods and pendula and therefore it is not necessary for Brandt to reply to Lutz himself. Additionally, it is stated that the attachment includes the Ahnenerbe position on the prohibition of documents on dowsing and pendula in a letter from 11/20/40 which was sent to the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD.

Letter From Wolfram Sievers To Reinhard Heydrich, November 20, 1940, Wolfram Sievers

Dowsing Research

This letter from Wolfram Sievers to Reinhard Heydrich summarized the assessment of confiscated documents related to dowsing, pendula, and astrology by Josef Wimmer of the Department for Applied Geology. Sievers notes the principles used for assessment: first, that recent research has led to great progress on the dowsing question and physical causes related to the sidereal pendulum may also soon be understandable; second, the dowsing literature does contain false reports and mistakes, but also much that has been scientifically proven - the task at hand, therefore, is to sift the literature and separate out that which is valuable and prevent …

Letter From Josef Wimmer To Wolfram Sievers, November 1, 1940, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

Memo to Sievers from Wimmer stating that he is sending his opinions on a paper by Dr. Beyer and asking that the report be forwarded to the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD, Reinhard Heydrich.

Letter From Josef Wimmer To Wolfram Sievers, November 1, 1940, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

Note from Josef Wimmer to Wolfram Sievers accompanying an assessment of 14 documents, with the request that the assessment be forwarded to the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei, Reinhard Heydrich.

Letter From Josef Wimmer To Wolfram Sievers, November 1, 1940, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

Note from Josef Wimmer to Wolfram Sievers accompanying Wimmer's commentary on a paper from the Reich Association for Dowsing and a report from the SD. Wimmer asks that his assessment be forwarded to the Reichsführer-SS, Heinrich Himmler.