Summary

Game name (and type): 'King' (chasing game)
Alternative type: ball games, running games, counting-out actions

Handwritten description of the chasing game 'King' written for Dr Dorothy Howard by Murray Chapman, a student at Double View Government Primary School, on 24 March 1955. Chapman describes 'King' as a game played in an open, outdoor space or large hall by boys and girls. To elect 'he' or the chaser, players stand in a circle throwing a ball. The first child to drop the ball is pronounced 'he'. 'He' chases the other players, trying to tag them with the ball. Chapman writes that if more than four players are involved, 'he' is permitted to run with the ball. If the number is less, 'he' must stand still and throw that the ball at the running players. Chapman notes that players may deflect the ball with their fist; however, if the ball touches any other part of their body, they are classified as 'caught'.

One of a collection of letters describing a children's games written to children's Folklorist Dorothy Howard between 1954 and 1955. Dr Howard came to Australia in 1954-55 as an American Fulbright scholar to study Australian children's folklore. She travelled across Australia for 10 months collecting children's playground rhymes, games, play artefacts, etc. This letter, together with the other original fieldwork collected by Dr Howard during this period, is preserved in the Dorothy Howard Collection manuscript files, part of the Australian Children's Folklore Collection (ACFC), Archive Series 3. The ACFC is an extensive collection documenting children's folklore and related research.

Physical Description

Handwritten game description in blue ink on lined paper. Features borders ruled in red pencil; text written on both sides of page.

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