Summary

Alternative types: seeking games, games played in the dark, play with props/equipment

Handwritten description of an unnamed seeking game written for Dr Dorothy Howard by John Harmsen, a student at Double View Government Primary School, presumably on 25 March 1955. Harmsen writes that any number of children can play this game, which he first played in The Netherlands. To play, a child assumes the role of 'he'. 'He' requests the other players to wait in a particular location while he hides a small object. Harmsen explains that 'he' provides the players with clues, as they search for the hidden object. Harmsen describes a variation of the game, which involves throwing a ball in an unknown direction for all players to seek. Harmsen notes that this seeking game is particularly enjoyable to play in the dark.

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 pencil on lined paper. Features borders ruled in red pencil; text printed on one side only.

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