Summary

Game type: 'Scarecrow' (chasing game)
Alternative types: running games

Handwritten description of the chasing game 'Scarecrow' compiled by A. Taylor, a student at East Fremantle Government Primary School, for Dr Dorothy Howard between 1954-1955. Taylor describes 'Scarecrow' as a game suitable for girls and boys aged nine years and above, which can be played by up to 20 players. The author writes that the game is usually played indoors or outside during the winter as it involves running. To play, a child chases the other players, who must stand with arms extended if captured as illustrated by Taylor's hand drawn diagram. Taylor notes that captured players may be freed by other players; however, if caught three times, they must exchange roles with the chaser.

One of a collection of letters describing a children's game 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 a hand drawn, annotated diagram below text with red pencil borders; text written on one side only.

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