Summary

Game names (and types): Knucklebones, 'Jacks', 'Jackstones', 'Dibs', 'Ones', 'Twoses', 'Threeses', 'Fourses', 'Fiveses', 'Scatters', 'Scatts', 'Juggles', 'No Juggles', 'Horses and Stables', 'Mice in Hole', 'Skim the Milk', 'Clicks', 'No Clicks', 'Friends', 'Enemies', 'Pussy Cat', 'Puppy Dog', 'Little White Mice', 'Granny's False Teeth', 'Horses in the Stable', 'Ups and Downs', 'Snakes in the Grass', 'Wine Glass', 'Coming through the Mountain', 'Cut the Cabbage', 'Onions', 'Onion-Scatts', 'Left Handed', 'Jack be Nimble', 'My Little Pussy Cat', 'In and Out', 'Over and Under', 'Ironing' (knucklebones, use jacks)
Alternative game type: play with equipment/props

Article titled 'The Game of 'Knucklebones' in Australia' written by Dr Dorothy Howard and reprinted from Western Folklore in 1958. Dr Howard discusses the Australian variants of Knucklebones, the prevalence of the game, the terminology and verbal rituals, and the procuring of the game materials. She includes detailed descriptions of the different Knucklebone figures, played by Australian children, observed or discussed during her visit. Dr Howard also investigates the historical changes, the role of imagination and the 'when, where and by whom' Knucklebones is played. She concludes by reflecting upon the future of Knucklebones games in a rapidly changing postwar environment. In addition to her own observations, Dr Howard includes written descriptions provided by teachers and some adults reminiscing on their childhood play. For example Mrs Fairlie Taylor provided Howard with written descriptions of various Knucklebone figures demonstrated by an unidentified friend. Similarly Miss Milligen, a teacher from Mt. Lawley Government School, supplied Dr Howard with descriptions of the variations played by the school's students. Teacher Mrs Jennings from Carlisle Government Primary School also reported a number of figures.

One of a collection of publications about children's folklore written by Dr Dorothy Howard. 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. The original fieldwork she collected during this period is held in the Australian Children's Folklore Collection (ACFC) at Museum Victoria and includes index cards, letters and photographs.

Physical Description

Article with typed black text printed on paper. Six pages printed on both sides form a booklet. Inside light brown cardboard cover. Handwritten annotations in blue and black ink throughout text. Handwritten annotations in red ink and pencil on front cover.

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