Summary

Game types: language play, autograph albums, rhymes, verses, vows
Alternative game type: language play

Article titled 'Autograph Album Customs in Australia' written by Dr Dorothy Howard and published by Southern Folklore Quarterly in 1959. Dr Howard explores the use of autograph albums, the small diary-sized notebooks popular with Australian children in the first half of the 20th century. She discusses the private, secretive space occupied by the albums in the world of children. Dr Howard considers the variety of inscriptions annotated by the album owners or their peers, which include rhymes, vows and verses. Drawing on examples, she describes the prevalent subject matter of the annotations, which comprise romantic rhymes and advice on love, marriage, friendship and happiness. Other rhymes are serious or admonitory in nature. Common are verses on personal attributes and best wishes, as are vows of love, loyalty and devotion and pleas for remembrance. Dr Howard also considers the category of nonsensical verses, parodies, taunting rhymes, racial stereotypes and profanities. Her research for this article was gathered from information provided by Miss Heather Giffin, Miss Milligen, Miss Jaguers, Miss Lyttle, Miss Warham and many unidentified children, who lent their albums.

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

Unbound article with typed black text on paper. Seven pages printed both sides.

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