Summary

Game names (and types): 'Australian Dingo' (chasing game), (hiding games, hopping games, leaping games, skipping games, circle games, line games)

Typed transcript of an interview with Dr Dorothy Howard recorded by the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) on 11 September 1954. Dr Howard introduces the concept of folklore, describing it as the lore of people or their traditional ways, which have been handed down orally through generations. More than just folk songs and tales, she argues that folklore encompasses beliefs, traditional customs, daily routines and her particular interest, children's play. Dr Howard explores the similarities and differences between children's games across the world before examining the play of Australian children. She discusses the common misconception that all Australian children's play traditions originated in the British Isles, citing several uniquely Australian games. Similarly, Dr Howard challenges the belief that Australian children no longer play traditional games, preferring organised sports, reading comics, watching movies or playing war games. She argues that her research indicates the continued popularity of traditional games in Australia. Dr Howard concludes with a request for people to contact her about their childhood games.

One of a collection of interviews of children's folklorist Dr Dorothy Howard in 1954-1955, as well as a lecture she delivered. 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

Typed interview transcript in black ink on paper. Includes three pages with text printed on one side only; unrelated text printed on reverse.

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