Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B429 returned 584 results.
"A WOMAN (A GHOST) WOULD TAKE A TAXI TO A CERTAIN LOCATION AND
SEND THE CAB DRIVER TO HER MOTHER'S HOME TO GET CAB FARE. WHEN
THE CAB DRIVER ASKED FOR THE FARE, THE MOTHER WOULD SAY, 'MY
DAUGHTER IS DEAD.'"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-19-1982
"A WOMAN COULD BE SEEN WALKING ALONG RAILROAD TRACKS IN BESSEMER,
ALABAMA. PEOPLE FOLLOWED HER, BUT NEVER CAUGHT HER. WHEN THEY
RAN, SHE RAN; AND HER FEET NEVER TOUCHED THE GROUND -- OR
ANYTHING. PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT THE WOMAN WAS THE GHOST OF A MAN (IN
FEMALE IMAGE) WHO HAD BEEN HANGED NEARBY."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-19-1982
"ALABAMA -- I'VE HEARD OF PEOPLE SEEING SOMEONE (AN APPARITION OF
THE PERSON) HOURS BEFORE THE PERSON'S DEATH. MY GRANDMOTHER SAW
HER BOYFRIEND WALKING ALONG A PATH ON FRIDAY MORNING, BUT HE
SHOWED UP AT HER HOUSE A FEW MINUTES LATER FROM THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION AND COULDN'T HAVE BEEN WHERE SHE HAD SEEN HIM. HE WAS
KILLED LATE THAT FRIDAY EVENING IN AN AMBUSH."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: CA00001948
SOME SPIRITS TAKE THE APPEARANCE OF VERY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, BUT THE
ONLY WAY TO RECOGNIZE THEM IS TO LOOK AT THEIR FEET; THEY HAVE A
HUMAN FOOT AND A ANIMAL FOOT. AND OF COURSE IF YOU DON'T NOTICE
THAT THEY WILL HARM YOU.
Submitter comment:
ONE DAY A GUY PICKED UP TWO GIRLS THAT WERE STANDING BY THE ROAD
WHEN GOING TO A PARTY, AND WHILE THEY WERE IN THE CAR HE DECIDED
TO HAVE A CIGARETTE. AS SOON AS HE CRACKED THE MATCH, THE TWO
GIRLS DISAPPEARED AND HE HEARD THEIR VOICES SAYING THAT HE WAS
LUCKY. APPARENTLY THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE FIRE FROM THE MATCH.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
MY GIRLFRIEND'S COUSIN WAS A CAB DRIVER IN NEW YORK ABOUT 10
YEARS AGO.ONE DAY HE PICKED UP A FARE TO GO TO THIS ADDRESS
IN THE BRONX. IT WAS A WHITE LADY WITH LONG BLOND HAIR. HE TOOK
HER TO THE HOUSE,AND WHEN HE GOT THERE THE LADY WAS GONE BUT HE
KNEW HE HAD PICKED HER UP.HE WENT TO THE DOOR TO INQUIRE ABOUT
THE LADY AND THE MAN THERE SAID THAT THAT WAS HIS WIFE AND
SHE WOULD DO THAT EVERY YEAR ON HIS BIRTHDAY.
Where learned: NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): VANISHING HITCHHIKER
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
CHAINED CHARLIE
CHAINED CHARLIE WAS MURDERED IN A CEMETERY BY GRAVE ROBBERS.
HE WAS CHAINED TO A TREE, WHERE HE WAS CUT ON VARIOUS PARTS OF
HIS BODY AND LEFT THERE TO BLEED TO DEATH, SO NOW WHENEVER THERE ARE
TRESPASSERS IN THE CEMETERY, HE WILL RISE FROM THE DEAD AND CHASE
THE INTRUDERS OUT OF THE CEMETERY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS A VERY EASY TO TALK TO AND A VERY NICE PERSON.
Where learned: DETROIT ; NORWEST THEATER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
THE VANISHING HITCHHIKER
"IN PITTSBURGH THERE IS A ROAD LOCATED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN.
ON ONE SIDE THERE IS A LARGE BODY OF WATER AND ON THE OTHER SIDE
THERE IS A BRICK WALL THAT RUNS A MILE LONG. SO LATE AT NIGHT
THE FOG IS VERY THICK AND IF YOU DRIVE DOWN THIS ROAD A WOMAN
APPEAR ON THE ROAD OUT OF NOWHERE AND THUMB A RIDE. SHE WILL GET
IN THE BACK SEAT AND SPEAK BRIEFLY TO YOU. AS YOU REACH HER
DESIGNATION, SHE WILL DISAPPEAR. IT IS SAID THAT A YOUNG WOMAN
WAS KILLED ON THAT VERY ROAD SOME YEARS AGO AND HER SPIRIT RETURNS
TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF OTHER MOTORIST."
Where learned: DETROIT ; FRIENDS HOME
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
THE GHOST WHO HAUNTED ME!
AS A CHILD HE WOULD SEE A MAN WHO HAD DIED YEARS AGO. ALVIN WAS
ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND EACH DAY AT THE DOOR THE MAN WOULD STAND.
ALVIN WOULD RUN IN HIS MOTHER'S ARMS AND CRY. ALVIN WOULD DESCRIBE
THE MAN TO HIS MOTHER WHO SHE KNEW HAD DIED SOME YEARS AGO. ALVIN
WAS FRANTIC AND HIS MOTHER SCREAMED AND CURSED AND TOLD THE MAN
NEVER TO HARM HER SON AGAIN AND HE NEVER DID.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 02-28-1984
THE MONEY UNDER THE TREE.
ALVIN AND HIS FAMILY MOVED INTO A HOUSE ON 3853 MOURFIELD ST.
LOCATED IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA. EVERYDAY A MAN WOULD PASS THE
WINDOW AND EACH TIME ALVIN'S PARENTS WOULD LOOK OUT HE WOULD
DISAPPEAR. THE NEIGHBORS TOLD ALVIN'S PARENTS THAT A OLD MAN
DIED THERE AND LEFT HIS BURIED SAVING UNDER THE OLD COTTONWOOD
TREE. THE TREE STILL STANDS AND NO ONE EVER DUG UP THE MONEY TO
SEE IF IT WAS THERE.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 02-28-1984
ON THE ROAD WITH A FORK
WHEN A GHOST FOLLOWS YOU ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD, YOU ARE TO COME
TO THE NEAREST FORK IN THE ROAD AND TAKE THE ROAD GOING TO YOUR
HOUSE AND THE GHOST WILL TAKE THE OTHER ROAD.
Where learned: PARENTS HOME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 02-28-1984
INDIAN GHOST STORY
WHEN I WAS A SMALL BOY IN ST. LOUIS MISSOURI, MY GRANDPARENTS OWNED
A FARM THAT USED TO BE OWNED BY INDIANS. THEY SAID THAT AN INDIAN
DIED IN THE HOUSE THAT USED TO BE ON THE LAND. AFTER THE INDIAN
DIED SOME OTHER PEOPLE MOVED IN. THE HOUSE MUST HAVE BEEN HAUNTED
BY THE DEAD INDIAN BECAUSE EVERYTIME PEOPLE WOULD TRY TO SLEEP
THEIR BLANKETS WOULD BE TORN OFF OF THEM. ONE DAY A MAN WHO
LIVED THERE DECIDED THAT THE INDIAN WOULD NOT TEAR OFF HIS
BLANKET WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO SLEEP. SO THAT NIGHT HE DECIDED THAT
HE WAS GOING TO HANG ONTO HIS BLANKET REAL HARD. WELL, WHEN HE GOT
INTO BED THAT NIGHT THE GHOST STARTED TO TEAR OFF HIS BLANKET. THE
MAN HUNG ONTO THE BLANKET REAL HARD BUT THE GHOST WAS TOO STRONG
FOR HIM. THE GHOST TORE THAT MAN'S BLANKET RIGHT OFF AND THE MAN
FELL RIGHT ONTO THE FLOOR. WELL, IT WAS MANY YEARS AFTER THAT
THAT MY GRANDPARENTS BOUGHT THAT LAND. THEY SAID THAT NOTHING REAL
STRANGE EVER HAPPENED TO THEM EXCEPT FOR ONE TIME. ONE DAY MY
GRANDPARENTS WERE WORKING IN THEIR COTTONFIELD NEAR THE HOUSE.
THEY HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE PEOPLE RUNNING DOWN THE ROWS
OF COTTON. THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO LOOK UP BECAUSE THEY FIGURED
THAT IT WAS JUST ONE OF US BOYS. WHEN THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND
CLOSER THEY DID LOOK UP THEN TO SEE WHAT WE WANTED. BUT THERE
WASN'T ANYONE THERE. THEY LOOKED ALL AROUND BUT THEY COULDN'T
FIND ANYONE. NONE OF BOYS DID IT SO WE STILL DON'T WHO OR WHAT
WAS IN THE COTTONFIELD.
Where learned: MISSOURI ; SAINT LOUIS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1946
GHOST IN GARDEN
ONE EVENING MY BROTHER AND I WERE TAKING THE GARBAGE OUT TO THE
ALLEY. WE HAD ALMOST REACHED THE HOUSE WHEN WE HEARD A NOISE
NEAR THE GARDEN. WE LOOKED AROUND AND SAW A VERY OLD MAN
PICKING TOMATOES OUT OF THE GARDEN. HE WAS VERY WHITE AND SCARY
LOOKING. HE NEVER SAID ANYTHING, ALL HE DID WAS SMILE AND KEEP
PICKING THINGS OUT OF THE GARDEN. ME AND MY BROTHER GOT VERY
SCARED AND RAN TOWARDS THE HOUSE. RIGHT BEFORE WE GOT IN THE
HOUSE, WE LOOKED BACK, BUT THE MAN WAS GONE. WE RAN IN OUR HOUSE
AND TOLD OUR MOM AND DAD WHAT WE SAW. WHEN WE DESCRIBED WHAT THE MAN
LOOKED LIKE, THEY SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE MAN WHO USED TO
TO LIVE THERE. THEY SAID THAT HE USED TO KEEP A GARDEN RIGHT WHERE
WE KEPT OURS. THEY SAID THAT HE HAD DIED IN OUR HOUSE MANY YEARS
AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GARDEN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
GHOST STORY
"AFTER MY GRANDFATHER DIED STRANGE THINGS HAPPENED AROUND MY
HOUSE (DOORS STARTED POPPING OPEN, STRANGE NOISES, ETC.). MY
OLDER SISTER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY GRANDFATHER."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
GHOST STORY
"A GUY WAS TAKING HIS GIRLFRIEND HOME FROM A PARTY LATE ONE NIGHT.
THEY WERE GOING REAL FAST BECAUSE SHE WAS ALREADY LATE. THEY TOOK
A SHORT CUT AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THEY SAW A MAN. HIS HEAD
AND FACE WERE BLEEDING SO THE GUY STOPPED (HE WAS DRIVING REAL
FAST SO WHEN HE STOPPED, HE WAS BEHIND THE MAN). HE GOT OUT TO SEE
IF THE MAN WAS ALL RIGHT, BUT THE MAN HAD DISAPPEARED."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER BOYFRIEND WHO WAS FROM
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. HE SAID THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF GHOST
STORIES GOING AROUND THERE BECAUSE OF AND ABOUT DEAD SLAVES.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): ROAD GHOST
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001979CA
GHOST STORY
"A FRIEND OF MY BOYFRIEND'S MOVED INTO A HOUSE THAT USED TO BE
OWNED BY A COLONEL IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. ONE NIGHT WHEN MY
BOYFRIEND'S FRIEND'S PARENTS WERE OUT OF TOWN, MY BOYFRIEND WENT
OVER THERE TO SPEND THE NIGHT. HIS FRIEND WAS AFRAID OF THE HOUSE.
HE SAID THAT HE HEARD WEIRD NOISES ALL THE TIME. SO, THE TWO OF
THEM MADE AN AGREEMENT; THEY WOULD SLEEP IN SEPARATE BEDROOMS AND
IF EITHER OF THEM HEARD OR SAW ANYTHING, THEY WOULD WRITE IT DOWN
AND SHOW IT TO EACH OTHER (THIS WAS ACTUALLY IN FUN BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT TO SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING). HOWEVER, AS THEY
WERE GOING UP TO THEIR ROOMS, THEY SAW A MAN DRESSED IN A
CONFEDERATE'S UNIFORM. EACH OF THEM RAN INTO A ROOM AND WROTE
DOWN WHAT THEY SAW--THEY SAW THE SAME THING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY
SPENT THE NIGHT AT MY BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE THAT NIGHT."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): CONFEDERATE GHOST
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001979CA
GHOST STORY
"ONE NIGHT WHEN MY BOYFRIEND WAS LITTLE, HE WAS LYING IN BED AND
HE SAW HIS CLOSET DOOR OPEN. IN HIS CLOSET STOOD HIS GRANDFATHER
(WHO LIVED IN ANOTHER STATE). HIS GRANDFATHER SAID, 'I'VE COME TO
SAY GOODBYE' AND DISAPPEARED. HE LOOKED AT HIS CLOCK AND DIS-
COVERED IN THE MORNING THAT HE HAD SAW HIS GRANDFATHER'S IMAGE
ONE MINUTE BEFORE HE HAD DIED."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT TO THIS DAY HER BOYFRIEND IS AFRAID OF
CLOSETS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): DEAD GRANDFATHER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00001979CA
GHOST STORY
"MY BOYFRIEND'S FATHER DIED WHEN MY BOYFRIEND'S SON WAS A COUPLE
OF MONTHS OLD. AS J. R. (MY BOYFRIEND'S SON) GOT OLDER HE COULD
REMEMBER WHAT HIS DEAD GRANDFATHER LOOKED LIKE. MIKE, MY BOYFRIEND,
SAID THAT HE WOULD HEAR ONE-SIDED CONVERSATIONS COMING FROM J.R.'S
BEDROOM ALL OF THE TIME. FINALLY, MIKE WENT INTO THE ROOM WHEN HE
HEARD J.R. TALKING. IN J.R.'S ROOM WAS HIS GRANDFATHER'S ROCKING
CHAIR. THE CHAIR WAS ROCKING AND J.R. WAS TALKING DIRECTLY TO IT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00001979CA
GHOST STORY
"ONE NIGHT MY BOYFRIEND MIKE SAID THAT HE SAW HIS DEAD FATHER'S
GHOST AT THE FOOT OF HIS BED."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT HER BOYFRIEND BELIEVES THAT HIS FATHER CAME
BACK FROM THE GRAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT IN
HIS SON'S LIFE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00001979CA
GHOST STORY
"ONE NIGHT WHEN I SPENT THE NIGHT AT MY BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE, I KEPT
HEARING STRANGE CAT NOISES. I WAS TOO AFRAID TO GET UP AND LOOK
TO SEE WHERE THE NOISES WERE COMING FROM AND I DIDN'T WANT TO WAKE
UP MIKE, SO I WENT BACK TO SLEEP. IN THE MORNING I ASKED MIKE IF
ANY OF HIS NEIGHBORS HAD A CAT; HE SAID NO. HE SAID THAT HE USED
TO HAVE A CAT THOUGH AND THAT IT HAD DIED. HE SAID THAT IT
PROBABLY CAME BACK TO VISIT HIM."
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THAT HER BOYFRIEND FIRMLY BELIEVED THIS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): ANIMAL GHOST ; CAT GHOST
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 00001979CA
LADY IN CEMETERY
"THIS HAPPENED IN THE SHAMOKIN CEMETERY. MY BROTHERS GAVE
A FEAR TEST TO A FRIEND OF THEIRS NAMED ADAM. THEY
TOLD HIM TO WALK ALONG THE CEMETERY TO SEE HOW BRAVE HE IS.
MY BROTHERS WENT WITH HIM FOR PROOF. WHEN THEY WERE NEXT
TO THE CEMETERY, THEY SAW A WHITE GHOST SHAPED LIKE A LADY
FLOATING NEAR THEM. ADAM SAW IT FIRST AND JUST FROZE. MY
BROTHERS SAID THAT SHE FLOATED THROUGH THE FENCE. THEN SHE
FLOATED TO A GRAVE AND SUNK DOWN INTO IT. THE THREE OF THEM
RAN RIGHT HOME."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT YEARS LATER WHEN SHE WENT BACK HOME
FOR A VISIT, SHE VISITED ADAM. HE SAID THAT THE LADY GHOST
HAUNTED HIM FOR MANY YEARS AFTER THE NIGHT OF HIS FEAR TEST.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SHAMOKIN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001937CA