Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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Japan -- Household Roles
In Japan, the father has no part in raising the children. The
mother does this, as well as controls all the money and the household.
The wife pays no attention to the husband once they have children.
All of her time is devoted to the babies. They do not have
babysitters; only the husbands are allowed to go out with each other -
no mothers allowed to socialize without children. They believe that
Western women are too self-centered and seek too much self
satisfaction.
The main objective of the Japanese is to have the best of everything
for their children. Fathers will drive 3 hours to work if they have
to in order to give their children the best schools.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-00-1990
Education (11th grade)
High school was and still is a four-year program. Where I
grew up the high schools graduated students after the 11th grade,
the reason is that high schools started with the 7th grade.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 01001954 CA
Torch Night
At Dominican High School in Detroit (all female), one of the
traditions is "Torch Night." When a student is a sophomore, a
junior picks her as her "Torch Night Partner," or "Torchie." The
two students spend the next year getting to know each other and
becoming closer. The next year, when the junior (who is now a
senior) is ready to graduate, there is a night called "Torch
Night." It is held in the auditorium and the partners stand next
to each other. There are readings and speeches, and then the
senior passes a votive--the torch-- to the junior, thereby passing
on the torch of leading the school. The junior, in turn, gives her
senior partner a rose as a promise to her to carry on the torch and
also as a goodbye gift of love. This has been a tradition at
Dominican High School for many years. As each partner passes on
the torch, there remains a connection that was begun many years
before.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
Big Sister / Little Sister
There is a tradition at Dominican High School in Detroit
called Big Sister / Little Sister. When a girl enters Dominican as
a freshman, she is picked by a senior to be her Little Sister. The
Big Sister is supposed to befriend her Little Sister, and show her
the ropes of high school. They exchange notes, cards, presents and
sometimes become very good friends that keep in touch for life.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
Ring Day
There is a tradition at Dominican High School called Ring Day.
This is the day of the Ring Day Mass of the graduating seniors.
Seniors, traditionally, purchase "senior rings" which are blessed
at this Mass. It is a very sentimental event, because it means the
seniors are one step closer to leaving the place they have called
"home" for four years.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1988
Pledging
Pledging is a period of activity in which the candidates for
admission to a sorority (fraternity) become acquainted with their
fellow pledges as well as the active members of the chapter, and
begin to develop those lasting friendships for which the sorority
was organized. During this period the pledges learn the moral,
social, and intellectual objectives of the sorority, and begin
working toward these goals. They come to know the history,
structure and regulations of the organization, and their duties and
responsibilities within it. They are tested in and taught to
develop the virtues of interest in the activities and welfare of
the sorority; of fidelity to the purposes and rules; of loyalty to
one another; of charity and friendship involving self-sacrifice and
the willingness to help one another in all ways necessary and
possible; of cooperation with the officers and members in the
work, activities, duties, and responsibilities necessary to
successfully fulfill the objectives of the sorority. Pledging is
a period of constructive activity intended to unite the members in
a bond of sisterly relationship.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
FRATERNITY LEGENDS:
EVERY YEAR PHI SIGMA DELTA FRATERNITY AT MICHIGAN STATE
UNIVERSITY SERENADES ALPHA PHI OMEGA SORORITY. THIS
DEVELOPED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO AND STILL CARRIES ON TODAY.
Submitter comment: FROM FRATERNITY BROTHERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 11-07-1967 ; 00-00-1957
BERMUDA DAY
ON THIS DAY, ALL MEMBERS OF THE STUDENT BODY COME TO
SCHOOL IN BERMUDA SHORTS. IT USUALLY OCCURS TOWARDS
THE END OF MAY WHEN THE STUDENTS GET THEIR YEARBOOKS.
EVERYONE LIES ON THE FLOOR AND SIGNS YEARBOOKS.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAW SOME FELLOW STUDENTS DO IT.
Where learned: FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
SWITCH DAY
EVERY YEAR IN GRADE SCHOOL, ONE DAY WAS DESIGNATED
SWITCH DAY. ON THAT DAY, EVERYONE CARRIED A
LIGHT BRANCH OR SWITCH WITH HIM. IF A BOY HIT A
GIRL WITH THIS SWITCH (OR VICE VERSA) SHE HAD TO
GIVE HIM A PENNY.
Submitter comment: COLLECTOR DOESN'T THINK THIS WAS A FIXED DATE.
James Callow comment:
I HAVE GIVEN THIS ITEM THE BOGGS NUMBER FOR DYNGUS DAY
ONLY TO PROMPT COMPARISON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
SENIOR SKIP DAY
ON THE DAY BEFORE THE SENIOR PROM, THE SENIOR CLASS --
EN MASSE, FAILS TO SHOW UP FOR THEIR CLASSES WHILE
PREPARING FOR THE SENIOR PROM. JUNIORS AND SOPHOMORES
GOING TO THE PROM ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT ONLY IF
THEY ARE GOING AS A DATE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAW HER FELLOW CLASSMATES DO IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
HIGH SCHOOL TRADITION
THE SENIORS ALWAYS GOT THE BEST LUNCHROOM SEATS AT
COSINO HIGH. THEY WERE SEATED IN THE LOWEST TIER OF A
THREE TIER CAFETERIA. THIS HAS GONE ON SINCE THE SCHOOL
WAS FOUNDED.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS HIGH SCHOOL CHUMS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
HIGH SCHOOL TRADITION
AT THE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL GAMES, THE STUDENTS WOULD SIT
IN THEIR CLASSES. THE SENIORS SAT WITH THE SENIORS, THE
JUNIORS WITH THE JUNIORS, THE SOPHS WITH THE SOPHS, AND THE
FROSH WITH THE FROSH.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS HIGH SCHOOL CHUMS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
AT THE GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL I WENT TO IN WISCONSIN, THE
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF THE FOUNDER OF THE
SINSINAWA DOMINICAN NUNS WAS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY.
A DIFFERENT PLAY ABOUT THE FOUNDER, FR. SAMUEL
MAZZUCHELLI, WAS WRITTEN EACH YEAR AND PRODUCED ON THIS
DAY. RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS IN HONOR OF THIS MAN
OCCUR ON THIS DAY.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HARD CIDER
WHEN I WAS AN UNDERGRADUATE AND LIVED IN THE DORMITORY, EVERY
FALL A GROUP OF THE FELLOWS AND MYSELF WOULD MAKE A TREK
OUT TO ONE OF THE CIDER MILLS JUST OUTSIDE THE GREATER
DETROIT AREA. IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET FRESH, UNTREATED,
NON-HOMOGENIZED CIDER BECAUSE WE INTENDED TO LET IT FERMENT,
OR "GET HARD." WE'D BRING THE CIDER BACK BY THE GALLONS
AND ADD A SMALL BOX OF RAISINS TO EACH PLASTIC GALLON JUG.
IN TWO WEEKS THAT CIDER WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH TO CURL
YOUR HAIR. WE NEVER HID IT (IT WAS AGAINST UNIVERSITY
REGULATIONS TO HAVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN ONE'S ROOM).
THE DORM ADVISORS SAW IT, BUT NEVER REALIZED HOW HARD IT WAS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented |
Date learned: 04-04-1970
STEPPING ON THE "M" ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
DIAG IS BAD LUCK; YOU'LL FLUNK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN GIRLS ARE IN WEST HALL IN A BOY'S ROOM, (A MATCHBOOK'S
WIDTH) THE DOOR MUST BE KEPT OPEN (FOR PROPRIETY SAKE).
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE ; WEST HALL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- School |
THE CUSTOM HERE, WHEN A GIRL GETS "PINNED" OR ENGAGED,
IS FOR ALL OF HER FRIENDS AND HALLMATES TO THROW HER FULLY
CLOTHED INTO THE SHOWER AND KEEPING HER THERE UNTIL SHE IS
THOROUGHLY DRENCHED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; PEABODY COLLEGE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
WHEN I WAS A (AN) UNDERGRADUATE AT MOREHEAD (KY.) STATE TEACHERS'
COLLEGE, NOW MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY, IN 1939 AND 1940,
GOLDFISH SWALLOWING BECAME A FAD AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. REPORTEDLY A BOY AT MOREHEAD SWALLOWED
TWENTY-FOUR LIVE GOLDFISH. HE WAS TOPPED BY A BOY AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, WHICH WAS REFERRED TO LOCALLY AS THE
COUNTRY CLUB OF THE SOUTH, WHO SWALLOWED FORTY-TWO. I AM SURE
NEITHER OF THESE BOYS HELD THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. I DID
NOT WITNESS THE SWALLOWING, NOR DID ANYONE ELSE THAT I KNEW
TO BE TRUTHFUL. THE NEWSPAPERS REPORTED SWALLOWINGS THROUGH-
OUT THE COUNTRY. AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO GIRLS EVER COMPETED IN
THE GOLDFISH SWALLOWING CONTESTS.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fish PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Custom |
IT SEEMS THAT, UH, THIS LITTLE BOY NAMED BOOKER -- THIS LITTLE
COLORED BOY, A SLAVE BOY, IF NOT A SLAVE IT WAS JUST AFTER
SLAVE TIME. HIS STEPFATHER AN' HIS MOTHER WERE RIGHT PROUD
PEOPLE, AN' HARD-WORKIN', TOO, AN' THEY TAUGHT HIM TO THINK
WELL ENOUGH OF HIMSELF. HE ALWAYS WORKED WELL AN' HIS STEP-
FATHER WAS VERY, VERY FOND OF HIM. AN' HE ALWAYS WANTED TO
TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF--HE HELPED TAKE CARE OF HIS PARENTS,
TOO. THERE WAS A COLONEL, WHO WAS A SOUTHERN COLONEL, HAD
MARRIED A YANKEE, AN' THEY HAD COME TO THIS SOUTHERN
PLANTATION TO LIVE. SOMEBODY TOLD THE LITTLE BOY ABOUT THEM
WANTIN' A HOUSEBOY, WANTIN' A BOY TO WORK IN THE HOUSE.
AN' IT PAID BETTER THAN ANYTHING HE COULD MAKE--NOT TOO
MUCH, BUT A LITTLE. HE WAS JUST ANXIOUS TO TRY IT. AN' EVERY-
BODY THOUGHT THE YANKEE LADY WAS THE MEANEST THING EVER WAS,
SHE WAS JUST CRUEL. AN' THEY TALKED AGAINST IT, BUT HE WAS
WILLIN' TO TRY IT ANYWAY, FOR WHAT HE COULD GET OUT OF IT.
AN' SHE WAS SO STRICT WITH HIM THAT IT WAS PATHETIC, UH, WHEN
SHE ASKED FOR A FLOOR TO BE CLEANED, IT HAD TO BE CLEAN ENOUGH
TO EAT OFF OF IT. AND SHE TAUGHT HIM TO DO JUST A LITTLE MORE
THAN SHE JUST SAID IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT SHE ALSO SAW HIM
LOOKIN' AT BOOKS AN' SHE TAUGHT HIM TO READ--SHE LET HIM
LEARN TO READ. AND, UH, HE SAVED HIS MONEY TO GO AWAY TO
SCHOOL. HE HAD HEARD WHERE THEY COULD GO TO SCHOOL. HE
WANTED TO GO, AN' SHE SAW HE WAS QUITE CAPABLE. AN' SHE
DIDN'T DISCOURAGE HIS LEARNIN'--SHE MADE A POINT TO SEE THAT
ALL THE BOOKS HE MIGHT LIKE TO READ AND GET SOMETHIN' OUT OF
WERE PUT WHERE HE MIGHT GET AHOLD OF 'EM. WHEN HE HAD JUST
NEARLY ENOUGH MONEY SAVED, HE WAS FIXIN' TO GO AWAY TO WHERE-
EVER THIS SCHOOL WAS--SOMEWHERE--POSSIBLY IN BOSTON, POSSIBLY
IN NEW YORK, POSSIBLY IN MASSACHUSETTS--IT WAS SOMEWHERE FURTHER
NORTH THAN WHERE HE WAS. AN' HE SAW HIS STEPFATHER LEAVE THAT
MORNIN' TO TRY TO FIND WORK--THEY WERE JUST ACTUALLY ON THE
VERGE OF BEIN' HUNGRY AN' HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING TO DO. HE
SAW HOW DEJECTED HE LOOKED & HEARD HIM TELL HIS MOTHER THAT
THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW--IF HE COULDN'T FIND SOMETHIN' TO DO
THERE, Y'KNOW, THEY JUST ABSOLUTELY WOULD JUST BE HUNGRY--
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING. AN', UH, HE WENT TO THE BIG HOUSE
WHERE HE'S BEEN WORKING--THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED IT, THE BIG
HOUSE--AN' HE HAD HOARDED HIS MONEY--THE LITTLE BIT THAT HE'D
GOTTEN, HE HAD SAVED IT. AN', UH, HE WENT IN AN' HE TOLD HER
HE HAD TO HAVE, UH, THE BIG HORSE--THE GELDING--HE WANTED IT
RIGHT THEN AN' HE HAD TO HAVE IT, SOMETHIN' HAD COME UP. SHE
SAW HE WAS VERY DISTURBED, SO HE TOOK HIS MONEY & GOT ON THIS
BIG HORSE AN' RACED TO OVERTAKE HIS STEPATHER TO GIVE 'IM
THE MONEY HE HAD. AN' IT JUST BROKE HIS HEART, 'COS, HE
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT AN' HIS TIME WAS GONE AN' HE HAD
LEARNED ENOUGH AN' HE THOUGHT HE COULD TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF
IN THIS SCHOOL. AND, UH, HE HAD HEARD THAT THIS WAS WHERE
NEGROES COULD GO--MAYBE THE YANKEE LADY HAD KIND OF
ENCOURAGED HIM A LITTLE, BUT HE TOLD HER THAT HE RESIGNED
ANYWAY BECAUSE HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO. HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY-
THING, NOW, BUT HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO. SO HE GOT ON THIS
TRAIN. IT WAS JUST PACKED, AN', UH, HE WAS THE ONLY COLORED
PERSON ON THERE, 'CEPT FOR THE ONES THAT WERE WORKIN' THERE,
AN' THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE A BERTH FOR HIM, Y'KNOW. SO THEY CAME
TO A PLACE WHERE THEY HAD TO STOP THAT NIGHT, AND, UH, IT WAS
COLD, AND RAINY--JUST REAL COLD AN' RAINY, AN', UH, HE WAS
TIRED AN' HUNGRY AN' WHEN HE WENT IN TO GET FOOD WITH THE
GROUP THEY THREW HIM OUT BODILY, WOULDN'T LET HIM BE IN THERE.
HE SLEPT ON THE OUTSIDE. BUT HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO SO HE STARTED
WALKIN' TO GET WHERE HE WAS GOIN'. IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HE
GOT THERE. AN' WHEN HE DID HE HAD NO CREDENTIALS, YE MIGHT
SAY, AN' HE HAD NO MONEY! BUT HE TOLD THE, UH, -- SHE WAS
A WOMAN--THE HEADMISTRESS, OR DEAN, ANYWAY, THAT HE HAD COME
TO GO TO SCHOOL. SHE ASKED HIM FOR HIS CREDENTIALS. OF
COURSE, HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING. AN' HE JUST THOUGHT, 'COS
HE WAS ALONE . . . SHE ASKED HIM HIS NAME, AN' HE TOLD HER
BOOKER, THIS WAS THE ONLY NAME HE HAD --HE DIDN'T HAVE A LAST
NAME. AN' SHE TOLD HIM SHE NEVER HEARD OF ANYBODY THAT JUST
HAD ONE NAME, WHAT WAS HIS LAST NAME? SO THE ONLY THING HE
COULD THINK OF WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON, SO HE SAYS, "BOOKER T.
WASHINGTON"--SOMEWHERE HE'S READ ABOUT THIS. AN', UH, SHE
TOLD HIM THAT . . . WELL, LET'S GO BACK TO THE YANKEE LADY--
SHE HAD TOLE HER HUSBAND THAT THIS YOUNGSTER WAS A PROMISING
YOUNGSTER, THAT HE HAD ALL IT TOOK BUT ONE THING, AN' SHE
WAS GIVIN' HIM THAT. AN' HE ASKED HER WHAT THAT WAS, AN'
SHE SAID, "GRIT. HE NEEDED YANKEE GRIT." THAT WAS WHY
SHE WAS SO HARD ON HIM. . . BUT ANYWAY NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO
THE SCHOOL. SO HE HAD NOWHERE TO GO. HE HAD NOWHERE TO
SLEEP, HE HAD NO FOOD. AND, UH, SHE SAW HOW DEJECTED HE WAS,
AN' HOW HE JUST HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL--HE HAD TO HAVE MORE
LEARNING. SHE KINDA MADE A LITTLE FUN OF HIM, BUT SHE TOLD
HIM, WHEN EVERYBODY'D LEFT BUT HIM, HE WAS STILL STANDIN'
THERE, AN' SHE TOLD HIM THAT THE LIBRARY NEEDED CLEANING'.
SWEEP THE FLOOR IS WHAT SHE TOLD HIM TO DO. HE'D DO THAT,
Y'KNOW, WHY SHE'D GIVE HIM A MEAL AN' HE COULD SLEEP THERE.
AN', UH, HE LOOKED AROUND, AND HE DIDN'T DO JUST WHAT SHE
TOLD HIM, HE WIPED THE BOARDS AN' CLEANED THE SHELVES, TOO.
HE DID MORE THAN HE WAS ASKED TO. AN' SHE CAME IN THE NEXT
MORNIN' AN' SAW WHAT HE'D DONE, AN' SHE ASKED HIM WHY HE
DID MORE THAN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO, AND HE TOLD HER THE YANKEE
LADY HAD ALWAYS TOLD HIM TO JUST DO MORE THAN HE WAS TOLD TO.
AN' THE LADY TOLD HIM HE WAS ENROLLED THAT MORNIN'.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS HER FATHER TOLD HER THIS STORY, BUT
IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT SHE GOT IT OUT OF A BOOK AS A
CHILD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
A DATA PROCESSING STUDENT TOOK A FRIEND TO THE COMPUTER CENTER
WITH HIM. THE FRIEND WAS QUITE INTERESTED IN THE MACHINE AND
ALL THE BUTTONS AND LIGHTS. HE SAW A LARGE RED KNOB AND ASKED,
"WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I PULL THIS?" AS HE PROCEEDED TO PULL IT.
THE RED KNOB WAS THE EMERGENCY SWITCH ON THE MACHINE, AND
HIS PULLING THE KNOB RESULTED IN THE DISCONNECTION OF MOST
OF THE INTERNAL WIRING OF THE COMPUTER.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; BOWLING GREEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 06-00-1973