Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B420 returned 31 results.
THE FOUNDING OF KRAKOW
ONCE THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE ON THE VISTULA RIVER NEAR
THE FOOT OF THE KARPATH MOUNTAINS. HOWEVER, THERE ALSO LIVED A
DRAGON IN A CAVE (CALLED THE JASKINIA). EVERY DAY HE WOULD COME
TO THE SETTLEMENT AND SWALLOW SOME SHEEP, AND THEN GO TO THE
VISTULA TO WASH HIS MEAL DOWN AND BACK TO HIS JASKINIA TO SLEEP.
THE PEOPLE WERE ANGRY--ESPECIALLY THE SHEPHERDS AND NOBLEMEN.
THE SHEPHERDS AND THE PEOPLE OFFERED REWARDS OF ALL SORTS TO
ANYONE WHO COULD KILL THE DRAGON. MANY GLORY-SEEKING NOBLEMEN
TRIED, BUT WERE CRUSHED. THEN A SHOEMAKER NAMED KRAKUS STEPPED
FORWARD. HE KILLED A SHEEP, GUTTED IT, AND STUFFED IT WITH
SULPHUR. THE FOLLOWING DAY KRAKUS WATCHED THE DRAGON COME FROM
HIS JASKINIA AND IN HIS PATH KRAKUS PLACED THE SHEEP.
THE DRAGON SWALLOWED THE SHEEP WITH ONE GULP AND CONTINUED AFTER
MORE SHEEP. HOWEVER, THE DRAGON FELT A BURNING THIRST AND RUSHED
TO THE VISTULA RIVER. THERE THE DRAGON DRANK AND DRANK, NOT BEING
ABLE TO QUENCH HIS THIRST. HE CONTINUED DRINKING. FINALLY, THE
DRAGON BURST AND DIED.
KRAKUS WAS HAILED BY THE PEOPLE AND MADE THE CHIEF OF THE SETTLE-
MENT. THEY TOOK HIS NAME AND DUBBED THE SETTLEMENT KRAKOW, OR THE
PEOPLE OF KRAKOW.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERED BEING TOLD THIS STORY BY HIS FATHER AND FOUND
IT VERY INTERESTING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 10-08-1971
THERE WAS ONE ABOUT THE PRIEST WHO WAS GOING TO TELL ALL THE
SINS HE HEARD IN CONFESSION. THEN THE DOORBELL RANG, AND HE
NEVER SHOWED UP AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
DOG-LIKE CREATURE
WHILE GOING HOME FROM THE MILL, MY GRANDFATHER HAD TO
CROSS A BRIDGE OVER A RIVER. WHILE ON THE BRIDGE, A
DOG-LIKE CREATURE CLIMBED FROM UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE,
HIS EYES GLEAMED IN THE MOONLIGHT. THE CREATURE SLOWLY
FOLLOWED BEHIND. THE WAGON WAS SPEEDED UP BUT STILL
THE CREATURE FOLLOWED CLOSELY BEHIND. EVERYTHING
REMAINED THE SAME THRU THE ENTIRE NIGHT. SOON MORNING
WAS COMING AND AS MY GRANDFATHER TURNED FOR THE LAST
TIME HE SAW THE CREATURE DISAPPEAR RIGHT IN FRONT OF
HIS EYES. IT WAS THEN HE NOTICED THAT THE SUN HAD
JUST RISEN.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A STORY TOLD TO MY MOTHER (THE INFORMANT BY
HER FATHER). ACCORDING TO HER, HER FATHER SEEMED TO
BELIEVE IN WHAT HE SAID, EVEN UP TO THE POINT OF
SWEARING TO THE TRUTH OF THE STORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): MAGIC APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being |
Date learned: 10-03-1970
JESUIT STORY
JOHNNY WAS A LITTLE BOY WHO WANTED TO BE A PRIEST, BUT HE
DIDN'T KNOW WHICH ORDER TO JOIN, SO JOHNNY WROTE TO GOD
ASKING GOD TO TELL JOHNNY WHICH COMMUNITY TO JOIN. WELL,
GOD RECEIVED THE LETTER AND WROTE BACK TO JOHNNY.
DEAR JOHNNY, (WROTE GOD)
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH COMMUNITY YOU JOIN BECAUSE THEY
ALL HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE--TO SERVE ME, SO YOU JUST
JOIN THE ONE YOU LIKE THE BEST.
YOURS TRULY,
GOD, S.J.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS STORY ON ENTERING THE JESUIT
COMMUNITY AND HE SAYS THAT THIS STORY IS TOLD TO ALL
INCOMING JESUITS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 |
Date learned: 03-29-1971
NACKEN
NAKEN IS A MALE BEING. HE IS ALMOST ALWAYS NAKED AND
HE SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREAM OR IN A BIG LAKE
PLAYING A VIOLIN OR A HARP AND TRYING TO ENTICE PEOPLE
WOMEN MOSTLY, DOWN IN THE WATER. SOMETIMES HE IS
SAID TO BE EVIL, SOMETIMES ONLY A LONELY AND UNBLESSED
SPIRITUAL BEING.
Where learned: SWEDEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 01-21-1968
HEALING WATERS
ONE WINTER A GREAT PLAGUE STRUCK AND MANY INDIANS DIED. ONE YOUNG
MAN NAMED MONTA HAD LOST ALL HIS FAMILY BUT HIS NEW WIFE, WHO WAS
ILL. MONTA PRAYED TO MANITOU, THE GREAT SPIRIT, TO GIVE HIM A
PLANT WHICH WOULD CURE HIS WIFE. AFTER HIS PRAYER, HE COVERED HIS
WIFE WITH SOFT FIRS AND BEGAN HIS SEARCH OVER THE SNOW-COVERED
EARTH. FOR THREE DAYS HE SEARCHED, BUT THE PLANTS WERE ALL SLEEP-
ING UNTIL SPRING AND NO ANIMALS WERE IN SIGHT. FINALLY HE FELL
ASLEEP. ALL THE ANIMALS OF THE FOREST GATHERED AROUND, FOR HE
HAD ALWAYS BEEN GOOD TO THEM. THEY PRAYED TO THE GREAT SPIRIT TO
HELP MONTA. THE GREAT SPIRIT HEARD AND SENT MONTA A DREAM. IN
THE DREAM MONTA SAW HIS WIFE WELL AND HEARD HER SINGING. SHE SANG
OF THE HEALING WATERS OF THE GREAT MANITOU. WHEN MONTA AWOKE HE
HEARD THE WATERS SINGING AND BEGAN TO DIG UNDER HIS FEET. UP
SPRANG THE HEALING WATERS. HE WASHED IN THE WATER AND BECAME
STRONG. HE TOOK WATER TO HIS WIFE AND SHE WAS SAVED. FROM THEN
ON, THE PEOPLE OF THE VILLAGE BATHED IN THE SPRING AND WERE NEVER
ILL AGAIN.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Running water Small current. Brook, spring.... PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
BOSNIA IS A VERY ROCKY PLACE AND THE MYTH THAT THE PEASANT FOLK
HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS IS THAT GOD WAS TROTTING ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
CARRYING TWO LARGE SACKS. ONE WAS FILLED WITH ROCKS AND THE OTHER
WITH GOOD EARTH. WHILE TROTTING ACROSS BOSNIA, THE SACK CONTAIN-
ING ROCKS RIPPED AND THE ROCKS SPILLED OVER THE LAND.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD FROM GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE FOUNDING OF KRAKOW
ONCE THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE ON THE VISTULA RIVER NEAR
THE FOOT OF THE KARPATH MOUNTAINS. HOWEVER, THERE ALSO LIVED A
DRAGON IN A CAVE (CALLED THE JASKINIA). EVERY DAY HE WOULD COME
TO THE SETTLEMENT AND SWALLOW SOME SHEEP, AND THEN GO TO THE
VISTULA TO WASH HIS MEAL DOWN AND BACK TO HIS JASKINIA TO SLEEP.
THE PEOPLE WERE ANGRY--ESPECIALLY THE SHEPHERDS AND NOBLEMEN.
THE SHEPHERDS AND THE PEOPLE OFFERED REWARDS OF ALL SORTS TO
ANYONE WHO COULD KILL THE DRAGON. MANY GLORY-SEEKING NOBLEMEN
TRIED, BUT WERE CRUSHED. THEN A SHOEMAKER NAMED KRAKUS STEPPED
FORWARD. HE KILLED A SHEEP, GUTTED IT, AND STUFFED IT WITH
SULPHUR. THE FOLLOWING DAY KRAKUS WATCHED THE DRAGON COME FROM
HIS JASKINIA AND IN HIS PATH KRAKUS PLACED THE SHEEP.
THE DRAGON SWALLOWED THE SHEEP WITH ONE GULP AND CONTINUED AFTER
MORE SHEEP. HOWEVER, THE DRAGON FELT A BURNING THIRST AND RUSHED
TO THE VISTULA RIVER. THERE THE DRAGON DRANK AND DRANK, NOT BEING
ABLE TO QUENCH HIS THIRST. HE CONTINUED DRINKING. FINALLY, THE
DRAGON BURST AND DIED.
KRAKUS WAS HAILED BY THE PEOPLE AND MADE THE CHIEF OF THE SETTLE-
MENT. THEY TOOK HIS NAME AND DUBBED THE SETTLEMENT KRAKOW, OR THE
PEOPLE OF KRAKOW.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERED BEING TOLD THIS STORY BY HIS FATHER AND FOUND
IT VERY INTERESTING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 10-08-1971
THERE WAS ONE ABOUT THE PRIEST WHO WAS GOING TO TELL ALL THE
SINS HE HEARD IN CONFESSION. THEN THE DOORBELL RANG, AND HE
NEVER SHOWED UP AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
Superstition
Certain tracks there is a figure of a man carrying a lantern down the tracks. He has no head and he is said to be looking for his head. [sic]
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The following name and address is crossed out from the [Collector] section of the card:
Miller, Kathy 28 West Willow Monroe, MI
Card was located in a pile marked with a [?]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM
Keyword(s): Beheaded ; HEAD ; Headless ; Legend ; Scare ; Spooky ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face |
BEACH PARTY PROSE
THESE DUDES WERE HAVING A BEACH PARTY. AND THEY WERE
DRINKING A LITTLE
AND THE PARTY HAD PROGRESSED TO WHERE THE GUYS AND GIRLS WERE ALL
PAIRING OFF AND GOING UP ON THE SAND DUNES AND WHAT NOT. THIS ONE
PARTICULAR
COUPLE WENT UP ON THE SAND DUNE AND THEY WERE LAYING THERE
TALKING AND KISSING. SUDDENLY, UNDERNEATH THE SAND, WHERE THEY WERE
LYING ON THE BLANKET, THEY HEARD A FAINT SCRATCHING. AT FIRST THEY
DIDN'T
THINK ANYTHING, BUT IT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. QUICKLY THEY JUMPED
UP AND PULLED THE BLANKET UP AND THEY COULD SEE THE SAND DEEPENING
INTO A HOLE. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS SOME KIND OF ANIMAL OR SOMETHING.
THE HOLE REALLY STARTED TO SINK IN, YOU KNOW HOW THE SAND GOES WHEN
YOU DIG IN IT. OUT OF CURIOSITY THE GUY STARTED TO DIG TO SEE WHAT IT
WAS AND PRETTY SOON HE GOT PRETTY DEEP AND THE SAND STARTED TO GET
WET
AND COLD. FINALLY HE BROKE THROUGH AND HE COULD SEE FOUR FINGER
TIPS. SO HE TOLD HIS GIRLFRIEND TO GO BACK AND GET THE OTHER KIDS.
WHILE
THE GIRL WAS GONE SHE HEARD A LOUD SCREAM. SHE GOT EVERYONE ELSE
AND THEY RAN OVER TO WHERE THE GUY WAS. BUT, WHEN THEY GOT THERE THE
SAND WAS COVERED UP LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL AND THE GUY WAS
GONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- B533 PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage |
Date learned: 09-25-1972