Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B438 returned 40 results.
SLEEP WALKING
NELL, MY MOTHER'S SISTER, USED TO WALK IN HER SLEEP.
SHE WALKED RIGHT OUT OF THE HOUSE ONE NIGHT TOWARD
THE RAILROAD TRACK THAT YOU HAD TO CROSS TO GET TO THE
ROAD. HER DAD MISSED HER AND RAN OUTSIDE TO FIND HER.
HE CAUGHT HER JUST AS SHE WAS STARTING TO CROSS THE TRACK
WITH A TRAIN COMIN'. HE JERKED HER OFF THE TRACK JUST
AS THE TRAIN RAN BY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; KINGSTON
James Callow Keyword(s): SLEEPWALKER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
COLLEGE STUDENT ON PILLS
THERE WAS AN AVERAGE STUDENT WHO CAME FROM A VERY
WEALTHY FAMILY. HIS PARENTS SENT HIM TO ONE OF THE IVY
LEAGUE SCHOOLS IN THE EAST. THE BOY COULD NOT MAKE
HIS GRADES BY DOING AN AVERAGE AMOUNT OF STUDYING, SO HE
STARTED TAKING DEXEDRINE PILLS. EVERY OTHER NIGHT FOR
AN ENTIRE YEAR HE DIDN'T GO TO BED. AT THE END OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR HE WENT HOME AND WENT TO SLEEP. HIS
PARENTS LET HIM SLEEP FOR TWENTY FOUR HOURS, THEN
TRIED TO AWAKEN HIM. HE WAS DEAD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): DRUG OVERDOSE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
FATAL HAIRDO TALE
WHEN I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN NASHVILLE (1963-66)
THERE WERE A RASH OF FATAL HAIRDO STORIES CIRCULATING
AMONG THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. EVERYONE WHO TOLD THE
STORIES VOWED THAT THEIR VERSION WAS THE T R U E
VERSION. I CAN REMEMBER THAT THE GIRL
WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN A STUDENT AT STRATFORD HIGH
SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE, AND AT DONELSON HIGH SCHOOL
IN DONELSON, TENNESSEE WHICH IS A SUBURB OF NASHVILLE.
THE STORY BASICALLY WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
THERE WAS THIS GIRL WHO HAD HER HAIR FIXED IN A
SPECIAL, ELABORATE WAY FOR A PROM OR SOME OTHER EVENT.
AFTER THE GIRL HAD HER HAIR DONE, FOR DAYS, AND EVEN
WEEKS AFTERWARDS, SHE ROLLED IT WITH TOILET PAPER EACH
NIGHT TO HOLD THE STYLE'S SHAPE AND NEVER BRUSHED IT OUT
BECAUSE SHE LIKED THE HAIRDO SO WELL. ONE DAY THIS GIRL
WAS SITTING IN CLASS AND BLOOD STARTED RUNNING DOWN
HER FACE. SHE FAINTED AND WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
AT THE HOSPITAL, HER HAIRDO WAS DISMANTLED AND A NEST
OF ROACHES WAS FOUND IN HER HAIR. THEY HAD BURROWED
AND EATEN THEIR WAY INTO HER HEAD AND INTO HER BRAIN
AND KILLED HER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALSO SEE SAME BASIC STORY WITH A SPIDER IN IT.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 08-13-1968
ONE OF RESPONDENT'S NEIGHBORS YELLED AT HER LITTLE
BOY WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT. THE BOY FELL AND BROKE
HIS RIGHT FOOT AND LEG. WHEN THE BABY CAME, IT HAD
A TWISTED RIGHT FOOT AND LEG.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 09-01-11
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Broken ; Fell ; Foot ; leg ; OMEN ; PREGNANCY ; Twisted
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
FATAL HAIRDO
IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS REPORTED THAT A GIRL AT A
DIFFERENT SCHOOL IN THE AREA, DIED BECAUSE OF A
SPIDER IN HER HAIR. SUPPOSEDLY, SHE RATTED HER
HAIR AND SPRAYED IT AND HADN'T COMBED OUT ALL OF HER
HAIR FOR WEEKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
INDIAN LEGEND
CHIEF CRAZY HORSE HAD A DREAM. HE SAW A RIDER COMING
OUT OF THE SKY RIDING A BLACK AND WHITE HORSE. THREE
MORE JUMPED UP AND BEGAN SHOOTING AT HIM. BUT NOTHING
COULD HARM HIM FROM THE FRONT. HE SHOT TWO OF THE MEN
BUT THE THIRD SNEAKED AROUND AND SHOT HIM FROM BEHIND,
AND KILLED HIM. CRAZY HORSE REMEMBERED EXACTLY THE
WARPAINT AND BLUE HAWK THE RIDER HAD WORN. WHENEVER
CRAZY HORSE WENT INTO BATTLE HE WORE THIS WARPAINT AND
BLUE HAWK AND ALWAYS RODE A BLACK AND WHITE HORSE.
HE ALWAYS WENT INTO THE THICK OF THE FIGHTING FOR
HE COULD NEVER BE HURT FROM THE FRONT. WHEN THE
CAVALRY CAPTURED HIM, HE WAS KILLED BY A SOLDIER WHO
BAYONETED HIM FROM THE BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): VISION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 05-15-1965
FATAL HAIRDO
THERE WAS A LADY WHO USED TO WEAR HER HAIR IN A
BOUFFANT HAIRDO. ONE DAY SHE GOT SICK AND WAS RUSHED
TO THE HOSPITAL. THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS
MAKING HER SICK. ONE DAY A NURSE SAW A SPIDER IN
HER HAIR--THEY THEN DISCOVERED A SPIDER NEST IN HER
HAIR. BUT IT WAS TOO LATE, AND SHE DIED OF THE
SPIDER BITES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT THINKS SHE REMEMBERS SEEING THIS IN A
NEWSPAPER ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SECURITY BANK AND TRUST MORTGAGE ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 10-09-1970
ONCE AGAIN, WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, I WAS OUT WALKING
ONE DAY. I HAD A NEW DRESS ON, AND I FELT PROUD. I
LOOKED AT MYSELF, BECAUSE WE ONLY GOT A NEW DRESS EVERY
2 OR 3 YEARS. I WAS SITTING IN CHURCH THAT SAME DAY
AND MY MOTHER HOLLERED AT ME, WHEN I STARTED LOOKING
AT MYSELF. WHEN WE WENT HOME, MOTHER SAID, "WHAT
DID YOU HAVE, YOU WERE WALTZING AROUND." I SAID,
"NO, I WASN'T." MOTHER SAID, "YOU WERE ADMIRING
YOURSELF." I SAID THAT I WAS SEEING IF MY DRESS WAS
STRAIGHT IN THE BACK. I GOT SICK THAT NIGHT. MOTHER
SAID IT WAS THE EVIL EYES BECAUSE I WAS SHOWING OFF.
AN OLD LADY SAID PRAYERS OVER ME AND I GOT BETTER.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS UNSURE AS TO WHETHER THIS IS REALLY TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 02-06-1972
THE STORY OF THE BOY WHO CAMPS OUT. AN ANT GETS IN HIS
EAR. AS THE YEARS GO BY, HE GETS WORSE HEADACHES.
FINALLY HE IS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND HIS HEAD IS SPLIT
OPEN. OUT COMES THOUSANDS OF ANTS, THEY HAD A COLONY
THERE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses PROSE NARRATIVE -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
THERE WAS A FARMER BOY WHO SWALLOWED THE SEEDS TO
WATERMELONS WHEN HE ATE THEM AND WATERMELONS GREW
IN HIS STOMACH SO YOU SHOULDN'T SWALLOW THE SEEDS
WHEN YOU EAT WATERMELON, YOU SHOULD SPIT THEM OUT.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER TOLD HIM THIS WHEN HE WAS
TEN YEARS OLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Entry filtered.
KISSING
INFORMANT LEARNED FROM THE NUNS AT ST. JAMES GRADE
SCHOOL IN FERNDALE {MICHIGAN} (ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO)
THAT KISSING WAS NOT SINFUL IF IT COULD PASS THE
DOORKNOB TEST. IF YOU COULD KISS A DOORKNOB AND
HAVE THE SAME REACTION WHEN YOU KISSED A BOY, THE
EXPERIENCE WAS INNOCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FATAL HAIRDO
IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS REPORTED THAT A GIRL AT A
DIFFERENT SCHOOL IN THE AREA, DIED BECAUSE OF A
SPIDER IN HER HAIR. SUPPOSEDLY, SHE RATTED HER
HAIR AND SPRAYED IT AND HADN'T COMBED OUT ALL OF HER
HAIR FOR WEEKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
INDIAN LEGEND
CHIEF CRAZY HORSE HAD A DREAM. HE SAW A RIDER COMING
OUT OF THE SKY RIDING A BLACK AND WHITE HORSE. THREE
MORE JUMPED UP AND BEGAN SHOOTING AT HIM. BUT NOTHING
COULD HARM HIM FROM THE FRONT. HE SHOT TWO OF THE MEN
BUT THE THIRD SNEAKED AROUND AND SHOT HIM FROM BEHIND,
AND KILLED HIM. CRAZY HORSE REMEMBERED EXACTLY THE
WARPAINT AND BLUE HAWK THE RIDER HAD WORN. WHENEVER
CRAZY HORSE WENT INTO BATTLE HE WORE THIS WARPAINT AND
BLUE HAWK AND ALWAYS RODE A BLACK AND WHITE HORSE.
HE ALWAYS WENT INTO THE THICK OF THE FIGHTING FOR
HE COULD NEVER BE HURT FROM THE FRONT. WHEN THE
CAVALRY CAPTURED HIM, HE WAS KILLED BY A SOLDIER WHO
BAYONETED HIM FROM THE BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): VISION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 05-15-1965
FATAL HAIRDO
THERE WAS A LADY WHO USED TO WEAR HER HAIR IN A
BOUFFANT HAIRDO. ONE DAY SHE GOT SICK AND WAS RUSHED
TO THE HOSPITAL. THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS
MAKING HER SICK. ONE DAY A NURSE SAW A SPIDER IN
HER HAIR--THEY THEN DISCOVERED A SPIDER NEST IN HER
HAIR. BUT IT WAS TOO LATE, AND SHE DIED OF THE
SPIDER BITES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT THINKS SHE REMEMBERS SEEING THIS IN A
NEWSPAPER ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SECURITY BANK AND TRUST MORTGAGE ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 10-09-1970
ONCE AGAIN, WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, I WAS OUT WALKING
ONE DAY. I HAD A NEW DRESS ON, AND I FELT PROUD. I
LOOKED AT MYSELF, BECAUSE WE ONLY GOT A NEW DRESS EVERY
2 OR 3 YEARS. I WAS SITTING IN CHURCH THAT SAME DAY
AND MY MOTHER HOLLERED AT ME, WHEN I STARTED LOOKING
AT MYSELF. WHEN WE WENT HOME, MOTHER SAID, "WHAT
DID YOU HAVE, YOU WERE WALTZING AROUND." I SAID,
"NO, I WASN'T." MOTHER SAID, "YOU WERE ADMIRING
YOURSELF." I SAID THAT I WAS SEEING IF MY DRESS WAS
STRAIGHT IN THE BACK. I GOT SICK THAT NIGHT. MOTHER
SAID IT WAS THE EVIL EYES BECAUSE I WAS SHOWING OFF.
AN OLD LADY SAID PRAYERS OVER ME AND I GOT BETTER.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS UNSURE AS TO WHETHER THIS IS REALLY TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 02-06-1972
THE STORY OF THE BOY WHO CAMPS OUT. AN ANT GETS IN HIS
EAR. AS THE YEARS GO BY, HE GETS WORSE HEADACHES.
FINALLY HE IS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND HIS HEAD IS SPLIT
OPEN. OUT COMES THOUSANDS OF ANTS, THEY HAD A COLONY
THERE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses PROSE NARRATIVE -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
THERE WAS A FARMER BOY WHO SWALLOWED THE SEEDS TO
WATERMELONS WHEN HE ATE THEM AND WATERMELONS GREW
IN HIS STOMACH SO YOU SHOULDN'T SWALLOW THE SEEDS
WHEN YOU EAT WATERMELON, YOU SHOULD SPIT THEM OUT.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER TOLD HIM THIS WHEN HE WAS
TEN YEARS OLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Entry filtered.
KISSING
INFORMANT LEARNED FROM THE NUNS AT ST. JAMES GRADE
SCHOOL IN FERNDALE {MICHIGAN} (ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO)
THAT KISSING WAS NOT SINFUL IF IT COULD PASS THE
DOORKNOB TEST. IF YOU COULD KISS A DOORKNOB AND
HAVE THE SAME REACTION WHEN YOU KISSED A BOY, THE
EXPERIENCE WAS INNOCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN