Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P720 returned 48 results.
THE MIRACLE FROM FR. SOLONIUS
MANY YEARS AGO MY MOTHER JUDITH WAS A VERY SICK CHILD. SHE
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH APPENDICITIS. BECAUSE THE INFECTION
IN HER APPENDIX WAS SO SEVERE IT HAD CAUSED HER TO GET PNUEMONIA.
BECAUSE MY MOTHER HAD PNEUMONIA SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE
THE SURGERY TO REMOVE THE INFECTED APPENDIX BECAUSE SHE WOULD
DIE ON THE TABLE. MY GRANDMOTHER, THELMA PATTERSON, HAD NOWHERE
ELSE TO TURN SO SHE WENT TO THE CAPUCHIN MONASTERY
ON KERCHEVAL IN DETROIT. SHE ASKED TO SEE ONE OF THE PRIESTS
AND SHE WAS GIVEN FR. SOLONIUS. SHE ASKED FATHER SOLONIUS
TO SAY A PRAYER FOR HER LITTLE GIRL AND HE DID. THE NEXT DAY
WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER WENT TO SEE JUDITH SHE WAS MUCH BETTER
AND WAS WELL ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH THE SURGERY. NEEDLESS TO
SAY JUDITH FULLY RECOVERED.
Submitter comment: FR. SOLONIUS IS UP FOR SAINTHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Curer |
I WAS OVER MY COUSIN'S HOUSE EATING PIZZA
AND I GOT INDIGESTION VERY BAD, SO BAD
THAT THEY HAD TO TAKE ME BACK TO MY GRAND-
MOTHER'S HOUSE. WHEN I STEPPED INTO THE HOUSE
THE PAIN WENT AWAY LIKE MAGIC. I THINK IT
WAS BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE WAS SO
FULL OF GOD AND RELIGION THAT GOD TOOK THE
PAIN AWAY.
Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER IS VERY GOOD AND RELIGIOUS
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curer |
A CHILD BORN WITH A VEIL OVER HIS FACE WILL HAVE SPIRITUAL POWERS.
Submitter comment:
HER BROTHER WITH A VEIL OVER HIS FACE AND HE IS CONSIDERED TO BE
A VERY SPIRITUAL MAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Ortonville
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 00-00-1987 ; 00001930S CA.
MEDIEVAL DOCTORS DEVELOPED A SPECIAL OUTFIT DESIGNED TO
PROTECT THEM FROM DIRECT CONTACT WITH SICK PEOPLE
DURING A PLAGUE. THE PHYSICIAN WAS COVERED FROM HEAD TO
FOOT WITH A BLACK GOWN, AND HE WORE LONG GLOVES TO PROTECT
HIS HANDS AND ARMS. A HOOD WAS DROPPED OVER HIS FACE.
PROTRUDING FROM THE HOOD WAS A LONG BEAK LOADED WITH
PROTECTIVE SPICES AND PERFUMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 10-01-1988
My father's grandfather was a lumberjack up north in Michigan.
One summer when he was logging he got a horrible toothache.
He didn't know what to do so he asked his boss. There wasn't
a doctor in the camp and the nearest town was twenty or thirty
miles away. He would have had to walk to the town and
therefore lose about a weeks worth of work. His boss told him
that he could get a doctor to the camp in a few days. Two days
later they got my great-grandfather drunk. Then the camps
cook laid him on his back on the ground and stepped on his
shoulders. The cook then bent over and with a pair of pliers
yanked his tooth out. In the morning my great-grandfather's
co-workers explained that in a logging camp the only doctor
was the cook.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
CURER
MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, WHILE IN THE MARINES, CAME ACROSS
ANOTHER MARINE WHO HAD BEEN SHOT, THE MARINE THAT WAS
SHOT ASKED MY BROTHER-IN-LAW TO HELP HIM. MY
BROTHER-IN-LAW SAID HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO HELP
HIM. THE WOUNDED MARINE REPLIED, IF YOU CAN
CORE AN APPLE, YOU CAN GET A BULLET OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
THE 7TH GENERATION SON OF A 7TH GENERATION SON ARE
BORN GIFTED WITH THE POWER TO HEAL PEOPLE OF SICKNESS
AND TO PREDICT THE FUTURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WARTS
A MAN NAMED FRED HOPES LIVED NEXT DOOR DOWN HOME. HE
WOULD SLICE A POTATO IN TWO AND RUB IT ON THE WART AND SAY
SOMETHING. THEN HE'D TELL YOU TO TAKE THE POTATO AND HIDE
IT UNDER A RUG. WHEN THE POTATO ROTS, THE WARTS WILL
GO AWAY. AND THAT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE I HAD THEM ALL
OVER MY FINGERS AND THEY WENT AWAY.
Submitter comment: HAPPENED IN GLOUCESTER, OHIO
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; GLOUCESTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
A GIRL I KNEW WENT OVER TO MR. WINN'S HOUSE ONE TIME. MR. WINN
SAID, "HEY, YOU GOT SOME WARTS. HOW COME? I CAN RUB THEM
OFF." SHE SAID, "I WISH YOU WOULD." HE RUBBED THEM BUT THEY
DIDN'T COME OFF. SHE SAID THE NEXT TIME SHE NOTICED HER
HAND, THEY WERE GONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
I HAD LITTLE WARTS ON MY FOREHEAD. WHEN I WASHED MY FACE, THE
WARTS WOULD CRACK AND BLEED. SO WE WENT TO WORK ONE MORNING
AND THIS PLUMBER, HENRY WANEKET (SPELLING MAY NOT BE RIGHT)
SAID: "WHY DON'T YOU GET RID OF THEM?" AND I SAID, "HOW?"
HE ANSWERED: "I'LL TAKE THEM OFF FOR YOU." SO HE RUBBED MY
FOREHEAD WITH HIS FINGERS AND SAID "THEY'LL GO AWAY." FUNNY
PART OF IT, WAS THEY DID, WITHIN A WEEK!
BUT HE TRIED IT ON A WART ON MY FINGER IN SEPTEMBER OR
OCTOBER, 1964, BUT IT DIDN'T GO AWAY.
Submitter comment: HAPPENED IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS 94 AND SHE SHRUNK. SHE WAS VERY
RELIGIOUS--SHE HAD ELEVEN CHILDREN. SHE WAS FRENCH AND SPOKE
BROKEN ENGLISH. SHE RUBBED HER WEDDING RING ON MY WART
ON MY HAND AND SAID "I'LL PRAY FOR YOU." AND THE WART
WENT AWAY.
Submitter comment:
GRANDMOTHER'S NAME--MIMI CHAMPAGNE.
ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN) WHEN JIM WAS
YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 05-10-1965
WHEN SOMEONE HAD A WART THEY WOULD SELL IT TO THE WART
PERSON WHO CAME AROUND TO THE HOUSE. AFTER GIVING THE
PERSON A PENNY, THE WART PERSON WHO RUB IT WITH AN OLD
WASHCLOTH AND THEN YOU WOULD BURY THE WASHCLOTH IN YOUR
BACKYARD SEVEN FEET DEEP. WHEN THE WASHCLOTH STARTED
TO DECOMPOSE, THE WART WOULD BE GONE.
Submitter comment:
JEAN HEARD THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER WHO BELIEVES
IT COMPLETELY.
HEARD IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN) ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
HEALING COIN
IN YUGOSLAVIA, WHEN A YOUNG GIRL GETS MARRIED, HER
HAIR IS BRAIDED. A COIN IS THEN WEAVED INTO THIS
BRAID, WHERE IT MUST STAY FROM THAT DAY FORWARD.
NOW, THE COIN IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE HEALING POWER,
AND EVERYONE BELIEVES IT. THE STEPSISTER OF THE
INFORMANT ON A VISIT TO THE COUNTRY RECENTLY, WAS
APPROACHED BY A BOY WITH A CASE OF HIVES. SHE
TOOK HIM TO A POND, WASHED HIM AND DRESSED HIM.
THE BOY WAS HEALED BY THE NEXT DAY, ALL DUE TO THE
HEALING EFFECTS OF THE COIN.
Submitter comment:
TOLD BY A NEIGHBOR, MRS. BENESTELLI, AT THE RESIDENCE
FROM HER MOTHER WHO HAD JUST RETURNED FROM YUGO-
SLAVIA, ON TAPE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
James Callow Keyword(s): Yugoslavia
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Curer BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN OR FOURTEEN YEARS OLD I WAS VISITING MY
UNCLE'S FAMILY AT CATLETTSBURG, KENTUCKY. UNCLE JIM LIVED
ABOUT A HALF A MILE FROM WHERE THE BIG SANDY EMPTIES INTO THE
OHIO RIVER. EVERY AFTERNOON WE WOULD GO TO THE RIVER TO SWIM.
TO GET TO THE RIVER WE HAD TO GO DOWN THIS STEEP EMBANKMENT
AND ACROSS A CORNFIELD. AS I WENT DOWN THE BANK I STEPPED ON
A PIECE OF GLASS AND MADE A DEEP GASH ABOUT AN INCH LONG ON MY
HEEL. MY COUSINS HELPED ME BACK UP THE BANK AND TO THE FRONT
PORCH SWING. MY AUNT SALLY BROUGHT SOME CLEAN RAGS AND A BASIN
OF WATER AND WAS TRYING TO WASH OFF MY HEEL BUT THE BLOOD JUST
KEPT POURING. MY COUSIN CATHERINE SAID, "I'LL GO GET UNCLE
ISHAM TO STOP IT."
UNCLE ISHAM DANIEL WAS IN HIS EIGHTIES. HE WAS NOT MY UNCLE, BUT
WAS DISTANTLY RELATED TO MY AUNT'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY. HE LIVED
ABOUT 400 YARDS FROM MY UNCLE JIM'S. HE WAS SITTING ON THE
PORCH OF HIS HOUSE. CATHERINE RAN OVER THERE, AND WE COULD
SEE HER TELLING UNCLE ISHAM. THE BLOOD SUDDENLY STOPPED.
CATHERINE TOLD ME UNCLE ISHAM SAID A CERTIN VERSE FROM THE
BIBLE. SINCE HE WAS GETTING OLD AND KNEW HE WOULDN'T BE AROUND
MUCH LONGER, HE WAS WILLING TO TELL THE SECRET OF STOPPING BLOOD
BUT IT HAD TO BE TO SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT A BLOOD RELATIVE.
CATHERINE DIDN'T QUALIFY AND SHE TRIED TO GET ME TO GO. FOR
SOME REASON I DON'T REMEMBER, I NEVER DID GO. IT WAS FAIRLY
COMMON FOR NEIGHBORS TO CALL ON UNCLE ISHAM TO STOP BLOOD.
I NEVER HEARD OF HIM FAILING.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; CATLETTSBURG
James Callow Keyword(s): CLOTTING ; HEMORRHAGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
TO OBTAIN A CURE FOR A SPELL WHICH ONE HAS HAD CAST ON HIM
A PERSON GOES TO A ROOT DOCTOR. THE ROOT DOCTOR WORKS A
COUNTER-SPELL AND GIVES A WHITE POWDER WHICH MUST BE TAKEN
DAILY UNTIL IT IS ALL USED UP.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Curer BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 08-03-1968
FRED SALMON OF STAUTON, VIRGINIA IS FAMOUS FOR HIS
WART CURING. HE TAKES THE PERSON INTO A ROOM AND THEY
MUST PROMISE NOT TO REPEAT WHAT HE SAYS OR IT WILL NOT
WORK. HOWEVER, THE WARTS MUST GO FROM ONE PERSON TO
ANOTHER, SAYS MR. SALMON.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE
Keyword(s): AILMENT ; CURE ; REMEDY ; SECRET ; TRANSFER ; Wart
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)
IF SOMEONE LOOKS AT YOU THE WRONG WAY THEY CAN GIVE YOU THE
EVIL EYE---YOU GET VERY BAD HEADACHES AND THEY WILL NOT GO
AWAY. THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF IT IS TO GO TO SOMEONE
THAT CAN PASS THE EVIL EYE. THEY WILL SAY CERTAIN PRAYERS
AND SOON IT WILL GO AWAY AND RETURN TO THE PERSON THAT GAVE
IT TO YOU.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; GREENBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Curer |
THERE IS ONE STORY TOLD ABOUT THE BELL WITCH CAVE. ABOUT
FORTY YEARS AGO, A DOCTOR SENT ONE OF HIS PATIENTS TO THE
CAVE. SHE WAS TO STAND AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAVE TO CURE
HER OF HER COMPLAINTS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; SPRINGFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Formation BELIEF -- Curer BELIEF -- Remedy |
STOPPING BLEEDING
THERE IS A WOMAN IN LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS WHO CAN STOP
BLEEDING. SHE DOES NOT LAY ON HANDS; SHE IS NOT EVEN IN THE
SAME ROOM. SHE GOES INTO ANOTHER ROO
AND SOMEHOW THE
BLEEDING STOPS. WHAT SHE DOES IS A SECRET AND WILL BE
PASSED ONTO THE OLDEST MALE OF THE NEWEST GENERATION IN
HER FAMILY WHEN SHE DIES.
Where learned: Massachusetts ; LEOMINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 07-02-1973