Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for S580 returned 62 results.
NAME-GAME
Q.WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
A.PUDDING TANG, YOU ASK ME AGAIN AND I'LL TELL YOU THE SAME.
Q. WHATS YOUR NAME?
A.PUDDING TANG, YOU ASK ME AGAIN AND I'LL TELL YOU THE SAME.
Q.WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
A.DONALD DUCK, YOU ASK ME AGAIN AND I'LL BEAT YOUR BUTT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 09-11-1977
NAMING OF A BUILDING
RENAISSANCE CENTER MEANS THE REBIRTH OF A NEW CITY (DETROIT).
Submitter comment:
CITY OF DETROIT WAS DEAD, THE RENISSANCE CENTER WAS BUILT TO
BRING MORE PEOPLE TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF DETROIT, SO FAR IT HAS
WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CITY NEWSPAPER
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
THE STORY OF MIKE MY AUNT
MIKE OHANLEY EXPECTED HIS FATHER'S BROTHER TO VISIT
BUT HE WASN'T SURE IF IT WOULD BE HIS UNCLE OR HIS AUNT
THUS HE WAS CALLED MIKE MY AUNT
Submitter comment: THIS STORY'S ORIGIN IS IN BAD AX MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: CA02001980
FLORA MCCELLONS FRONT TEETH
FLORA MCCELLON'S FRONT TEETH SEPARATED AND THE GUM TISSUE HUNG DOWN
SO SHE WAS CALLED SKIN TOOTH MCCELLON
Submitter comment: THIS STORIES ORIGIN IS BAD AX MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: CA02001980
PROPER NAME
I WAS NAMED AFTER ST. CHRISTOPHER.
FOR WHEN MY FATHER WAS GOING TO SCHOOL
HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT AND
WORKING FOR FORD, HE DID A LOT OF DRIVING.
THEREFORE, MY FATHER AND MOTHER DECIDED
TO NAME THEIR FIRST BORN CHRISTOPHER SINCE
HE WAS THE PATRON OF TRAVELERS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STILL SAYS A PRAYER TO ST.
CHRISTOPHER EVERY MORNING BEFORE HE
STARTS OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite SPEECH -- Proper Name |
CHINESE CUSTOM-BELIEF
THE CHINESE NAME EACH YEAR AFTER AN ANIMAL IN A CYCLE OF
TWELVE ANIMALS. SOME ANIMALS ARE LUCKY, SOME NOT; HENCE CERTAIN
YEARS WILL BRING GOOD FORTUNE, OTHERS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT TRAVELLED
Where learned: OFFICE
Keyword(s): CALENDARS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 10-03-1967
FOOD NAMES
S.O.S. SHIT ON A SHINGLE NAME GIVEN TO CREAMED MEAT OVER TOAST.
Where learned: NORTH CAROLINA ; CAMP LEJEUNE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
NAMING CONVENTIONS
PERSON MAY BE NAMED AFTER DEAD FAMILY RELATION. THE MOST COMMON
NAMES ARE MOHAMMED OR ALI. PEOPLE ARE NAMED AFTER THE PROPHET
MOHAMMED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name SPEECH -- Place |
Date learned: 10-00-1982
NAMING
SHEENIES: IN MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD (DETROIT) THERE USED TO BE THESE
PEDDLERS, WHO WENT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH CARTS OF ODDS AND ENDS THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT NEED.
IT WAS LIKE A MOBILE FLEA MARKET, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WOMEN WOULD GO OUT AND BUY WHAT THEY NEEDED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): SHEENIES
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
NAMING
TRAYING: WHEN IT SNOWS AND THERE IS NOT MUCH ELSE TO DO,
SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL SMUGGLE TRAYS OUT OF THE CAFETERIA
IN THE DORM (AT EAST QUAD, USUALLY BY POPPING THE TRAYS OUT
THE WINDOW AND RETRIEVING THEM LATER).THE CONFISCATED TRAYS
ARE THEN TAKEN TO THE NEAREST HILL AND USED LIKE A SLED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 10-00-1983
NAMING
THE BALLPARK
"THE BALLPARK" THAT MEANS THAT YOU'RE ALL DOLLED UP.
YOU KNOW. IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU'RE GOING OUT IN YOUR NEW OUTFIT
AND YOU LOOK GOOOOD. "I AM JUST THE BALLPARK!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
CHILDREN HAVE FUN WITH THE IDEA OF REARRANGING
PEOPLE'S NAMES. IN THIS EXAMPLE ONE SWITCHES THE
FIRST LETTER OF THE FIRST NAME WITH THE FIRST
LETTER OF THE LAST NAME TO COME UP WITH A NEW NAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Mental Activity SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
IT IS A TRADITION AT CHEBOYGAN HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE SENIOR CLASS
TO NAME THE INCOMING FRESHMAN CLASS AFTER SOME LIVING THING OR
CHARACTERISTIC OF A LIVING THING. THE FRESHMAN CLASS THEN ASSUMES
THIS APPOINTMENT AND CARRIES THE NICKNAME THROUGH THEIR FOUR
YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN OFFICIAL REFERENCE IS MADE TO THIS
CLASS, THE NICKNAME IS USED.
Submitter comment:
THE TRADITION WAS STARTED WHEN THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL (NOW THE
JUNIOR HIGH) WAS BUILT IN 1958.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CHEBOYGAN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 09-00-1978
MY SISTER IN LAW, WHO IS A NURSE AT PONTIAC OSTEOPATHIC
HOSPITAL, TOLD ME THAT A NURSE WHO WORKS ON THE OBSTETRICS
FLOOR TOLD HER ABOUT THIS STORY. SHE SAID THAT A
WOMAN (SHE CALLED HER MS. BROWN BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T
REMEMBER WHAT THE WOMAN'S NAME WAS) CAME IN TO THE HOSPITAL
TO HAVE HER BABY. LATER, WHEN THE NURSE BROUGHT THE BABY
INTO THE MOTHER'S ROOM SHE ASKED MS. BROWN WHAT SHE WAS
GOING TO NAME HER LITTLE GIRL. MS. BROWN REPLIED THAT THE
BABY'S NAME WAS F-MOLLY (SAID
PHONETICALLY). THE NURSE
ASKED MS. BROWN HOW SHE SPELLED THE NAME; MS. BROWN SAID
JUST LIKE ON THE CARD IN THE CRIB, FEMALE. SHE THOUGHT THAT
THE HOSPITAL ASSIGNED NAMES TO THE BABIES. SHE KEPT THE NAME
FEMALE, PRONOUNCED F-MOLLY BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT IT SOUNDED
BEAUTIFUL.
Submitter comment:
MY SISTER IN LAW SWEARS THAT THIS HAPPENED AT PONTIAC
OSTEOPATHIC HOSPITAL. SHE SAID THERE ARE SO MANY POOR,
ILLITERATE PEOPLE THAT COME IN FOR TREATMENT AT THE HOSPITAL
THAT THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 00001980S
MY SISTER IN LAW, WHO IS A NURSE AT PONTIAC OSTEOPATHIC
HOSPITAL, TOLD ME THIS STORY. SHE HEARD IT FROM A DOCTOR OR
NURSE WHO WORKS IN THE OBSTETRICS FLOOR AT THE HOSPITAL.
THE DOCTOR OR NURSE TOLD MY SISTER IN LAW ABOUT A PAIR OF
TWIN GIRLS THAT WERE BORN NOT TOO LONG AGO. WHEN THE NURSE
WENT TO THE MOTHER'S ROOM TO ASK THE PARENTS WHAT THEY WERE
GOING TO NAME THEIR DAUGHTERS, THE MOTHER REPLIED THAT SHE
PICKED OUT TWO BEAUTIFUL NAMES, (SAID PHONETICALLY)
SA-PHILLY-US AND GO-NORE-REA. THE NURSE ASKED THE WOMAN HOW
TO SPELL THE NAMES AND SHE REPLIED, S-Y-P-H-I-L-I-S AND
G-O-N-O-R-R-H-E-A
Submitter comment:
MY SISTER IN LAW SWEARS THAT THIS IS TRUE AND IT DID HAPPEN
AT PONTIAC OSTEOPATHIC HOSPITAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC
Keyword(s): GONORRHEA ; HUMOR ; SYPHILIS
| Subject headings: | Favorites SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 00001980S
MY MOTHER WORKED FOR THE DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE
EARLY 1920'S. SHE TAUGHT A LOT OF POOR BLACK CHILDREN. SHE
ALWAYS LAUGHED ABOUT THE NAMES SOME OF THE CHILDREN WERE
GIVEN, TWO IN PARTICULAR. SHE SAID THERE WERE TWO SISTERS'
NAMED SYPHILIS AND GONORRHEA, BUT THEY PRONOUNCED THEIR
NAMES SA-PHILLY-US AND GO-NORE-REA.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS SHE HEARD THIS MANY TIMES FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GONORRHEA ; SYPHILIS
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Favorites SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 00001920S
IN ABOUT THE 13TH CENTURY THERE WAS A DYBUUK MADE OUT OF CLAY
AND WOOD IN A JEWISH VILLAGE. THE DYBUUK WAS MADE IN THE
IMAGE OF A MAN. THERE WERE PEOPLE COMING TO HARM THE JEWS SO
A RABBI BREATHED LIFE INTO THE DUBUUK {DYBBUK?} AND PUT THE
NAME OF GOD ON HIS TONGUE AND HE SAVED THE VILLAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): STATUE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Gods PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 06-00-1987
"Goodie Edition"
Submitter comment:
This is the colloquial phrase used by residents of
McBain, Michigan to indicate someone or something that
is particularly run-down or slovenly.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): Sarcasm, derision
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
It is bad luck to name a boat after a boy instead of a girl.
Submitter comment:
Elinor's dance instructor was concerned that a friend of hers
would regret that she had named her boat after her son.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): ship, christening, advice
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities SPEECH -- Proper Name |