Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P437 returned 129 results.
HAUNTED HOUSE ON JEFFERSON (AVENUE, DETROIT.)
THE OLD MURPHY MANSION WHERE A MAD MAD BUTLER LIVES BUT HAS
NEVER BEEN FOUND. HE HAS NEVER BEEN ACCUSED BUT RUMORS SAY
THREE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY HIM (HE DROPPED THEM
DOWN A ELEVATOR SHAFT).
Submitter comment: FROM DAD
Where learned: LIVING ROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-18-1967
BADLUCK SLEEP OMEN
DONT SLEEP IN THE SUN OR YOU WILL GO CRAZY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, BORN AND RAISED IN SABINAS MEXICO, WHERE THE BELIEF IS
HELD, HAD LITTLE FAITH IN ITS MERIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping |
Date learned: 11-00-1981
TO GO ABOUT BAREHEADED ON A MOONLIT NIGHT DRIES UP THE BRAIN AND THE
PERSON WILL EVENTUALLY GO MAD.
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
Date learned: 03-00-1982
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, YOU ARE GOING TO KISS A FOOL.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
HOW TO QUIET KIDS
WHENEVER THE CHILDREN USED TO SING AT THE TABLE, I USED TO TELL
THEM THIS OLD SAYING THAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME AS A YOUNGSTER, TO
MAKE THEM STOP: "IF YOU SING AT THE TABLE YOUR HUSBAND WILL
HAVE A CRAZY WIFE." THEY RARELY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPLICATIONS
OF THE SAYING BUT IT CERTAINLY SILENCED THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00-00-1932
WHOSOEVER WANTS TO READ THE SEVEN BOOKS OF MOSES SHOULD BE VERY
GOOD AT READING, BECAUSE IF SUCH A PERSON SHOULD MISPRONOUNCE ANY
WORD THERE, HE WILL TURN MAD.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Magic Book |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
A PERSON CAN TAKE SOME OF YOUR HAIR,BORE A HOLE IN A TREE,
PUT YOUR HAIR IN IT AND DRIVE YOU CRAZY, THE ONLY WAY YOU
CAN STOP IT IS CUT ALL OF YOUR HAIR OFF AND CLEAN YOUR HEAD.
Where learned: LOUISIANA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
WHILE WORKING AT AN ORPHANAGE IN PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI,
I HEARD ABOUT VARIOUS VOODOO PRACTICES FROM THE SISTER IN
CHARGE OF THE ORPHANAGE, SISTER VERONICA. SISTER VERONICA
SHOWED US A 12 YEAR OLD BOY WHO WAS MENTALLY RETARDED AS
A RESULT OF BEING PART OF A VOODOO WORSHIP AS AN INFANT.
THE BOY'S HEAD WAS CRUSHED, AND A CROSS WAS ENGRAVED INTO
HIS SKULL. HIS TESTICLES WERE ALSO CUT OFF. HE MANAGED
TO SURVIVE, BUT HIS BRAIN WAS PERMANENTLY DAMAGED, AND
THE BOY IS ALSO CRIPPLED. NOW HE SITS ALL DAY CHAINED
INTO A CHAIR.
Submitter comment:
I SAW THIS BOY AND LEARNED OF HIS LIFE WHILE WORKING
AT THIS ORPHANAGE FOR A MONTH IN 1980.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 01-00-1980
IF YOU SEE A CROSSED EYED PERSON ON ANY
FRIDAY OF THE MONTH NEVER LOOK HIM IN THE
EYES. IF YOU TAKE THE CHANCE AND LOOK HIM
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; BATON ROUGE
James Callow Keyword(s): CROSS-EYED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
"SLEEPY HOLLOW"
A MADMAN ESCAPED FROM A MENTAL INSTITUTION. HE WAS RUNNING
AND REACHED AN OLD BRIDGE ON SLEEPY HOLLOW ROAD. THE MADMAN
THEN KILLED ANOTHER MAN AND HUNG HIM FROM THE BRIDGE. IF
ANYONE GOES TO THE BRIDGE ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT, HE WILL SEE
THE MAN HANGING FROM THE BRIDGE, AND IF HE STAYS VERY LONG,
THE MADMAN WILL APPEAR AND TRY TO KILL HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-00-1985
DON'T SING AT THE TABLE, OR YOU'LL MARRY A CRAZY MAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
THE MAN WITH LEPROSY
IN THE TOWN OF ARECIBO THERE USED TO LIVE A MAN WITH LEPROSY.
HE LIVED IN THE MOUNTAINS AND USED TO COME TO SELL CHICKEN.
LONG AFTER HE DIED AND UP UNTIL TODAY, MANY PEOPLE
FROM THE VILLAGE CAN SEE HIM WALKING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITH
CHICKENS TO SELL.
Submitter comment:
SHE SAYS THAT THE STORY IS TRUE AND THAT MANY OF HER
RELATIVES HAVE SEEN THE GHOST.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO
Keyword(s): ARECIBO, PUERTO RICO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00001960S ; 11-00-1987
Muskeg Molly
Every summer on my camping trip to Quetico Park, I am told
the legend of Muskeg Molly. Muskeg Molly and her new husband
were camping there for their honeymoon. Unfortunately, her
husband drowned and Molly is thought to still roam about in
the park. She is approximately six feet ten inches tall, has
blond hair, like her husband, and lives off the land. She
camps in sparsely populated campsites and will assault anyone
coming near her territory, especially fair-skinned people.
Only one case has actually been reported and to this day
he resides in a mental hospital.
Where learned: Quetico Provincial Park
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Every year at camp, the older campers get to tell the
legend of the Hatchet Man to the new campers. Legend
has it that Hatchet Man will come around to the camp
at night time to capture a new camper. They are reminded
that the marks outside the wood cabins are indeed hatchet
marks from Hatchet Man.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Camp Sancta Maria ; Gaylord
Keyword(s): camp
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 07-00-1980
FOOLS HANDS SCRIBBLE ON THE TABLE AND WALL.
Submitter comment: GERMAN PROVERB
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed SPEECH -- Instructions Directions PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES YOU WILL KISS A FOOL
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed SPEECH -- Gesture |
TO TOUCH A HUNCHBACK'S HUMP WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Good luck |
IF YOU SING WHILE AT THE DINNER TABLE YOU WILL MARRY A
CRAZY MAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 02-01-1990
When walking down the sidewalk, don't walk on the cracks or
you will turn into the ugliest girl in the school. We used
to play this walking to elementary school.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
If a woman or girl sings at the table, she
will marry a crazy man.
Submitter comment:
Informant said this happened to a friend of hers who
used to listen to the radio and sing while she was
eating. When she grew up she married a man who was
crazy.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EATING ; FUNCTION ; Meals ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00001940S