Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F534 returned 113 results.
IN THE MACHINE SHOP, WE MIGHT PLAY A TRICK ON A NEW
WORKER BY SENDING HIM TO THE TOOL CRIB FOR "EMERY DUST"
WHICH IS THE DUST FROM THE GRINDING WHEEL. THIS HAS
THE SAME EFFECT AS SENDING SOMEONE FOR A LEFT HANDED
WRENCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 00001920S
THE WEDNESDAY IN THE LAST FULL WEEK
OF APRIL IS "SECRETARIES DAY" THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD.
Submitter comment:
PROFESSIONAL SECRETARIES INTERNATIONAL,
STARTED IN 1942, BEGAN HONORING SECRETARIES
ON THIS DATE DURING THE 1950'S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 21 equinox to June 20 |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
SECRETARIES' SAYING, "GIVE US RAISES
NOT ROSES."
Submitter comment:
IN RESPONSE TO BOSSES GIVING THEIR
SECRETARIES FLOWERS ON SECRETARIES DAY,
(THE WEDNESDAY IN THE LAST FULL WEEK OF
APRIL), THE PROFESSIONAL SECRETARIES
INTERNATIONAL REBELLED WITH THIS PHRASE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 21 equinox to June 20 |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
FROM: PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT DATE: 1/23/87
SUBJECT: STANDARD PROCEDURE?INSTRUCTIONS ON DEATH OF
EMPLOYEE
IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS OFFICE THAT
MANY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN DYING WHILE ON DUTY FOR APPARENTLY
NO GOOD REASON. FURTHERMORE, SOME EMPLOYEES ARE REFUSING
TO FALL OVER AFTER THEY ARE DEAD. THIS, IN SOME CASES, HAS
RESULTED IN MUCH UNEARNED OVERTIME PAYMENTS.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THIS PRACTICE MUST BE DISCONTINUED.
ON OR AFTER THIS DATE, ANY EMPLOYEE FOUND SITTING UP AFTER
HE HAS DIED WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE PAYROLL AT ONCE,
WITHOUT INVESTIGATION UNDER REGULATION NO. 26, SECTION 0,
"NON?PRODUCTIVE LABOR."
WHEN IT CAN BE PROVEN THAT THE EMPLOYEE IS BEING HELD UP BY
A DESK, TYPEWRITER, DRAWING BOARD, TELEPHONE, OR ANY OTHER
APPLIANCE WHICH CAN SUPPORT THE HUMAN BODY, THAT IS THE
PROPERTY OF THE COMPANY, A 90?DAY PERIOD OF GRACE WILL BE
GRANTED.
THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WILL BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO:
IF, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, IT IS NOTED THAT AN EMPLOYEE HAS
NOT MOVED OR OPENED AT LEAST ONE EYE, THE SUPERVISOR WILL
INVESTIGATE. BECAUSE OF THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE NATURE AND
ORIGIN OF SOME EMPLOYEES, AND THE CLOSE RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN
DEATH AND THEIR NORMAL WORKING ATTITUDE, THE INVESTIGATION
WILL BE MADE QUIETLY TO AVOID WAKING THE EMPLOYEE IF HE OR
SHE IS ASLEEP, WHICH IS PERMITTED UNDER THE PRESENT REGIME.
IF SOME DOUBT EXISTS AT TO THE TRUE CONDITION OF THE
EMPLOYEE A PAYCHECK IS TO BE USED AS THE FINAL TEST. IF THE
EMPLOYEE FAILS TO REACH FOR THE CHECK, IT IS REASONABLE TO
ASSUME THAT DEATH HAS OCCURRED. NOTE: IN SOME CASES THE
INSTINCT IS SO STRONGLY DEVELOPED THAT A SPASMODIC CLUTCHING
ACTION MAY OCCUR. DO NOT BE MISLED BY THIS MANIFESTATION.
IN THE EVENT THAT AN EMPLOYEE FAILS TO ABANDON WHATEVER
HE OR SHE IS DOING AT COFFEE TIME, NO INVESTIGATION IS
NECESSARY AS THIS IS CONCLUSIVE PROOF THAT RIGOR MORTIS
HAS ALREADY SET IN.
Submitter comment:
THIS OFFICE MEMO SHOULD BE TYPED ON THE COMPANY LETTERHEAD
USING CURRENT DATE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PERSONNEL
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; XEROX LORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
FROM: PERSONNEL
SUBJECT: ABSENTEEISM DATE: 5/25/70
SICKNESS: NO EXCUSE. WE WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT YOUR DOCTOR'S
STATEMENT AS PROOF, AS WE BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ARE WELL
ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR, YOU ARE ABLE AND WELL
ENOUGH TO COME TO WORK.
DEATH (OTHER THAN YOUR OWN): THIS IS NO EXCUSE. THERE IS
NOTHING YOU CAN DO FOR THEM, AND WE ARE SURE THAT SOMEONE
ELSE WITH A LESSER POSITION CAN ATTEND TO THE ARRANGEMENTS.
HOWEVER, IF THE FUNERAL CAN BE HELD IN THE LATE AFTERNOON,
WE WILL BE GLAD TO LET YOU OFF ONE HOUR EARLY PROVIDED THAT
YOUR SHARE OF THE WORK IS AHEAD ENOUGH TO KEEP THE JOB GOING
IN YOUR ABSENCE.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE (FOR AN OPERATION): WE WILL NO LONGER ALLOW
THIS PRACTICE. WE WISH TO DISCOURAGE ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU
NEED AN OPERATION, AS WE BELIEVE AS LONG AS YOU ARE AN
EMPLOYEE YOU WILL NEED ALL OF WHATEVER YOU HAVE AND YOU
SHOULD NOT CONSIDER HAVING ANYTHING REMOVED. WE HIRED YOU
AS YOU ARE, AND TO HAVE ANYTHING REMOVED WOULD CERTAINLY
MAKE YOU LESS THAN WE BARGAINED FOR.
DEATH (YOUR OWN): THIS WILL BE ACCEPTED AS AN EXCUSE, BUT
WE WOULD LIKE A TWO WEEK NOTICE. WE FEEL IT IS YOUR DUTY
TO TEACH SOMEONE ELSE YOUR JOB.
ALSO, ENTIRELY TOO MUCH TIME IS BEING SPENT IN THE REST
ROOM. IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL ALLOW THE PRACTICE OF GOING
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. FOR INSTANCE, THOSE WHOSE NAMES
BEGIN WITH "A" WILL GO FROM 8:00 TO 8:10 A.M., "B" WILL
GO FROM 8:15 TO 8:30 A.M. AND SO ON. IF YOU ARE UNABLE
TO GO AT YOUR TIME, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO WAIT UNTIL
THE NEXT DAY WHEN YOUR TURN COMES AGAIN.
Submitter comment:
THIS SHOULD BE TYPED ON COMPANY LETTERHEAD, USING THE
CURRENT DATE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PERSONNEL ; POLICY
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; XEROX LORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
TABLE OF EXCUSES
TABLE OF EXCUSES
PLEASE GIVE EXCUSE BY NUMBER IN ORDER TO SAVE TIME:
1. THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT.
2. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE IN A HURRY FOR IT.
3. THAT'S NOT IN MY DEPARTMENT.
4. NO ONE TOLD ME TO GO AHEAD.
5. I'M WAITING FOR AN O.K.
6. HOW DID I KNOW THIS WAS DIFFERENT?
7. THAT'S HER JOB, NOT MINE.
8. WAIT 'TIL THE BOSS COMES BACK AND ASK HIM.
9. I FORGOT.
10. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
11. I'M SO BUSY I JUST CAN'T GET AROUND TO IT.
12. I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU.
13. I WASN'T HIRED TO DO THAT.
Submitter comment: THIS SHOULD BE PRESENT IN CHART OR MENU FORM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): EXCUSES
James Callow Keyword(s): XEROX LORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00001970S
RUSH JOB CALENDAR
NEG FRI FRI THU WED TUE MON
8 7 6 5 4 3 2
16 15 14 13 12 11 9
23 22 21 20 19 18 17
31 30 29 28 27 26 24
38 37 36 35 34 33 32
1. EVERY JOB IS IN A RUSH. EVERYONE WANTS HIS JOB YESTERDAY.
WITH THIS CALENDAR, A CUSTOMER CAN ORDER HIS WORK ON THE 7TH
AND HAVE IT DELIVERED ON THE 3RD.
2. ALL CUSTOMERS WANT THEIR JOBS ON FRIDAY...SO THERE ARE
TWO FRIDAYS IN EACH WEEK.
3. THERE ARE SEVEN EXTRA DAYS AT THE END OF THE MONTH FOR
THOSE END OF THE MONTH JOBS.
4. THERE WILL BE NO FIRST OF THE MONTH BILLS TO BE PAID,
AS THERE ISN'T ANY "FIRST." THE "TENTH" AND "TWENTY-FIFTH"
ALSO HAVE BEEN OMITTED -- IN CASE YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PAY
ON ONE OF THESE DAYS.
5. THERE AR NO BOTHERSOME NON-PRODUCTIVE SATURDAYS AND
SUNDAYS. NO TIME AND ONE?HALF OR DOUBLE TIME TO PAY.
6. THERE'S A NEW DAY EACH WEEK CALLED--NEGOTIATION DAY.
Submitter comment: SHOULD BE PRINTED IN CALENDAR FORM WITH DIRECTION UNDER IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CALENDAR
James Callow Keyword(s): CALENDAR ; HUMOR ; XEROX LORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00001970S
A DAY OFF!!!
A DAY OFF!!!
SO YOU WANT THE DAY OFF
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR.
THERE ARE 365 DAYS PER YEAR AVAILABLE FOR WORK.
THERE ARE 52 WEEKS PER YEAR IN WHICH YOU ALREADY
HAVE TWO DAYS OFF PER WEEK, LEAVING 261 DAYS
AVAILABLE FOR WORK. SINCE YOU SPEND 16 HOURS EACH
DAY AWAY FROM WORK YOU USED UP 170 DAYS, LEAVING
ONLY 91 DAYS AVAILABLE. YOU SPEND 30 MINUTES EACH
DAY ON COFFEE BREAK THAT ACCOUNTS FOR 23 DAYS PER
YEAR, LEAVING ONLY 68 DAYS AVAILABLE. WITH A ONE
HOUR LUNCH PERIOD EACH DAY, YOU HAVE ALREADY USED
UP ANOTHER 46 DAYS, LEAVING ONLY 22 DAYS AVAILABLE
FOR WORK. YOU NORMALLY SPEND 2 DAYS PER YEAR ON
SICK LEAVE, THIS LEAVES YOU ONLY 20 DAYS AVAILABLE
FOR WORK. WE ARE OFF FOR 5 HOLIDAYS PER YEAR, SO
YOUR AVAILABLE WORKING TIME IS DOWN TO 15 DAYS. WE
GENEROUSLY GIVE YOU 14 DAYS VACATION PER YEAR, WHICH
LEAVES ONLY 1 DAY AVAILABLE FOR WORK AND I'LL BE
DAMNED IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT DAY OFF!!!
Submitter comment: OFFICE HUMOR
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): XEROX LORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00001980S
NOTICE
THIS DEPARTMENT REQUIRES NO PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM:
EVERYONE GETS ENOUGH EXERCISE JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS,
FLYING OFF THE HANDLE, RUNNING DOWN THE BOSS, KNIFING
FRIENDS IN THE BACK, DODGING RESPONSIBILITY AND PUSHING
THEIR LUCK.
Submitter comment: PRESENTED AS A NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; XEROX LORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00001980S
When a new employee was hired at Ford Motor Co., it was
common for the older workers to leave a message on the new
person's desk which said, "Call Hank at (phone no.)" When
they did so they were embarrassed to find out that it was
Henry Ford II's office that they were calling.
Submitter comment:
This joke was played on Terry when he first started work
at the Body Engineering Division in 1974.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Prank, initiation, hazing
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Rabbit Track Stew
Down South when a husband is sent out hunting and doesn't get
anything (usually because he got drunk instead of hunting) he
will come home and ask his wife if she can make dinner with
rabbit tracks because that's all he could catch. Also,
rabbit track stew is what people eat when times are tough
and there's not enough food.
Where learned: VIRGINIA, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): non-food
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business Food Drink -- Meat Wild animal SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
Date learned: 00001975CA
Mailman's Oath
Neither rain, sleet, or snow will keep me from my appointed
rounds.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
Japan-Status
In Japan, everyone has name cards with their title on them. These
cards let everyone you come in contact with (usually in a business
setting) learn what status you have achieved. This exchange of cards
lets the exchangers know who is subordinate to the other. The
subordinate person (in Japanese, this person is subservient) must bow
lower than the other.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 01-00-1990
On Sundays, when I was a little girl, all my Grandma's children
would go to her house after church, and we would eat a Sunday
dinner. There were about 6 grandchildren at that time (now there
are 17). My grandparents live in Mount Clemens, and had a large
field (7 acres) where they grew vegetables: tomatoes, pumpkins,
squash, and corn; there were also pear and apple trees, and grape
vines. They sold the vegetables and fruit to the fruit market, and
also sold them to passers-by from their garage or the stand on the
road. Most of the time, my aunts and uncles would work in the
field with my grandparents hoeing the weeds, and someone would be
at the stand and the garage selling the fruits and vegetables.
There were days where people used to come and actually pick the
tomatoes themselves, too; one vision that stands out in my mind is
that of Italian women carrying the baskets on their heads. While
the grown-ups were working, we either pulled weeds with our hands,
shined the apples and pears, or played on the island of trees that
was in the center of the field, or had a picnic back there.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970'S
My grandparents lived on a parcel of land including 7 acres
which they used as a farm. During the summer, my cousins and I
spent one week, which was our vacation, at my grandparents' house.
During the time I spent there, either one or both of my
grandparents would work in the field, hoeing or picking those goods
that were ripe. If only one was working out there, the other was
at the stand by the road in front of the house, or in the garage
selling the vegetables and fruit they had grown. One of my
activities was to ride my bike out into the field, carrying a
coffee-filled honey container to my grandpa to refresh him.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 00001970'S
ASHES FROM THE COAL STOVE WERE USED FOR SCOURING
POWDER; WE HAD NO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS FOR THAT
PURPOSE.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 02-11-1971
NO WOMEN ARE ALLOWED IN THE COAL MINES FOR IT IS
BELIEVED THAT THERE WOULD BE A MAJOR CATASTROPHE IF
ANY WOMEN WERE THERE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck Sex |
Date learned: 11-17-1969
IF YOU CUT A DRESS ON FRIDAY, IT WILL NEVER BE FINISHED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 07-03-1970
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
LET'S GET DOWN TO WHERE THE WATER HITS THE WHEEL.
Submitter comment: LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS!
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): BUSINESS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CUCKOO CLOCKS
IN THE BLACK FOREST OF GERMANY, IT IS A VERY LARGE TRADE TO MAKE
CUCKOO CLOCKS. THE PEOPLE FROM THE PLATT AREA EXPLAIN THIS BY
SAYING THAT WHEN GERMANY BEGAN TO BE POPULATED ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
COULD NOT READ OR WRITE AND WERE OF LOW INTELLIGENCE WERE HERDED
INTO THE BLACK FOREST TO SPEND THEIR LIVES. THEY TOOK WITH THEM
ONLY WHAT THEY NORMALLY CARRIED. FOR MOST OF THE MEN, THIS MEANT
KNIVES. BECAUSE THE WOODS WERE SO DENSE AND DARK, THE ONLY THING
THE PEOPLE COULD DO WAS CARVE AND WHITTLE WOOD TO THIN OUT THE
FOREST AND MAKE IT LIGHTER. AS THIS HAPPENED, THE PEOPLE BECAME
MORE TECHNICAL AND THEIR PASTIME OF WHITTLING TURNED INTO THE
ART OF CLOCK-MAKING.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN