Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P477 returned 904 results.
TRUCK DRIVING PROWESS
DURING THE 1940'S AND EARLY 1950'S SEMI DRIVERS
FOLLOWING EACH OTHER ON OLD U.S. 22 (ONE OF THE FEW TRUCK
ROUTES INTO THE NEW YORK METRO AREA FROM THAT AREA [HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA]) USED TO ENGAGE IN A "CONTEST"
BY ALTERNATELY KNOCKING OUT THE ROADSIDE MAILBOXES BY SWAYING THE
REARMOST END OF THE TRAILER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S INFORMANT: JOHN POTERE A DRIVER FOR MCCLEAN TRUCKING. THE INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED IN HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA IN OCTOBER OF 1969.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONAL FOLKLORE TRUCK DRIVERS
Date learned: 12-01-1972
THAYER'S GRAVE
THAYER'S GRAVE IS IN A CEMETERY IN FARMINGTON, MICHIGAN.
YOU DRIVE INTO A GRAVEYARD, DOWN A HILL PAST THAYER'S GRAVE.
PUT YOUR CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THAYER PULLS YOUR CAR UP THE HILL
BACKWARDS. THE CAR ALWAYS STOPS RIGHT BY HIS GRAVE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE MODERN
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-08-72
IF YOU SET DOWN AND THEN GET UP AND YOUR DRESS HEM IS TURNED UP
SPIT ON IT AND YOU'LL GET A NEW ONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- S633 |
Date learned: 00-09-1972
IF YOU STUMP YOU TOE TURN COMPLETELY AROUND. FOR THIS IS A SIGN
OF BAD LUCK TO COME AND THIS IS A WAY TO AVOID THAT.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION AND MOTION--CIRCLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 09-00-1972
CAN FOOD
DON'T CAN FOOD WHEN YOU ARE ON YOUR PERIOD.
BECAUSE THE FOOD WILL GO TO WASTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MENSTRUAL TABU AGAINST PRESERVING FOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
ST. ANTHONY
IF YOU LOSE SOMETHING, PRAY TO ST. ANTHONY AND YOU WILL FIND IT.
Submitter comment: HE CONSIDERS THIS A MALTESE BELIEF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MISPLACING OR LOSING THINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 03-21-1975
SALT
NEVER WIPE SALT OFF THE TABLE, BLOWIT OFF,
OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): SPILLED SALT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.17 BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17 BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22 |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
CORNCOB PIPES
SMOKING A CORNCOB PIPE WILL BRING GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;
James Callow Keyword(s): SMOKING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2 |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
FISHING BELIEF
DO NOT GO FISHING IN THE RAIN OR AFTER RAIN OR IN THE MOONLIGHT
OR WHEN THERE IS AN EAST WIND, BECAUSE FISH WILL NOT BITE UNDER
ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS.
Submitter comment: THESE PEOPLE ARE EXPERT FISHERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: 02-10-1970
CUSTOM PROTECTING AGAINST DEVIL
WHEN YOU SNEEZE, THE DEVIL CAN ENTER YOUR MOUTH IF SOMEONE DOES
NOT SAY GOD BLESS YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
PLANTING BELIEF
IF A WOMAN TOUCHES ANYTHING DURING HER MENSTRUAL PERIOD
NOT GROW, AND IF SHE TOUCHES A PLANT IT WILL DIE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT GOT THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-15-1971
STREET OF NO RETURN
THERE IS A STREET NEAR 26 MILE ROAD THAT HAS BEEN NAMED
THE STREET OF NO RETURN. IT IS OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND
ALL AROUND IT THE SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL AND GREEN BUT WHEN YOU
TURN DOWN THIS STREET EVERYTHING IS DEAD, THERE IS NO WILDLIFE AROUND
AND NO TREES, ETC.
IF YOU GO DOWN THIS STREET FAR ENOUGH YOU WILL NEVER RETURN.
Submitter comment:
JEAN HEARD OF THIS STREET WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL, NO ONE SEEMS
TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE, BUT SHE DOES RECALL AN INSTANCE
THAT SOMEONE SHE KNEW IN SCHOOL WENT DOWN WITH A COUPLE OF GUYS AND
NO ONE EVER FOUND THEM AFTER THAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 11-07-1971
IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, IT WILL BE A BAD YEAR.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Date learned: 03-19-1971
UNTITLED
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN THE TALE IS THAT A LION ROARS WHEN
A GIRL WALKS BY THE LION STATUES GUARDING THE MUSEUM. THE GIRL
MUST BE A VIRGIN. THIS HASN'T HAPPENED YET, AND PROBABLY WILL
NOT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY? ; PESSIMISM ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Human Being BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
THE OLD LADY IN THE OLD HOUSE
THE OLD LADY THAT USED TO LIVE IN A LARGE DARK HOUSE DOWN
THE STREET WAS BELIEVED TO HOARD ALL HER MONEY AND BE VERY RICH.
Submitter comment: A BELIEF AT 8-9 YEARS OF AGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MISER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-31-1968
GOOD OLD U. OF DETROIT
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, WHEN A VIRGIN GRADUATES, THE
TOWER CLOCK WILL STOP, AND REMAIN STOPPED FOREVER.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY? ; PESSIMSIM ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Human Being BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
UNTITLED
GOING TO MICHIGAN STATE, I WAS TOLD THAT IF EVER A VIRGIN GRADUATES
FROM HERE, THE STATUE OF THE MAN WILL DROP THE BALL HE HOLDS.
DO NOT EXPECT IT SOON, IT HAS LASTED A LONG TIME ALREADY.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY ; PESSIMSIM ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1965
THINGS GROW WITH THE MOON
IF A PERSON CUTS THEIR HAIR WHEN THERE IS A FULL MOON, IT WILL
GROW WITH THE MOON. IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR WHEN THERE IS
A FULL MOON, IT WILL GROW SLOWLY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-24-1970
OMEN
WHENEVER THERE IS A FULL MOON, THERE ARE MANY MORE CAR
ACCIDENTS.
Submitter comment:
RICH'S MOTHER WORKS IN THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT AT A CAR RENTAL
AGENCY. EVERYTIME THAT THERE IS A FULL MOON SHE TELLS ABOUT THE
KIND OF MOOD ONE OF HER FRIENDS WILL BE IN THE NEXT DAY;
'WELL DORIS WILL BE COMPLAINING TOMORROW BECAUSE OF ALL THE
ACCIDENTS.'
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
STORM PROTECTION BELIEF
YOU MUST NEVER TAKE A BATH OR WASH YOUR HAIR DURING A THUNDER
AND LIGHTNING STORM LEST LIGHTNING STRIKE YOUR HOME, AND YOU WILL
BE ELECTROCUTED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 02-15-1970