Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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NAMING A RIVER
THE RIVRE ROUGE RUNNING THROUGH DEARBORN WAS NAMED BY
THE FRENCH EXPLORER LASALLE, BACK IN THE 1TH CENTURY. WHILE TRAVELING
SOUTH ON THE DETROIT RIVER, LASALLE SAW A TRIBUTARY AND
PROCEEDED TO FOLLOW IT INLAND. NOTICING THAT IT HAD A
REDDISH COLOR, HE NAMED IT 'LE RIVRE ROUGE'. THE WATER
APPEARED RED BECAUSE OF THE RED RIVER CLAY BASE.
Submitter comment:
MR. BARRY IS A FORD MOTOR GUIDE, AND I BELIEVE HE
LEANED THIS, (OR INVENTED IT) DURING HIS YEARS AS A
TOURIST GUIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Running water Small current. Brook, spring.... BELIEF -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: SUMMER 1963
ORIGIN OF THE JACK O LANTERN
A BOY NAMED JACK WANTED TO GO TO HEAVEN, BUT HIS CONSCIENCE
WOULD NOT LET HIM. SO JACK WANTED TO GET INTO HELL, BUT SINCE
HE PLAYED TRICKS AND JOKES, THE DEVIL WOULD NOT LET HIM IN.
SO JACK HAD TO ROAM THE EARTH FOR ALL TIME, CARRYING
A LANTERN. THEREFORE PEOPLE HAVE CALLED HIM, JACK O' LANTERN.
Data entry tech comment:
A-T 330 THE SMITH OUTWITS THE DEVIL
MT[ A2817 ORIGIN OF WILL-OF-THE-WISP (JACK-O'-LANTERN)
CK[ IGNUS FATUUS ; JACK-O'-LANTERN IS NAME FOR HOLLOWEEN PUMPKIN
WL[ ALPENA, MICHIGAN
****************** NEW D FILE 2 ******************
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALPENA
James Callow Keyword(s): IGNUS FATUUS ; JACK-O'-LANTERN IS NAME FOR HOLLOWEEN PUMPKIN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 10-04-1970
ORIGIN OF THE PEARLS OF THE PERSIAN GULF
TO THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ, THE RIVER TIGRIS REPRESENTED A
BEAUTIFUL GIRL WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH THE HANDSOME EUPHRATES.
THEIR FAMILIES OPPOSED THE MARRIAGE BUT THEY RAN AWAY FROM HOME
UNTIL THEY MET IN THE SOUTH OF IRAQ IN ONE WIDE RIVER.
WHEN THE TWO LOVERS MET THEY WEPT, AND THEIR HAPPINESS TEARS
ARE STILL PICKED UP BY DIVERS IN THE ARAB GULF AS BEAUTIFUL AND
PRECIOUS PEARLS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL: PEARL OYSTER (MOLLUSK)
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Raw Material |
Date learned: 12-00-1965
POLISH BELIEF
GDY CHTLOP TRAWE KOSI, LADA BABA DESZCZ UPROSI.
GDY CHTLOP TRAWE KOSI, LADA BABA DESCZ REPROSI.
WHEN A MAN CUTS HIS GRASS, THE WOMAN BEGS FOR RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME (IN POLISH) ; SEXISM ; TRANSLATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
COURTSHIP BELIEF
IF YOUR SLIP IS HANGING, YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BOY FRIEND.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DIDN'T REMEMBER SOURCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL ; UNDERWEAR
| Subject headings: | Custom BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
WHITE RACE BELIEF
GWEN'S MOTHER BELIEVES THAT THE REASON THAT WHITE PEOPLE DO
NOT GET AS COLD AS NEGROES IS BECAUSE WHITE MOTHERS
PUT THEIR CHILDREN OUTSIDE IN WINTERTIME WITH ONLY A JACKET.
PERHAPS, NEGROES HAVE COLD BLOOD BECAUSE THEIR MOTHERS KEEP
THEIR CHILDREN INSIDE DURING REALLY COLD WEATHER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; COLOR
| Subject headings: | Daily Life |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
BELIEF
THE BLESSED MOTHER TURNS HER BACK ON GIRLS WHO WHISTLE.
Submitter comment: HEARD FROM REV. CAHILL'S MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FRIVOLITY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
SLEEP BELIEF
IF YOU CAN NOT GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT THE SAND
MAN WILL COME AND PUT SAND IN YOUR EYES TO MAKE YOU SLEEP.
IN THE MORNING YOU MAY FIND A GRITTY DEPOSIT IN THE CORNER OF
YOUR EYE. THIS IS SOME OF THE SAND HE USED TO PUT YOU TO SLEEP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): ETIOLOGY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping |
OLD IRISH CUSTOM
IRISH MOTHERS THROW HOLY WATER ON THEIR KIDS WHEN THEY ARE
FIGHTING IN ORDER TO DRIVE OUT THE DEVIL. THE THROWING OF HOLY WATER
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EXORCISM TO DRIVE THE RAGE (DEVIL) OUT OF
PEOPLE WHO WERE FIGHTING.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOSTILITY ; SPRINKLING HOLY WATER
BELIEF ABOUT A FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
A RAWHIDE BRACELET IS GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR FRIEND
AS A TOKEN OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP. IT CONSISTS OF FOUR KNOTS
ONE THE BIGGEST, IS A SQUARE KNOT REPRESENTING SOME EVIL.
THE OTHER THREE REPRESENT IN ORDER, YOUR FRIEND, YOURSELF
AND A WALL. THIS IS SAID TO MEAN THAT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR FRIEND
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO FACE EVIL HEAD ON, BECAUSE YOUR FRIEND IS IN
FRONT OF YOU, AND THE WALL IS BEHIND YOU.
IT WAS SAID THAT YOU HAD TO WEAR THESE BRACELETS FOR A PERIOD OF
ONE YEAR, OR UNTIL THEY ROTTED OFF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; POSITION DIRECTION ; SYMBOL
Date learned: 10-23-1970
THE BLACK LINE
A BLACK LINE IN THE CEMENT OF A SIDEWALK IS A LINE TO AVOID.
IF YOU SHOULD PURPOSELY STEP ON A BLACK LINE YOU WILL GET COOTIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
EDGE-WISE
WHEN GIVING A GIFT WITH SHARP EDGES, A PENNY SHOULD BE GIVEN
FOR EACH EDGE SO THAT THE FRIENDSHIP WILL NOT BE CUT.
Submitter comment: FROM HER MOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATIC ; SYMBOLISM UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
MOON TIME
IF A PLANK IS LAID ON THE GRASS DURING A CERTAIN TIME OF THE
MOON THE GRASS UNDERNEATH THE PLANK WILL DIE IN TWO
WEEKS TIME. IF A PLANK IS LAID ON A DIFFERENT TIME OF THE
MOON THE GRASS BENEATH THE PLANK WILL STILL BE GREEN AFTER TWO WEEKS
TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.6 |
Date learned: 11-08-1968
SCHOOL BELIEF
IT IS BELIEVED THAT GETTING TOTALLY DRUNK THE NIGHT BEFORE A
PSYCHOLOGY TEST WILL BRING A PASSING GRADE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT AND HIS ROOMMATE FOLLOWED THIS FOR THREE
TESTS AND RECEIVED PASSING GRADES OF B OR BETTER,
HOWEVER THE INFORMANT LATER DROPPED OUT DUE TO POOR GRADES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
EVERY TIME A SCORPIO IS BORN, A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY HAS DIED THE
YEAR BEFORE, AND EVERY TIME ONE DIES, THERE WILL BE A BIRTH IN THAT
FAMILY WITHIN THE YEAR.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
James Callow Keyword(s): ASTROLOGICAL SIGN FOR PERSONS BORN 10-24--11-22
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Crucial Moment of Life Life Cycle BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
FERTILITY
SOME SYRIAN WOMEN BELIEVE THAT A MARK TATOOED IN THE GROIN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Lower body, legs BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- P866 |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
PREGNANCY BELIEF
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT EAT APPLES, IT WILL CAUSE HARM TO
THE CHILD.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER TOLD HER, OLD CROAATION BELIEF
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): APPLE AS ORIGINAL SIN SYMBOL ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-07-1970
CUSTOM
THERE IS A TRADITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN THAT IF
YOU STEP ON THE M OF THE DIAGONAL EMBLAZED IN THE CROSSWALK,
YOU WILL FLUNK YOUR NEXT EXAM.
Submitter comment:
WHEN A STUDENT AT U. OF M., THE INFORMANT TRIED THIS
TO DISPROVE THE TRADITION, BY STEPPING ON THE M AFTER STUDYING
FOR AN EXAM. SHE FAILED HER EXAM.
KEYPUNCHERS COMMENT, THERE IS ANOTHER LIKE THIS IN THE ARCHIVE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; SYMBOL ; WALKING PROHIBITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 12-00-1967
BABY MYTH
EVERYONE BELIEVES THAT ALL BABIES ARE BORN WITH BLUE EYES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-06-1967
BIRTH BELIEF
TAKE A PENCIL WITH AN ERASER ON IT AND STICK THE POINT ON A
THREADED NEEDLE. NOW HOLD THE THREAD, SUSPENDING THE PENCIL OVER THE
PULSE POINT OF A GIRL. THE PENCIL SHOULD START MOVING IN A CIRCULAR
OR LINEAR MOTION. IF CIRCULAR, HER FIRST CHILD WILL BE A GIRL.
IN A LINEAR PATH, A BOY.
CONTINUE PERFORMING UNTIL MOTION STOPS, THIS WILL TELL YOU HOW
Submitter comment:
ANOTHER ONE ALIKE IN THE ARCHIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 04-00-1968