Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for DEATH returned 183 results.
SHINING SUN
HAPPY THE CORPSE THE SUN SHINES ON
Submitter comment:
(I MYSELF, HAVE HEARD THIS
PROVERB BEFORE BUT THE WORD
BRIDE WAS USED INSTEAD OF
CORPSE.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
HE HAS ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE AND THE OTHER ON A BANANA PEEL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): FRUIT ; HEALTH ; IMMINENCE OF DEATH ; METAPHOR CONTRAST OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
INHERITANCE
HE'S A FOOL THAT MAKES HIS DOCTOR HIS HEIR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): METAPHOR DEATH INHERITANCE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-01-1967
DYING
HE'S WALKING SLOW, BUT HE'S GOING FAST.
Submitter comment:
WHEN A MAN IS IN THE HOSPITAL IS FAILING AND DYING FAST THE IRISH
SAY THIS.
JUDY LEARNED THIS FROM THE IRISH INTERNS WHEN SHE WAS WORKING AT
MOUNT CARMEL HOSPITAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): HEALTH ; METAPHOR PROVERBIAL PHRASE DEATH OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
THROAT CURE
TOUCH THE HAND OF A DEAD INFANT TO A PERSON'S THROAT TO CURE IT.
Submitter comment:
MRS. DUNMIRE SAID THAT HER MOTHER, WHO HAD A GOITER, DID THIS
WHEN SHE DRESSED A LITTLE BABY BEFORE ITS FUNERAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH BELIEF ; TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
NUMBER 3
DEATH ALWAYS COMES IN THREES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
PROVERB
DEATH COMES IN THREE'S
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 01-16-1970
LIMERICK
ONE NIGHT A YOUNG AMOROUS SIOUX
HAD A DATE WITH A MAIDEN HE KNIOUX
THE CORONER LATER FOUND
THAT THE COUPLE HAD DROWNED
PADDLING A LEAKY CANIOUX
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; CACOGRAPHY ; CANOE ; DEATH ; FRENCH SPELLING ; RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
EPITAPH, FOUND IN BOOT HILL
HERE LIES LESTER MOORE
SIX SLUGS FROM A .44
NO LESS, NO MORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH FROM GUNSHOT ; PUN ON PERSONAL NAME ; RHYME: AAA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-16-1969
AUTOGRAPH (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; CYNICAL INSIGHT (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
FALSE TEETH, ROUGE, AND BORROWED HAIR/ MAY GIVE TO AGE A YOUTHFUL
AIRE./ BUT WHEN DEATH COMES TO CALL US HENCE/ THERE IS AN END OF
ALL PRETENCE.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): MAKEUP WIG ; RHYME DEATH ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Cynical insight |
Date learned: 00001955 AUTOGRAPH BOOK
AUTOGRAPH BOOK MATERIAL (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; PIOUS REFLECTION (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
WHEN THE GOLDEN SUN IS SETTING,/ AND ON EARTH NO MORE YOU TROD,
MAY YOUR NAME IN GOLD BE WRITTEN,/ IN THE ANNALS OF GOD.
Where learned: AUTOGRAPH BOOK
Keyword(s): DEATH HEAVEN ; METONYMY: NAME ; RELIGION QUATRAIN ; RHYME ABCB ; SALVATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Pious reflection |
Date learned: 00-00-1943
UNDERTAKER (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; ROSES ARE RED, AND OTHER SUCH ASSOCIATIONS (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
ROSES ARE RED/ VIOLETS ARE BLUE
MY FATHER IS AN UNDERTAKER/ AND HE'LL GET YOU.
Where learned: SCRAPBOOK
Keyword(s): PARODY ; PLANTS FLOWERS ; QUATRAIN DEATH ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations |
Date learned: 06-00-1965
WISECRACKS, GAGS, SILLY STORIES, INSULTS (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
ASHES TO ASHES,/ DUST TO DUST,/ IF BOYS DON'T GET YOU,/HALFWITS
MUST.
Submitter comment: FROM INFORMANT'S JUNIOR HIGH AUTUGRAPH BOOK 1929-1933
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; GLENSHAW
Keyword(s): DEATH ; ITERATION ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 00001929-1933 ; 10-02-1971
SPIDER IN HAIR
A TEENAGE GIRL RATTED HER HAIR AND DIDN'T COMB IT OUT FOR TWO WEEKS.
SHE DIED SUDDENLY. AN AUTOPSY HAD TO BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE
CAUSE OF DEATH. THEY FOUND THAT SPIDERS HAD MADE THEIR HOME IN HER
HAIR AND HAD EATEN THEIR WAY INTO HER BRAIN.
Submitter comment: HEARD SEVERAL TIMES ON U-D CAMPUS.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH INSECT LAZINESS ; FATAL HAIRDO
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
SCRATCHED ; SCRATCHING AT THE DOOR (KEYPUNCHER'S TITLE)
SEVERAL DECADES AGO A NUMBER OF CO-EDS WERE HATCHETED TO DEATH AT
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. IT WAS THEN DECREED THAT NO CO-ED WAS TO
GO OUT ALONE AFTER DARK. ONE EVENING A CO-ED FOUND IT NECESSARY TO GO
TO THE LIBRARY TO FIND A BOOK WHICH SHE NEEDED FOR AN EXAM ON THE
NEXT DAY. HER ROOMMATE WAS ILL, THE CO-ED WENT OUT ALONE. LATER IN
THE EVENING THE ILL CO-ED HEARD SCRATCHING AT HER DOOR. FRIGHTENED
SHE PUSHED A DRESSER AGAINST THE DOOR AND WAITED. NOTHING FURTHER
WAS HEARD, AND SHE FELL ASLEEP. WHEN SHE AWOKE IN THE MORNING, HER
ROOMMATE HADN'T RETURNED. THE GIRL PUSHED THE DRESSER FROM THE DOOR
AND PULLED IT OPEN. HER ROOMMATE HAD RETURNED. SHE LAY AT THE DOOR,
HAND OUT-STRETCHED, WITH A HATCHET PLANTED IN HER BACK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD TALE FROM A FRIEND WHO ATTENDS M.S.U.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): CAMPUS HORROR STORY ; DEATH UNIVERSITY ; GORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-23-1965
SAYING
A GREEN CHRISTMAS MAKES A FULL GRAVEYARD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER WHO SAID THE SAYING WAS USED IN
DUNDEE, SCOTLAND WHERE SHE LIVED UNTIL SHE WAS AROUND 30 YEARS OLD.
INFORMANT'S MOTHER CAME TO AMERICA IN 1912, THREE YEARS AFTER
INFORMANT WAS BORN.
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): DEATH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Predictions |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
DIVINATION--CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
AT CHRISTMAS EVE SUPPER, A CANDLE IS LIT. IF THE SMOKE GOES UP, ALL
THOSE SEATED AT THE TABLE WILL BE BACK THE FOLLOWING YEAR. IF THE
SMOKE GOES TOWARD A DOOR, ONE OF THE GUESTS WILL DIE BEFORE THE
NEXT CHRISTMAS EVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTED BY LETTER
Keyword(s): DEATH ; PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F652 F652.44 |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
CHRISTMAS BELIEF
TWO CANDLES ARE LIT AND PLACED ON THE TABLE DURING THE CHRISTMAS EVE
MEAL. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEAL BOTH THE FATHER AND THE MOTHER
WOULD BLOW OUT A CANDLE AND THEN WOULD WATCH THE SMOKE. IF THE SMOKE
WENT UP YOU WOULD LIVE ANOTHER YEAR. IF THE SMOKE WENT OUT THE DOOR
YOU WOULDN'T.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; TROY
Keyword(s): DEATH ; PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles |
Date learned: 10-24-1970
THE $200 CORVET.
AS THE STORY GOES, THERE IS A CORVET FOR SALE FOR ONLY $200
THAT A MAN DIED IN, AND WAS NOT FOUND FOR TWO WEEKS. AFTER THE
BODY WAS REMOVED, THE SMELL COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR NO
MATTER WHAT WAS DONE TO THE CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): DEATH CAR ; DECAYED SMELL.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 04-26-1972
AUTOGRAPH VERSE
WHEN THE GOLDEN SUN IS SETTING
AND THE EARTH NO MORE YOU TROD;
MAY YOUR NAME IN GOLD BE WRITTEN
IN THE AUTOGRAPH OF GOD.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS WRITTEN IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF
COLETTE BY A SCHOOLMATE.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): BLESSING ; CHARM ; PIOUS ; PREPARATION FOR DEATH ; RHYME ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Pious reflection |
Date learned: 10-08-1967