Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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DURING THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC BACK IN 1780, THE COFFEE
WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE CAUSE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): HISTORY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FOR CHOLERA (TO PREVENT IT):
WEAR AN OLD ONION AROUND THE NECK AND BURN TAR ON EVERY
STREET CORNER. THEY DID THIS DURING THE NASHVILLE EPIDEMIC
AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): HISTORY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
ON GROSSE ILE THERE WAS A HERMIT WHO LIVED IN AN OLD
HOUSE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. PEOPLE WOULD GO TO HIS
HOUSE, PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HE WOULD COME OUT AND
TELL STORIES ABOUT "THE OLD DAYS." HIS NAME WAS
LOONEY ROONEY. THE HOUSE WAS HIDDEN DOWN A DARK, UNLIT
ROAD AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ALWAYS FIRED SEVERAL
SHOTS INTO THE AIR, TO SHOW THAT HE DID NOT WANT ANY
TROUBLEMAKERS, AS YOUR CAR APPROACHED.
Submitter comment:
THE FACT THAT THIS IS A LEGEND IS THAT NO ONE THAT I
HEARD THIS STORY FROM ACTUALLY SAW HIM. I HAVE HEARD
IT FROM MANY PEOPLE SINCE I HAVE LIVED ON GROSSE ILE--
PEOPLE MY OWN AGE AS WELL AS FROM MY DAD.
ABOUT 1968 I READ IN THE LOCAL PAPER THAT A MAN WHOSE
LAST NAME WAS ROONEY DIED. HE HAD NO FAMILY LIVING
ON THE ISLAND HERE, BUT IT IS STILL QUESTIONABLE
WHETHER ANY OF THE ESCAPADES REALLY HAPPENED, BECAUSE
EVERYONE I TALKED TO WERE "TOO AFRAID" TO EVEN GO
NEAR HIS HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE ILE
Keyword(s): RECLUSE, STORY-TELLER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-15-1970
SCRATCHIN'
A YOUNG COUPLE WAS ON A DATE AND WERE TRAVELING DOWN
A DIRT ROAD. IT WAS DARK OUT AND QUITE WINDY OUT.
AS THE COUPLE WERE DRIVING, THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS.
THE BOY TOLD HIS DATE THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE
HER AND WALK BACK TO TOWN TO GET SOME GAS. HE TOLD HER
THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALRIGHT BUT LOCK THE DOORS
AFTER HE LEFT AND NOT TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR ANY REASON.
HE LEFT AND THE GIRL STAYED IN THE CAR. SHE WASN'T
AFRAID. SUDDENLY SHE HEARD A SCRATCHING ON THE ROOF
OF THE CAR. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK, BUT SHE
DARED NOT OPEN THE DOORS. SHE REALLY GOT SCARED.
SO SHE LAID DOWN IN THE CAR TO TRY AND HIDE FROM
WHATEVER IT WAS THAT WAS OUT THERE. ALL THE WHILE
THIS SCRATCHING PERSISTED. THIS KEPT UP FOR OVER AN
HOUR. THEN SUDDENLY SHE HEARD A TAPPING AT THE
WINDOW. THE GIRL SPRANG UP AND SAW A LIGHT IN THE
SIDE WINDOW. IT WAS THE POLICE. THE GIRL WAS RELIEVED
TO SEE THEM AND THANKED THEM. BUT THE OFFICER SAID
HE WAS SORRY AND POINTED UP ABOVE THE CAR. THE GIRL
LOOKED UP AND SAW HER BOYFRIEND HANGING DEAD FROM A
LARGE TREE WITH ONE HAND RUBBING AGAINST THE TOP OF
THE CAR. THE WIND HAD BENT THE LIMBS OF THE TREE
DOWN AND CAUGHT THE BOY UP IN SUCH A WAY THAT HE
COULDN'T MOVE OR YELL. ONLY HIS ONE ARM BARELY REACHED
THE TOP OF THE CAR. THE ONLY THING HE COULD DO WAS
SCRATCH THE TOP OF THE CAR. ALL THE TIME HE WAS
TRYING TO GET THE GIRL TO HELP HIM.
James Callow comment: CALLED "HANGMAN'S ROAD" IN COFFIN & COHEN, <
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): CAMPUS HORROR STORY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
ON GROSSE ILE THERE WAS A HERMIT WHO LIVED IN AN OLD
HOUSE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. PEOPLE WOULD GO TO HIS
HOUSE, PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HE WOULD COME OUT AND
TELL STORIES ABOUT "THE OLD DAYS." HIS NAME WAS
LOONEY ROONEY. THE HOUSE WAS HIDDEN DOWN A DARK, UNLIT
ROAD AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ALWAYS FIRED SEVERAL
SHOTS INTO THE AIR, TO SHOW THAT HE DID NOT WANT ANY
TROUBLEMAKERS, AS YOUR CAR APPROACHED.
Submitter comment:
THE FACT THAT THIS IS A LEGEND IS THAT NO ONE THAT I
HEARD THIS STORY FROM ACTUALLY SAW HIM. I HAVE HEARD
IT FROM MANY PEOPLE SINCE I HAVE LIVED ON GROSSE ILE--
PEOPLE MY OWN AGE AS WELL AS FROM MY DAD.
ABOUT 1968 I READ IN THE LOCAL PAPER THAT A MAN WHOSE
LAST NAME WAS ROONEY DIED. HE HAD NO FAMILY LIVING
ON THE ISLAND HERE, BUT IT IS STILL QUESTIONABLE
WHETHER ANY OF THE ESCAPADES REALLY HAPPENED, BECAUSE
EVERYONE I TALKED TO WERE "TOO AFRAID" TO EVEN GO
NEAR HIS HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE ILE
Keyword(s): RECLUSE, STORY-TELLER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-15-1970
SCRATCHIN'
A YOUNG COUPLE WAS ON A DATE AND WERE TRAVELING DOWN
A DIRT ROAD. IT WAS DARK OUT AND QUITE WINDY OUT.
AS THE COUPLE WERE DRIVING, THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS.
THE BOY TOLD HIS DATE THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE
HER AND WALK BACK TO TOWN TO GET SOME GAS. HE TOLD HER
THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALRIGHT BUT LOCK THE DOORS
AFTER HE LEFT AND NOT TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR ANY REASON.
HE LEFT AND THE GIRL STAYED IN THE CAR. SHE WASN'T
AFRAID. SUDDENLY SHE HEARD A SCRATCHING ON THE ROOF
OF THE CAR. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK, BUT SHE
DARED NOT OPEN THE DOORS. SHE REALLY GOT SCARED.
SO SHE LAID DOWN IN THE CAR TO TRY AND HIDE FROM
WHATEVER IT WAS THAT WAS OUT THERE. ALL THE WHILE
THIS SCRATCHING PERSISTED. THIS KEPT UP FOR OVER AN
HOUR. THEN SUDDENLY SHE HEARD A TAPPING AT THE
WINDOW. THE GIRL SPRANG UP AND SAW A LIGHT IN THE
SIDE WINDOW. IT WAS THE POLICE. THE GIRL WAS RELIEVED
TO SEE THEM AND THANKED THEM. BUT THE OFFICER SAID
HE WAS SORRY AND POINTED UP ABOVE THE CAR. THE GIRL
LOOKED UP AND SAW HER BOYFRIEND HANGING DEAD FROM A
LARGE TREE WITH ONE HAND RUBBING AGAINST THE TOP OF
THE CAR. THE WIND HAD BENT THE LIMBS OF THE TREE
DOWN AND CAUGHT THE BOY UP IN SUCH A WAY THAT HE
COULDN'T MOVE OR YELL. ONLY HIS ONE ARM BARELY REACHED
THE TOP OF THE CAR. THE ONLY THING HE COULD DO WAS
SCRATCH THE TOP OF THE CAR. ALL THE TIME HE WAS
TRYING TO GET THE GIRL TO HELP HIM.
James Callow comment:
CALLED "HANGMAN'S ROAD" IN COFFIN & COHEN, <
FROM THE WORKING FOLK OF AMERICA>>.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): CAMPUS HORROR STORY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
PEOPLE USED TO SHAKE HANDS SO THAT THEY COULD ASCERTAIN
WHETHER THE OTHER PERSON WAS CONCEALING A WEAPON IN
HIS HAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): HISTORY
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Body parts involved SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations |
ORIGIN OF THE HANDSHAKE
EMMISARIES WOULD GRASP THE RIGHT FOREARM OF THE ONE THEY WERE
MEETING IN ORDER TO AVOID HAVING A POSSIBLE ADVERSARY HAVE
ACCESS TO HIS WEAPONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HISTORY
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.1 SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations SPEECH -- Respect |
Date learned: 00-00-1963
GESTURE
BOWING TO THE MASTERS.
Submitter comment:
THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED DURING SLAVERY TIMES.
SLAVES HAD TO BOW TO THEIR OWNERS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): HISTORY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Respect |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE MILITARY SALUTE STARTED IN THE MIDDLE AGES WHEN
KNIGHTS WOULD RAISE THE VISORS ON THEIR HELMETS
BEFORE COMBAT TO SEE WHO THEY WERE FIGHTING
AGAINST.
James Callow Keyword(s): HISTORY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Salutes |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
SALUTE
THE SALUTE EVOLVED FROM ANCIENT ROME. AS A MEANS
OF GREETING, THE ROMANS PUT THEIR HANDS UP TO
SHOW THAT THEY WERE FRIENDS AND HAD NO WEAPONS.
THIS STARTED BECAUSE BRUTUS KILLED CAESAR WHO
WAS SUPPOSEDLY A FRIEND. IT THEN EVOLVED INTO A
WAY OF GREATING A FRIEND AND FINALLY INTO A SALUTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HISTORY
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations SPEECH -- Salutes |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
RIDDLE
WHICH BUILDING HAS THE MOST STORIES?
-- THE LIBRARY.
Keyword(s): STORY STOREY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-12-1965
RIDDLE
WHAT BUILDING HAS THE MOST STORIES?
-- THE LIBRARY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME
Keyword(s): STOREY STORY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
RIDDLE
WHAT BUILDING HAS THE MOST STORIES?
-- THE LIBRARY.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): STORY STOREY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
RIDDLE
WHAT IS THE HIGHEST PUBLIC BUILDING IN YOUR CITY?
-- THE LIBRARY HAS THE MOST STORIES.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): STORY STOREY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 04-00-1968
RIDDLE
APRIL FLOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS. WHAT DO MAY FLOWERS BRING?
-- PILGRIMS.
Keyword(s): HISTORY SPRING
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-22-1970
Play on Words
Thrones:
IN darkest Africa one time, there were some wicked men who terrorized the natives of the various tribes by exploiting them for their valuables. In fact, these men would go to the chief's hut and steal his throne, because they were usually adorned with gold and diamonds and all sorts of other precious stones.
Well, the word got around to one particular chief that thesemen were coming to his village. Not wanting his throne stolen, he had it hidden up in the attic of his grass hut. When the wicked men arrived, they only found a plain wooden chair as a throne. Thinking that this was not a worthwhile village profitably, they decided to leave. All of a sudden, without warning, the ceiling gave out, and the chief's magnificent throne fell to the ground in front of everybody. discovering this prize, the men packed it up and left the king with no throne.
The moral of this story: People who live in grass houses shouldn't stow thrones.
Submitter comment:
I heard this a few years ago, but I don't remember when. the informant has also slipped my mind. / I don't remember where or whom I heard this from.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [S570] crossed out/replaced with current classification
Written underneath the BN: [Shaggy Dog - Pun Type]
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): DETECTION OF THIEF ; Fable ; JOKE ; PUN ; SHAGGY DOG STORY ; Throne ; WORD PLAY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Play on Words
Its very easy for a girl to be poor on history but great on dates.
Submitter comment:
He heard it from a friend. A girlfriend I might add.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission card located in pile marked These don't sound traditional - Do Not File Yet.
Keyword(s): Dates ; DATING ; Girl ; HISTORY ; HUMOR ; PUN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B300 |
Toast
The Art of Toasting:
Toasting "healths" began hundreds of years BC when warriors offered drinks to Pagan Gods. Greeks drank at banquets to every God on Olympus. RomNS dded a pledge to Caesar - with a cup to each letter in his name. Norsemen drank to Thor, and Oden, plus cups to love, memories, absent friends. Merrymakers drank to each other's health. Pledging in these cutthroat days was very real. A man was especially vulnerable while drinking. When kinsman "pledged health," they swore to defend each other. Rowdy songs and chug-a-lugging begame part of health drinking as well as toasts to the ladies, wealth and success.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Not ONE example.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Caesar ; DRINKING ; Greek ; HISTORY ; Kinship ; Kinsman ; Norse ; Oden ; Pagan ; Protect ; Romans ; Social ; SUCCESS ; Thor ; TOAST ; Viking ; Warriors ; WEALTH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Joke
THIS STORY IS TOLD WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING SOMEONE FEEL FOOLISH
OR UNCOMFORTABLE. THE STORY GOES: A MAN AND HIS DOG WALK INTO THIS
RESTAURANT AND SIT DOWN AT A TABLE. A WAITRESS WALKS UP AND ASKS
"WHAT'LL YOU HAVE?" AND THE MAN SAYS "I'LL HAVE A STEAK, WELL DONE,
SOME MASHED POTATOES, AND A SALAD. AND BRING ME A PIECE OF APPLE PIE
FOR MY DOG." THE WAITRESS REPLIES, "I'M SORRY SIR, WE DON'T HAVE ANY
APPLE PIE, WILL PEACH PIE DO?"
AT THIS POINT SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO ARE "IN" ON WHAT IS HAPPENING LAUGH
HYSTERICALLY. OF COURSE, THE OUTSIDER DOESN'T, AND PREFERABLY SOME
OF THE CONSPIRATORS DON'T EITHER. THE NARRATOR EXPRESSES DISBELIEF
THAT THE POINT OF THE STORY WAS MISSED, AND ASKS THAT SOMEONE ELSE
TELL IT("MAYBE I DIDN'T TELL IT WELL."). THE CONSPIRATORS TAKE TURNS
TELLING THE STORY AND EACH TIME ANOTHER PERSON JOINS IN THE LAUGHTER
("I GET IT NOW}"). FINALLY ONLY THE OUTSIDER IS LEFT CONFUSED OVER
THE MEANING OF THE STORY.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ABSURD ; DOG ; JOKE ; Pie ; Pointless ; POTATO ; RIDDLE ; Waitress
James Callow Keyword(s): BRUNVAND ; SHAGGY DOG STORY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: CA00001970