RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for X returned 1037 results.

prev | items
| next

IT IS BAD LUCK TO MEET AN OLD WOMAN OR A LONG
HAIRED DOG WHEN YOU START ON A JOURNEY. IT IS
GOOD LUCK TO MEET A MAN WHO HAS A WOODEN LEG, OR
WHO SMOKES A PIPE.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDFATHER HEARD THIS IN BOSTON WHEN HE
WORKED AT THE NABIS
COMPANY IN THE 1920S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities
BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals

Date learned: 00001920S

View just this record

IF THE FIRST PERSON YOU MEET IN THE MORNING IS A MAN
THEN THIS IS CONSIDERED GOOD LUCK; WHEREAS, IF THE
FIRST PERSON YOU MEET IS A WOMAN, THEN THIS IS
CONSIDERED TO FORECAST BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT RELATED A STORY CONCERNING HER COUSIN
WHO WAS QUITE UPSET UPON MEETING A WOMAN ONE MORNING
AS HER FIRST PERSON--AND LATER FELL AND BRUISED
HER LEG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2
BELIEF -- Good luck Sex
BELIEF -- Bad luck Sex
BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities

Date learned: 02-18-1971

View just this record

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

View just this record

IN THE OLD DAYS OF SAIL, IT WAS DEEMED UNLUCKY BY
THE SAILORS TO HAVE ANY WOMAN ABOARD SHIP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): MARITIME ; SEXISM

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck Sex

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

IF AN OLD MAN LIVES THROUGH MARCH, HE WILL BE WELL.

Where learned: RESIDENCE

James Callow Keyword(s): POLISH TEXT ON 5 X 8 CARD.

Subject headings: Observation
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

IF YOU ATTEND A FUNERAL WHILE PREGNANT YOUR BABY WILL BE
BORN OR GROW UP TO BE A VERY DARK COMPLEXTION PERSON.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS LEARNED DURING MY STAY IN DETROIT WITH PEOPLE WHO
LIVED THERE A LONG TIME.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF --THE TABOO OF ATTENDING A FUNERAL
WHILE YOU ARE PREGNANT WILL AFFECT THE COLOR OF THE UNBORN. THIS
USUALLY APPLIES TO BLACK FOLK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPLECTION COMPLEXION ; NEGRO

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: CA06171966

View just this record

PRACTICAL JOKE

WHEN A NEW WORKER BEGINS TO CLEAN TOILETS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT
COBO HALL, HE IS ASKED REPEATEDLY BY THE OLDER WORKERS IF HE HAS
A STATE BOARD OF HEALTH CARD. IF HE SAYS NO, WHICH HE ALMOST
CERTAINLY WILL, HE IS REPRIMANDED FOR NOT TELLING THE SUPERVISOR
AND RISKING A POSSIBLE FINE AGAINST THE COMPANY.

Submitter comment: THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED OF ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, AT
LEAST SINCE I STARTED WORK THERE 3 1/2 YEARS AGO.I FOUND OUT FROM
OTHER WORKERS THAT THEY ALSO WERE ASKED THIS QUESTION. THE LONGEST
WORKING EMPLOYEE ASKED WAS A WORKER WITH 10 YEARS SENIORITY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOAX PRACTICAL JOKE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1971

View just this record

Entry filtered.

LIMERICK

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THERE ONCE WAS A COUPLE NAMED KELLY,
WHO LOVED TO DANCE BELLY TO BELLY.
BECAUSE IN THEIR HASTE,
THEY USED LIBRARY PASTE,
INSTEAD OF PETROLEUM JELLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; ALBANY ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: 12-00-1973

View just this record

Entry filtered.

LIMERICK

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL FROM NORWAY,
WHO HUNG BY HER HEELS FROM THE DOORWAY.
SHE SAID TO HER MAN,
GET OFF THE DIVAN,
I THINK I'VE DISCOVERED ONE MORE WAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; ALBANY ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: 12-00-1973

View just this record

VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC

BOYS ARE ROTTEN/ MADE OF COTTON
GIRLS ARE DANDY/ MADE OF CANDY.

Submitter comment: THE GIRLS IN MY FAMILY LOVE SAYING THIS VERSE. THE BOYS TEND TO
IGNORE IT. THE VERSE IS ALSO PREVALENT AROUND QUEEN OF HOPE SCHOOL
WHERE MY SISTER GOES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): C730.328 ; FEMININE RHYME ; SEXISM

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 00-02-1974

View just this record

THE STIGMATA OF PADRE PIO

PADRE PIO OF SAN GIOVANNI DI ROTONDO IN ITALY HAS THE STIGMATTA OF
OUR LORD ON HIS HANDS. THE WOUNDS ARE SAID TO BE OPEN ABOUT ONCE A
MONTH. ALSO ONLY MEN WERE ALLOWED TO SEE THIS. THE REASON FOR
THIS IS UNKNOWN.

Submitter comment: I ALSO HAD A CHANCE WHILE IN ITALY IN 72, TO SEE THIS SIGHT, HOWEVER
I CANNOT ACCOUNT FOR IT. THE WOUNDS WERE OPEN AND BLEEDING AS HE SAID
MASS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; SEXISM ; STIGMATA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 01-00-1974

View just this record

LUCK

IF YOU GET OUT OF THE BED ON THE LEFT SIDE YOU WILL BE CRABBY ALL
DAY.

Submitter comment: WOMEN USUALLY SLEEP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BED WHICH CAUSES THEM
TO BE MORE CRABBY THAN MEN.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; UNICE

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping

Date learned: CA11001973

View just this record

SIGNATURES

YOURS TILL CIGARS BOX.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON BOX

Subject headings: Z210

Date learned: 09-00-1973

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.