Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for leg returned 134 results.
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
ON THE UP AND UP.
Submitter comment: IMPROVING; BECOMING BETTER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): LEGAL RIGHT HONEST
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 05-01-1972
JOHNNY APPLESEED
JOHNNY APPLESEED WAS TO HAVE STAYED OVERNIGHT AT
THEIR FARM HOUSE. FOR LETTING HIM SLEEP THERE, HE
PLANTED AN APPLE TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD. WHICH IS
STILL THERE TODAY.
Submitter comment:
DERBY'S FARM HOUSE HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO THEM FROM
PAST GENERATIONS. IT IS LOCATED ABOUT TWO MILES
NORTHEAST FROM CARSONVILLE, MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CARSONVILLE
Keyword(s): LEGENDARY FIGURE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
JOHNNY APPLESEED
JOHNNY APPLESEED WAS TO HAVE STAYED OVERNIGHT AT
THEIR FARM HOUSE. FOR LETTING HIM SLEEP THERE, HE
PLANTED AN APPLE TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD. WHICH IS
STILL THERE TODAY.
Submitter comment:
DERBY'S FARM HOUSE HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO THEM FROM
PAST GENERATIONS. IT IS LOCATED ABOUT TWO MILES
NORTHEAST FROM CARSONVILLE, MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CARSONVILLE
Keyword(s): LEGENDARY FIGURE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 05-00-1963
COLLETE CHEER
TODAY IS HOWARD'S BIRTHDAY AND A LISTENER TO WJR-RADIO CALLED
IN WHILE J. P. MCCARTHY WAS HOSTING THE SHOW. J. P. ASKED
THE CALLER WHAT WAS A CHEER HE HAD USED WHILE ATTENDING
HARVARD UNIVERSITY. THE CALLER ANSWERED: "PREVAIL,
MAGNIFICENT CRIMSON." INFORMANT ACTUALLY WENT TO HARVARD
UNIVERSITY. BUT NOW LIVES IN DETROIT ABOUT 10 YEARS AFTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PHONE CONVERSATION
Keyword(s): COLLEGE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-28-1971
Faerie: Elves and Time Travellers
There is no such thing as "a fairy," but rather "Faerie" is a place - a half-remembered world perhaps existing in another dimension. "Faerie" was inhabited not by faeries but by elves. These Elves were not diminutive, but tall, pale, thin and fair. They were especially noted for their grey eyes. They are unable to touch iron: suggesting that these were early time-travellers unable to come in contact with magnetic sources without "grounding out" of the earthly dimension.
Data entry tech comment:
Collector stamped a home address stamp onto the card in the place of "collector data."
Stamp reads: Mrs.W.E. Givens, Jr.
They then crossed out the Prefix and first initials [Mrs. W.E.] of the name, and wrote an indecipherable scrawl over the suffix [Jr.]. This scrawl may possibly be Rev. or Esq.
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs number P400 was crossed out and P423 was substituted.
Where learned: WALES ; ABERYSTWYTH
Keyword(s): Attributes ; Dimension ; Elf ; Elves ; Faerie ; Fairy ; IRON ; Legend ; Lore ; METAL ; MYTH ; Physics ; Time-Traveler
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Scare Stories
44
1) Teenage Couple driving in the country, run out of gas.
2) Hear drip, drip, drip - its blood.
28
1) Next door neighbors in love.
2) Girl wore a yellow ribbon around her neck that she wouldn't take off.
3) She untied it, her head fell off.
1
1) Two children home alon eon Halloween see a ghost.
2) Turns out to be their uncle in costume
Data entry tech comment:
No information listed on card. Omitted: Collector data, informant date.
Unknown meaning of numbers preceeding each story.
Bogg Number added by TRD
James Callow comment:
18400 Praire
Corner of Pickford and Praire
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): Car ; Costume ; Drip ; Fable ; HALLOWEEN ; Ribbon ; Scary ; Stories ; SYMBOLISM ; Urban Legends ; Yellow Ribbon
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative |
THERE IS A LEGEND THAT SAYS THAT ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS IN
COUNTY SLIGO, IRELAND HAS A LUMP IN THE MIDDLE AND THE PEOPLE
SAY THAT ONE DAY THE DEVIL TOOK A BITE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND SPIT
IT AT CASHEL.
Submitter comment:
KATHY HEARD THIS FROM AN IRISHMAN WHILE HITCH-HIKING FROM CORK
TO LIMERICK IN IRELAND. CASHEL IS A ROCK ABOUT THREE HUNDRED FEET
HIGH WITH A RUIN OF A CASTLE AND CATHEDRAL ON IT. I BELIEVE IT WAS
ONCE THE SEAT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS BUT AM NOT SURE. I DO NOT KNOW
IF THE MAN WHO TOLD KATHY BELIEVED IT BUT KATHY DOESN'T.
Data entry tech comment:
Additional (non-numbered) Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
[Please make a copy. Label it B472] - handwritten at the bottom of the card.
The original Boggs Number [P400] is crossed out and B425 and B472 are written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PARTY
Keyword(s): Castle ; Cathedral ; DEVIL ; GEOLOGY ; IRELAND ; IRISH BELIEF ; MOUNTAIN ; NATURE ; Pagan ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS LEGEND ; Rock ; Rock Formation
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
Prank
Fletcher Tube:
The Fletcher Tube us a non-existent piece of equipment. When freshmen are having problems in lab, you tell them that a Fletcher Tube will do the trick. They go to the stockroom to check one out and are laughed at.
Submitter comment:
Informant said that he pulled this gag while he was a graduate student.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM ; CHEMISTRY BUILDING
Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES ; Chemistry ; COLLEGE ; COLLEGE PRANK ; COLLEGE PRANK ; Entertainment ; Freshman ; Hazing ; JOKE ; Laboratory ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; Prank
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Entertainment: Gambling
In poker, a full house - aces and eights- is a Dead Man's Hand. Supposedly Wild Bill Hickok had this hand when he died.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out/ replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aces ; CARDS ; Dead Man's Hand ; DEATH ; Eights ; Entertainment ; Hero ; Legend ; NUMBERS ; Outlaw ; Poker, Gambling ; Wild West
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Entertainment: Gambling
Belief:
Aces and Eights - this is the Dead Man's Hand. Wild Bill Hickok was killed in a poler game with this hand.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] was written twice and crossed out each time/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): Aces ; CARDS ; Dead Man's Hand ; DEATH ; Eights ; Entertainment ; Hero ; Legend ; NUMBERS ; Outlaw ; Poker, Gambling ; Wild West
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Ethnic: Irish
Some more: when these men arrived they would not work either - it seems the air strip went over a large mound and this is Ireland is recognized as a grave yard for the "Little People" and to disturb it is unheard of. So to this day the strip is still uncompleted. [sic]
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Card was located in a pile marked with [?].
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): Airport ; Airstrip ; BELIEF ; BURIAL ; ETHNIC ; GRAVEYARD ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Little People ; Mound ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Superstition
Certain tracks there is a figure of a man carrying a lantern down the tracks. He has no head and he is said to be looking for his head. [sic]
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The following name and address is crossed out from the [Collector] section of the card:
Miller, Kathy 28 West Willow Monroe, MI
Card was located in a pile marked with a [?]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM
Keyword(s): Beheaded ; HEAD ; Headless ; Legend ; Scare ; Spooky ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face |
Custom/Belief
School Belief:
In the middle of the "diag," the diagonal sidewalk bisecting the campus at the University of Michigan, there is embedded in the walk a large brass 'M.' If a freshman walks on this 'M,' it is assured that he will fail his next test.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Myself ; ANN ARBOR
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; COLLEGE ; CUSTOM ; MICHIGAN ; Student ; SUPERSTITION ; TEST ; University ; University of Michigan
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Custom: Holiday
Rudolph:
In conjunction with the legend of Santa Claus is his famous team of reindeer. The leader being Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Every child knows the song about Rudolph, and looks upon him as a sort of hero of Christmas.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by TRD
Where learned: CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; Hero ; holiday ; Legend ; MYTH ; Reindeer ; Rudolph ; Santa
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Animals
There is a legendary snake with a crown on its head and the crown had bells on it. The snake has a beard like a nanny goat. It is a huge and fearsome snake. It is said to come out once a year on a holy day and few have seen it.
Submitter comment:
My father's dad claims to have seen it. He saw the ground shaking all around a house and he saw the head of this snake come out of the ground. He claims that 10 to 15 feet of ground was shaking.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Crown ; Fearful ; Holy ; Legend ; MYTH ; Serpent ; Snake ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mammal |
Proverb
Draft beer not students.
Submitter comment:
Sit-ins.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
[Common saying at sit-ins and picket lines.]
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
KW:5ZM
Keyword(s): ALCOHOL ; BEER ; Beverages ; COLLEGE ; DRINK ; DRINKING ; Picket Line ; Protest ; Sit-In ; Students
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Play on Words
Four fraternity men came rolling out of the off-campus bar and started to climb into their Mustang. The leader of the jolly group decided to take charge of the situation. "Frank," he sputtered, "you drive. You're too drunk to sing."
Submitter comment:
I learned this while I was at Sacred Heart Seminary
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): BAR ; COLLEGE ; DRINK ; DRIVING ; DRUNK ; HUMOR ; PUN ; Sing
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Legend
CROSS ON WHICH CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED WAS SUPPOSEDLY
OF DOGWOOD. THUS THE DOGWOOD FLOWER IS SHAPED LIKE A
CRUCIFIX AS A REMINDER OF THE CRUCIFIXTION. THE TEAR
DROP IN THE CENTER OF THE FLOWER REPRESENTS A TEAR
WHICH IS SHED FOR THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
Submitter comment:
ORIGIN: UNKNOWN
Data entry tech comment:
Updated 02-22-2011 by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Christ ; CRUCIFIXION ; CURSE ; DEATH ; Dogwood ; FLOWER ; Legend ; RELIGION ; Story ; Tale ; Tear ; Tree
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: 07-30-1964
Legend
CROSS ON WHICH CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED WAS SUPPOSEDLY
OF DOGWOOD. THUS THE DOGWOOD FLOWER IS SHAPED LIKE A
CRUCIFIX AS A REMINDER OF THE CRUCIFIXTION. THE TEAR
DROP IN THE CENTER OF THE FLOWER REPRESENTS A TEAR
WHICH IS SHED FOR THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
Submitter comment:
ORIGIN: UNKNOWN
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 2011-02-22 by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Christ ; CURSE ; Cursed ; DEATH ; Dogwood ; FLOWER ; Legend ; RELIGION ; Story ; Tale ; Tear ; Tree
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: 07-30-1964
Legend
DURING THE REVOLUTION, THERE WAS A DESERTER WHO LIVED IN A SHACK
WITH A WOMAN THAT HE KIDNAPPED, AND FROM THIS WOMAN HE HAD A SON
WHO LATER DID THE SAME THING AS HIS FATHER AND IT HAS GONE ON LIKE
THIS FOR GENERATIONS. IT IS RUMORED THAT THE MAN IS STILL
LOOKING FOR HIS WIFE BUT HAS NOT FOUND HER YET.
Submitter comment:
LEROY SAW THE CABIN AND SAYS HE GOT THE LEGEND FROM THIS
EXPERIENCE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 02-22-2011 by TRD
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): ABDUCTION ; Common Law ; DESERTER ; ILLEGITIMACY ; MARRIAGE ; MILITARY ; REVOLUTIONARY WAR ; Shack
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being |
Date learned: 09-25-1967