Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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AT A BABY SHOWER, IF THE BRIDE-TO-BE BREAKS A BOW ON A
GIFT, SHE WILL HAVE ONE BABY. IF SHE BREAKS TWO BOWS,
SHE WILL HAVE TWO BABIES; ETC.
Keyword(s): WEDDING OR BRIDAL SHOWER, I RATHER THINK.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
A GOOD METHOD OF CURING A WART IS TO WEAR A GAUZE BANDAID
OVER THE WART FOR THREE WEEKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BANDAGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
CATCH THE WIND
IF YOU HAVE LOST A LOVE, IF YOU CAN CATCH THE WIND
AND HOLD IT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO "CATCH" YOUR LOVE
BACK AND HOLD IT FOREVER.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): IMPOSSIBLE TASK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU FIND AN OLD TIRE, THROW IT IN THE RIVER AND
YOU WILL FIND SOME MONEY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT THOUGHT THAT HE ORIGINATED THIS SUPERSTITION
BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG LAD IN JACKSON, MICHIGAN,
HE CARRIED OUT THIS PRACTICE THREE TIMES AND FOUND
MONEY EACH TIME. HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT, PREVIOUSLY.
HE HAS NOT DONE IT SINCE THEN, BECAUSE HE FEARS
IT WILL NOT WORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Use of Object Manufactured objects, homemade, machined BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities |
Date learned: 04-18-1965
YOU CAN TELL A LADYBUG'S AGE BY THE NUMBER OF SPOTS
ON HER BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BEETLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Measure of quantity or weight |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TO AVOID BAD STORMS OR TORNADOES, ONE SHOULD BURN
PALMS INSIDE THE HOUSE TO PROTECT IT.
Submitter comment: BRIAN ACQUIRED THIS FROM HIS HUNGARIAN AUNT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BLESSED PALMS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
WITHIN A YEAR OF THEIR INTRODUCTION, THE BELIEF
AROSE THAT, OTHER THINGS BEING REMOTELY EQUAL,
AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NEVER BE ABLE
TO BEAT A MANUAL SHIFT TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH IN A
DRAG RACE
Submitter comment:
HOWEVER, LIKE MANY FOLK THEORIES IN SCIENCE, THIS
HAS BEEN DISPROVEN AS OF 1962.
Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
EVER SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF DETERGENT OIL, THERE
HAS BEEN A BELIEF THAT IT IS BAD FOR THE AVERAGE
ENGINE. THE FACT THAT THIS BELIEF IS STILL AROUND
SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF FOLKLORE FOR ALL HEAVY DUTY
ENGINE MANUFACTURERS (G.M., CUMMINS, DETROIT
DIESEL, ETC.) AND MOST GENERAL DUTY ENGINE
MANUFACTURERS (FORD, CHEVY) RECOMMEND HIGH DETERGENT
OIL.
Submitter comment:
THIS BELIEF IS HELD BY MANY CAR OWNERS OF ALL AGE
BRACKETS AND BY SOME OLDER, CONSERVATIVE TYPE
MECHANICS.
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
NAME TABU
DON'T CALL A BABY'S TEETH "TEETH," BECAUSE IF YOU DO,
THE BABY MIGHT NOT GET ANY MORE TEETH. CALL THEM
RICE GRAINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TABU
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Common Word |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NOSEY PEOPLE DON'T LIVE LONG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): REBUKE ; THREAT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-15-1968
THE WIFE WHO IS DELIVERING, PULLS ON AN OLD SWEATY SHIRT OF
HUSBAND'S TO RECEIVE STRENGTH FOR DELIVERY. IT'S TIED ON THE
FOOT OF THE BED. THE BAHAMA NEGROES TAKE THIS BELIEF FROM THE
FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE: "BY THE SWEAT OF THY BROW, SHALT THOU EARN
BREAD." GEN. 3--CURSE ON ADAM. "IN SORROW SHALT THOU LABOR
ALL THY DAYS." WIFE'S CURSE--"IN SORROW SHALT THOU BRING
FORTH CHILDREN."
Submitter comment: THIS IS A CUSTOM OF THE BAHAMA NEGROES IN THE MIAMI LABOR
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; FLORIDA ; BAHAMAS ; NASHVILLE ; MIAMI ; PEABODY COLLEGE LIBRARY
James Callow Keyword(s): BIBLE GENESIS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 05-09-1969
IF THE SUN SHINES WHILE IT IS RAINING, THE DEVIL IS WHIPPING
HIS WIFE WITH A RIN PAN.
Where learned: ALABAMA, ASSUMED ; HUNTSVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): DEVIL BEATING HIS WIFE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 06-18-1972
MART OWENS USED TO RUN A STORE ON MAIN STREET. HE AND I WERE
GREAT FRIENDS AND WOULD OFTEN TALK TOGETHER. ONCE HE TOLD ME
HOGS MUST BE KILLED IN THE "OLD" OF THE MOON. OTHERWISE,
THE MEAT WOULD CURL UP IN THE FRYING PAN. HE HAD SEEN IT
TRIED. I HADN'T, WHO WAS I TO ARGUE THE CASE OF HOG
KILLING IN TIME OF A NEW MOON? HE HAD HIS FOLKLORE TALE. I
HAD NOTHING.
Submitter comment: AS A YOUNG GIRLI HAVE BEEN IN MR. OWENS STORE. HIS YOUNGEST
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; WILLIAMSBURG
James Callow Keyword(s): BUTCHERING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Moon |
Date learned: 03-00-1969
A COMMON, THOUGH ENTIRELY ORAL, SUPERSTITION IS THE TYPICAL
VANDERBILT COED, OR T.V.C. SHE IS RICH, CONCEITED, AND
ALWAYS DATED UP A WEEK IN ADVANCE. IF NOT DATED UP, SHE
STILL REFUSES ANY OFFER FOR THE WEEKEND MADE AFTER WEDNESDAY
NIGHT, AND ALWAYS REFUSES NON-FRATERNITY MEN. THOUGH THIS
INFORMATION APPEARS IN NO CAMPUS PUBLICATIONS, IT HAS BEEN
PREVALENT FOR YEARS AMONG VANDERBILT MEN.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ALABAMA ; HUNTSVILLE
Keyword(s): Co-ed ; DATE ; DATING ; Female ; Fraternity ; Frigid ; Girl ; SEXISM ; Sorority ; Stereotype ; Vanderbilt University
James Callow Keyword(s): FEMALE WOMAN GIRL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A WHIPPOORWILL IS SCREECHING IN THE NIGHT, TURN A
SLIPPER OVER AND HE WILL STOP
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 07-00-1972
IF YOU GO BACK AFTER SOMETHING, MAKE A CROSS WITH YOUR
FOOT OR YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; FULTON
James Callow Keyword(s): GO BACK INTO THE HOUSE, AFTER LEAVING?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
IF A WEEPERWILL GETS CLOSE TO THE HOUSE OR NEAR THE
ASHHOPPER, SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY WILL DIE IN A YEAR.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; FULTON
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRD WHIPPORWHILL WHIPPORWILL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
FRIDAY THE 13TH--IF YOU FEAR THIS DAY YOU SUFFER FROM A
CASE OF TRISCADECLOPHOBIA. AS TO THE ORIGIN OF THE
13TH SUPERSTITION, RELIGIOUS CIRCLES ASCRIBE IT TO THE
LAST SUPPER, AT WHICH WERE CHRIST AND THE TWELVE
DESCIPLES, THIRTEEN IN ALL.
Submitter comment: MRS. PATTERSON TOOK THIS EXCERPT FROM THE "ASHEVILLE
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described |
Date learned: 05-09-1969
CASTRATE (MARK) THE PIGS WHEN THE SIGNS ARE IN THE FEET.
THEY WOULDN'T BLEED AS BAD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): BRANDING?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Animal Husbandry Farming Ranching BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 07-05-1970
IF YOU SING BEFORE BREAKFAST, YOU WILL CRY BEFORE SUPPER
Where learned: KENTUCKY, ASSUMED ; LOUISVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): INEVITABILITY
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN