Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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Children's Jump Rope
CINDERELLA DRESSED IN YELLA
WENT UPSTAIRS TO KISS A FELLA
MADE A MISTAKE AND KISSED A SNAKE
THEN CAME DOWN WITH A BELLY ACHE.
HOW MANY DOCTORS DID IT TAKE?
(THEN PROCEED TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF DOCTORS BY COUNTING THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE CHILD JUMPS IN THE ROPE.)
Where learned: INFORMANT'S HOME
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 01-21-1968
THE BELL WITCH
THE BELL WITCH, OF SUPERNATURAL ORIGIN, IS SAID TO HAVE
EXISTED IN ROBERTSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE ABOUT 75 YEARS
AGO. SHE STARTED OUT WITH GOOD INTENTIONS BUT, AFTER
ATTENDING TWO CHURCH SERVICES AT THE SAME TIME, SHE
TURNED BAD. HER MAIN INTENT SEEMED TO BE TO INFLICT
SUFFERING, PARTICULARLY UPON JOHN BELL. SHE TORMENTED
HIM TO HIS DEATH.
ANDREW JACKSON, AMONG MANY OTHERS, IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE
SEEN THE BELL WITCH.
THE LATE CHARLES BRYAN, FORMER MEMBER OF THE PEABODY
COLLEGE SCHOOL OF MUSIC, WROTE A CANTATA CALLED "THE
BELL WITCH CANTATA."
Where learned: DORM ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): MUSICAL COMPOSITION ; PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 05-09-1969
I ONCE SAW THIS THING IN 1964, LIKE A JET VAPOR TRAIN
AND IT WOULD GO ACROSS THE SKY WITHOUT SPREADING OUT.
SO ALL OF US KIDS WHO SAW IT ON THE PLAYGROUND AT
ROSEBANK STARTED GETTING REAL EXCITED THINKING WE
WERE BEING VISITED BY OTHER PLANETS AND EVERYTHING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT ; VAPOR TRAIL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-20-1968
ONCE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IN SUMMER OF LAST YEAR, I SAW
THIS BRIGHT STAR-LIKE THING IN THE SKY. IF I TOOK
IT TO THE AIR FORCE, THEY'D TELL ME IT WAS THE PLANET
VENUS. HOWEVER, IT WAS ABOUT TEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT--
TOO LATE AT NIGHT FOR THE PLANET VENUS TO BE SEEN.
ALSO, THE OBJECT WAS TOO BRIGHT. IT WASN'T MOVING
AT ALL, SO IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A LIGHT FROM AN
AIRPLANE, HELICOPTER OR BLIMP. I TOOK A PICTURE OF IT
WHICH DIDN'T TURN OUT, SO WE HAVE NO PROOF. WHEN I
WENT OUTSIDE LATER THE THING WAS GONE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-20-1968
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS LOOKING OUT THE DEN WINDOW AND I
SAW THIS STRANGE OBJECT THAT WAS OBLONG HOVERING VERY
LOW OVER TREES. IT WAS IN AUGUST. IT HAD VERY, VERY
BRIGHT ORANGE LIGHTS SHINING THROUGH ROWS AND ROWS OF
WINDOWS. SO, I DISMISSED IT FROM MY MIND AND I WAS
DETERMINED NOT TO TELL ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY'D THINK
I WAS NUTS. SO, IN A FEW DAYS AT MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY
PARTY ONE OF THE LITTLE GUESTS CAME IN AND SAID, "GUESS
WHAT, MY SISTER AND I SAW THE OTHER DAY?" A FLYING SAUCER."
IT TURNED OUT IT WAS AT THE SAME LOCATION AND TIME AS
THE ONE I HAD SEEN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-19-1968
PROVERB
LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): JIMINY CRICKET PINNOCHIO
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN THE RIFLES COMPANY OF MARINES I WAS IN, WE SMOKED
CIGARS WHENEVER WE WENT INTO CAMP LeJEANS SWAMPS BECAUSE
WE TOLD EACH OTHER THAT IT KEPT GNATS AND MOSQUITOES
AWAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CAMP LEJEUNE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- P535 |
Date learned: 06-18-1972
EATING BLACK-EYED PEAS AND HOGS JAWL ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
BRING GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): JOWL
Date learned: 00-00-1972
THERE WAS A STORY AT OLIVET COLLEGE ABOUT THE FRESHMAN
ENGLISH PROFESSOR WHO GRADED EXAMS BY THROWING
THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS; THE "A'S" WERE ON
THE TOP STEP, THE "A-'S" ON THE NEXT, ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; OLIVET
Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 12-00-1971 ; 00-00-1960
PREDICTION OF GRADES
THERE IS A PROFESSOR HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
WHO IS KNOWN TO GIVE OUT HIS GRADES IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER (FR. HOETTER).
A-ATHLETES
B-BOYS
C-COEDS
D-DISSENTERS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES, GRADING
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
UNDERTAKER
THIS MAN OWNED A FUNERAL HOME AND HIS BUSINESS WAS
ALWAYS SLOW. HE GOT MOST OF HIS CUSTOMERS BY WATCHING
FOR ANY MISHAP THAT LOOKED LIKE DEATH WAS NEXT. ONCE
A MAN COLLAPSED ON THE STREET BECAUSE HE WAS TOO DRUNK.
THE UNDERTAKER TOOK HIM FOR DEAD AND PUT HIM IN THE
PARLOR WITH INTENTIONS OF EMBALMING HIM THE NEXT MORNING.
THE NEXT MORNING, HE WENT IN TO PREPARE THE SUPPOSED
CORPSE, HOWEVER, THE DRUNK HAD SLEPT OFF HIS CONDITION
AND AWAKENED SHOCKED TO FIND HIMSELF IN A FUNERAL PARLOR.
HE JUMPED UP AND RAN OUT THE DOOR AS THE UNDERTAKER
WAS COMING IN. THE UNDERTAKER YELLED AT HIM AS HE RAN
PAST--HEY! COME BACK HERE, YOU'RE DEAD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAYS THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN HIS HOME
TOWN, TUSKALOOSA, ALABAMA (1928).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; DETROIT ; TUSCALOOSA
Keyword(s): DRUNKARD, MISTAKE ; J1849. INAPPROPRIATE ACTION FROM MISUNDERSTANDING -- MISC.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-19-1971 ; 00-00-1928
THERE WAS A STORY AT OLIVET COLLEGE ABOUT THE FRESHMAN
ENGLISH PROFESSOR WHO GRADED EXAMS BY THROWING
THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS; THE "A'S" WERE ON
THE TOP STEP, THE "A-'S" ON THE NEXT, ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; OLIVET
Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 12-00-1971 ; 00-00-1960
PREDICTION OF GRADES
THERE IS A PROFESSOR HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
WHO IS KNOWN TO GIVE OUT HIS GRADES IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER (FR. HOETTER).
A-ATHLETES
B-BOYS
C-COEDS
D-DISSENTERS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES, GRADING
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE HATCHET MAN
IN SEPTEMBER, 1969, I STARTED AT U. OF D. AS A MATH MAJOR
AND THE PROF FOR MY FIRST MATH CLASS MATH 141 WAS MR.
TRAVIS. ONE DAY HE PROMISED TO TELL US WHY HIS STUDENTS
SUPPOSEDLY CALLED HIM "THE HATCHET MAN." (I HADN'T
HEARD THE NAME APPLIED TO HIM BEFORE THIS TIME, BUT MAYBE
IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS JUST A FIRST TERM FRESHMAN.) HE SAID
THAT HE HAD HAD ONE STUDENT WHO WAS BOUND AND DETERMINED
TO PASS ONE MATH COURSE HE WAS TEACHING, EVEN THOUGH IT
WAS ABOUT THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME AROUND FOR THE STUDENT.
THE REASON THE STUDENT WAS SO DETERMINED WAS THAT HE
NEEDED THE COURSE TO GRADUATE. FINALLY, HE SUCCEEDED
IN PASSING AND AFTER GRADUATION, HE GAVE TRAVIS A TOKEN
OF HIS APPRECIATION, A GOLD (PAINTED) HATCHET WHICH
TRAVIS SHOWED OUR MATH 141 CLASS.
DURING TERM II 70-71, I FOUND MYSELF ONCE AGAIN SHARING
THREE HOURS A WEEK IN ONE OF THE MATH CLASSES (MATH 431)
TAUGHT BY TRAVIS. HE EVIDENTLY STILL HAD THE HATCHET
SINCE HE TOLD US THE SAME STORY I HAD HEARD IN 1969.
ONCE AGAIN, HE SHOWED US THAT SAME GOLD HATCHET.
Submitter comment:
IN MATH 141 HE GAVE ME A B; IN MATH 431 HE GAVE ME
AN A, SO HE CAN'T BE THAT BAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): UNUSUAL GIFTS ACADEMIC JOKES
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 10-30-1971 ; 00001969-1971
PROVERBIAL COMPARISON
IT'S LIKE GETTING THE MILK WITHOUT BUYING THE COW
Where learned: BOYFRIENDS HOME
Keyword(s): COMMITTMENT BENEFITS INJUSTICE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-08-1968
PROVERBIAL COMPARISON
IT'S LIKE GETTING THE CREAM WITHOUT BUYING THE COFFEE
Where learned: BOYFRIENDS HOME
Keyword(s): COMMITTMENT BENEFITS INJUSTICE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-08-1968
IT IS BETTER THAT A GUILTY MAN GO FREE, THAN AN
INNOCENT MAN BE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): JUSTICE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-20-1965
PROVERB
MONKEY WORKS AND BABOON DRAWS.
Submitter comment: MEANING: SOMEONE DOES ALL THE WORK AND THE OTHER PERSON BENEFITS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): INJUSTICE ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
MEIN HERTZ IST KLEIN,
KANN NIEMAHND NEIN,
NUR DU MEIN LIEBER JESU ALEIN.
Where learned: HUNGARY
James Callow Keyword(s): HEART ; JESUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 00-00-1897