Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WITCH TEST
THE PERSON SUSPECTED OF BEING A WITCH IS TIED AND THROWN
INTO THE WATER. IF SHE ESCAPES, SHE IS A WITCH AND MUST BE
BURNED. IF SHE DROWNS THIS MEANS SHE WAS NOT A WITCH.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Burn ; Drown ; Proof ; TEST ; Trial ; Witch ; Witchcraft
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF-WITCHES
IF A WOMAN ( SUPPOSEDLY) A WITCH HAS A DAUGHTER SHE WISHES
TO MARRY OFF, SHE WILL BURN A STOCKING AND THIS WILL BEWITCH
A BOY AND DRAW HIM TO THE DAUGHTER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHILDREN ; DAUGHTER ; MAGIC ; Offspring ; Son ; Spell ; WITCHES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 11-20-1969
CHRISTMAS COFFEECAKE
THERE IS A GERMAN COFFEECAKE MADE EVERY YEAR AT THE CHRISTMAS
SEASON. IT IS CALLED KRANTZ WHICH MEANS "WREATH". IT IS SHAPED
LIKE A WREATH, WITH THE DOUGH TWISTED TOGETHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
Keyword(s): Cake ; CHRISTMAS ; Coffee ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; GERMAN ; holiday ; tradition ; Wreath
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Pastry |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
DOGWOOD BELIEF
THE RED MARKS ON EACH OF THE FOUR PETALS OF THE DOGWOOD FLOWER
ARE CALLED BLOODSPOTS BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT THE PASSION MARKS
OF CHRIST.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Christ ; Dogwood ; FLOWER ; Passion ; Passion of the Christ ; RELIGION ; Represent ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-12-1969
ANNE BOLEYN
IN THE TOWER OF LONDON, ONE CAN SEE ANNE BOLEYN WALK AROUND
THE TOWER PROPER ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER BEHEADING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): Anne Boleyn ; Beheaded ; HAUNTED ; Haunting ; Legend ; Tower of London
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10281972 YEAR ASSUMED
FINGER LAKES BELIEF
THE IROQUOIS BELIEVED THAT THE FINGER LAKES OF UPPER NEW
YORK STATE WERE FORMED BY THE HAND OF GOD, DESCENDING IN BLESSING
UPON THE LAND.
Submitter comment:
MR. WYATT LEARNED OF THE LEGEND WHILE LIVING IN GENEVA, NEW YORK
HIS HOME. GENEVA IS ONE OF THE FINGER LAKES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; BELIEF ; BLESSING ; ETYMOLOGY ; Finger ; Finger Lakes ; Hand of God ; INDIAN ; Iroquois ; Lakes ; Lakes ; Legend ; NEW YORK ; Origin ; WATER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Still water Small body. |
Date learned: 10-22-1965
RAILROAD CROSSING
WHENEVER DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS EVERYONE IN THE CAR
SHOULD LIFT THEIR FEET OFF THE FLOOR, DRIVER INCLUDED, AND
TOUCH THE ROOF OF THE CAR WITH THEIR HANDS. THIS IS TO INSURE THE
OCCUPANTS OF A LONG LIFE AND TO WARD OFF THE COMING OF OLD AGE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT DOES THIS OFTEN WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS IN A CAR.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Car ; FEET ; Roof ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-20-1971
EXPLANATION OF NAME, "MURDER HILL"
THERE IS A STRETCH OF NARROW, WINDING ROAD ON THE SIDE OF A HILL
JUST OUTSIDE OF LITTLE VALLEY, NEW YORK. SIGNS AT EACH END OF THIS
LONG ROAD CALL IT "MURDER HILL."
ONE EXPLANATION OF THE NAME IS THE FACT THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT
COULD EASILY HAPPEN THERE.
ANOTHER EXPLANATION IS A LEGEND THAT A MAN KILLED HIS WIFE AND
THEN HIMSELF IN A HOUSE NOT FAR FROM THE ROAD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NEW YORK ; FRANKLINVILLE
Keyword(s): Murder Hill ; Origin of Name ; Tale ; Urban Legend
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- S478 |
Entry filtered.
PREDICTING HOW MANY CHILDREN A FUTURE BRIDE WILL HAVE.
AT A BRIDAL SHOWER, THE NUMBER OF RIBBONS ON THE PRESENTS, BROKEN
PREDICTS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SHE WILL HAVE
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Keyword(s): Babies ; BELIEF ; Bride ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; FAMILY ; GAME ; GIFT ; MARRIAGE ; Newlyweds ; Offspring ; PREDICTION ; Ribbon
Date learned: 04-00-1980
Entry filtered.
JAMES MILLER AND MYSELF JOINTLY PRODUCE TELEVISION SHOWS.
OUR COMPANY IS NOT REGISTERED ANYWHERE, THEREFORE I THINK IT
IS APPROPRIATE TO INCLUDE SOME BASIC INFORMATION IN THIS
FOLK FILE. WE ARE THE "WIERD PRODUCERS" (SPELLING INTENTIONAL).
WE HAVE INTRODUCED MANY NEW CHARACTERS WHICH HAVE BEEN
SEEN ON CABLE CHANNELS ALL OVER THE METROPOLITAN DETROIT AREA.
WE HAVE A FEW FOLLOWERS, BUT MOST NORMAL PEOPLE WOULD
NOT PUBLICLY CONFESS TO LIKING OUR PROGRAMS. THUS,
TO PLEASE THE MASSES, WE ALSO USE THE NAME "POINTLESS PRODUCTIONS."
AT LEAST ONE OF US IS DESTINED AS A FAILURE, THEREFORE WE
EACH HAVE RELATED CAREERS TO FALL BACK ON: JAMES IS AN
ASTRONOMER AND I AM AN ARCHEOLOGIST. AS I'M SURE YOU CAN TELL
OUR HUMOR IS A BIT WARPED, BUT THAT IS WHY WE DON'T STAND OUT.
SOME ELITE PEOPLE ENJOY OUR SARCASM, AND THEY PASS IT
AROUND ORALLY. THEREFORE, SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE IN ONE OF
YOUR COURSES, WITH A TWISTED MIND SIMILAR TO MINE, WOULD
SURELY COLLECT INFORMATION ON US.
Submitter comment:
TAPES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE WIERD PRODUCERS' ARCHIVES.
OUR FIRST NATIONALLY UNKNOWN PROGRAM WAS ENTITLED
"ROCKY ZERO." THE CRITICS LOVED THIS ONE. FROM THAT TIME
ONWARD, OUR PROGRAMS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER. WE KNOW THAT THEY
ARE BETTER BECAUSE FEWER PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEM. THUS, THE
CRITICS HAVE RIPPED US APART ON OUR LAST FOUR ATTEMPTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): DRAMA ; Entertainment ; Funny ; Gag ; JOKE ; PANTOMIME ; Personalities ; RADIO ; SARCASM ; Show ; Spoof
| Subject headings: | Shadow / Pantomime |
Date learned: 05-00-1984
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