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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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GRAFFITI

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

YELLOW RIVER BY I PEE DAILY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ; SCATOLOGICAL BOOK TITLE ; SLANG FOR URINATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

Date learned: CA00001977

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VIRGINITY IS LIKE A BALLOON, ONE PRICK AND ITS GONE.

Where learned: RESTROOM WALL

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG-PRICK FOR PENIS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 00-00-1978

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Entry filtered.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE POLOCK WHO:
THOUGHT "NO KIDDING" MEANT A FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL?

Where learned: DETROIT ; REGINA HIGH SCHOOL

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON KID ; SLANG: KID FOR CHILD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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Entry filtered.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE POLOCK WHO:
THOUGHT MOBY DICK WAS A FORM OF VENEREAL DISEASE?

Where learned: DETROIT ; REGINA HIGH SCHOOL

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: DICK FOR PENIS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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AUTOGRAPH RHYME

RUSSIA FRIES TURKEY IN GREECE AND SERVES IT ON CHINA IN THE USA

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Keyword(s): PUN ON GREASE FOOD COUNTRIES

Subject headings: Z210

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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DARK HAIRED MAN MUST BE FIRST TO ENTER HOUSE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY FOR
YOU TO HAVE LUCK THE ENTIRE YEAR.

Submitter comment: SCOTTISH SUPERSTITION

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Keyword(s): FIRST-FOOTING

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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SAYING

FOOLS RUSH IN WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD.

Submitter comment: FROM RELATIVES.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): FOOLHARDINESS

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

Date learned: 10-06-1967

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PROVERB

A FOOL SAYS ALL HE THINKS RATHER THAN THINKS ALL HE SAYS.

Submitter comment: SEEN ON A SIGN OF KRANDEL JEWELWER IN HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHIASMUS FOR CONTRAST.

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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BRIDGE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

WHEN THEY WERE BUILDING A BRIDGE OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, ONE
OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS FELL OFF THE PART THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED
AND FELL INTO A PILLAR. THEY NEVER FOUND THE BODY. SOME WONDER
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MAN, IF HE LIVED AND NEVER CAME BACK OR JUST
DISAPPEARED.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): VANISH

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARE " THE BRIDGE OF ARTA ". ; FOUNDATION

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 10-30-1968

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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

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THE ORIGIN OF THE SANDWICH

DID YOU KNOW THAT WHAT WE CALL A SANDWICH TODAY IS NOT REALLY A
SANDWICH? IT'S A SHREWSBURY} I'M SURE YOU HEARD THE STORY ABOUT
THE EARL OF SANDWICH INVENTING THAT DELICACY,
BUT THAT STORY IS FALSE, IT WAS INVENTED BY THE DUKE OF SHREWSBURY,
TO CELEBRATE HIS INVENTION, THE DUKE INVITED ALL OF THE NOBILITY
FROM FAR AND NEAR TO A BANQUET, WHERE HE WAS GOING TO INTRODUCE
THE SHREWSBURY. HE HAPPENED TO INVITE THE EARL OF SANDWICH.
THE EARL RECOGNIZED WHAT A GOOD THING THIS WAS, SO HE INVITED
THE DUKE OVER TO HIS CASTLE THE NEXT DAY.
WHEN THE EARL SAW THE DUKE ABOUT TO ENTER THE CASTLE, HE LIFTED UP
THE DRAWBRIDGE, AND THE DUKE FELL IN THE MOAT. HE THEN PULLED THE
PLUG AND THAT WAS THE LAST ANYONE SAW OF THE DUKE. THE EARL OF
SANDWICH TOOK THE INVENTION AND MADE IT POPULAR AND THAT IS WHY WE
CALL IT A SANDWICH.

Submitter comment:

THE INFORMANT HEARD THE STORY FROM SOMEONE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE IS A STUDENT. HE WAS NOT SURE OF THE FELLOW'S
NAME, BUT HE KNEW THAT HE WAS FROM MASSACHUSETTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): FOOD ; Invention ; NAME ; Origin ; Sandwich

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert Bread, rolls, etc.
SPEECH -- Folk etymology

Date learned: 04-10-1965

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AUTOGRAPH VERSE

WHEN THE GOLDEN SUN IS SETTING
AND THE EARTH NO MORE YOU TROD;
MAY YOUR NAME IN GOLD BE WRITTEN
IN THE AUTOGRAPH OF GOD.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS WRITTEN IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF
COLETTE BY A SCHOOLMATE.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): BLESSING ; CHARM ; PIOUS ; PREPARATION FOR DEATH ; RHYME ABCB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Pious reflection

Date learned: 10-08-1967

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NO WIFE FOR REPLACEMENT

A MAN'S CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. IT BEING INSURED,
HE WENT AT ONCE TO THE INSURANCE OFFICE AND DEMANDED HIS MONEY.
HE WAS GIVEN A FORM TO FILL OUT, AND WAS TOLD THAT HE COULD
NOT GET THE MONEY, BUT THE CAR WOULD BE REPLACED.
"OH," SAID HE, "IF THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO BUSINESS, I WANT
TO CANCEL MY WIFE'S LIFE INSURANCE POLICY IMMEDIATELY."

Data entry tech comment: ITEM PUNCHED AS IT APPEARED ON CARD

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; INSURANCE ; MARRIAGE ; NONSENSE ; PREPARATION FOR DEATH ; SURPRISE ENDING

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

Date learned: 00-00-1964

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Entry filtered.

TITLE NOT SUPPLIED BY COLLECTOR

A SMART GIRL CAN PLAY POST OFFICE ALL NIGHT WITHOUT
GETTING ANY MAIL IN HER BOX.

Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; KISSING ; OBSERVATION ; PUN: MAIL FOR MALE ; SEX ; SLANG: BOX FOR VAGINA ; WORD PLAY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 10-05-1971

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HOW MICHIGAN CAME TO BE (INDIAN LEGEND)

THE GREAT SPIRIT IN THE SKY WAS MAKING THE WORLD AND ONE DAY
HE GOT TIRED AND PUT HIS HAND DOWN ON THE EARTH AND THAT
IS HOW MICHIGAN WAS FORMED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Keyword(s): GEOGRAPHY ; LAND FORMATION ; MICHIGAN ; MYTH ; SPIRIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe

Date learned: 04-01-1970

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LEGEND

AN OLD INDIAN LEGEND SAYS THAT SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN
ON MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN WAS MADE WHEN A PRINCESS OF OLD
WAS STRANDED ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE
HER WERE NO USE, SO INSTEAD THE GODS SENT HER COMPANY, A MAN
ON A HILL BENEATH HER ON EITHER SIDE. THAT IS WHY THE MOUNTAIN
HAS ONE HIGH CREST AND TWO SMALLER CRESTS.
I HEARD THIS LEGEND FROM AN OLD GUIDE FOR THE CARRIAGE TOURS ON
MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MACKINAC ISLAND

Keyword(s): GODS ; LAND FORMATION ; MICHIGAN ; MOUNTAIN ; MYTH ; PRINCESS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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LEARNING HOW TO COOK

DURING CAVEMEN DAYS, A BOY WAS RUNNING AROUND THE FIRE WITH A
PIECE OF RAW MEAT HANGING ON A STICK. HE ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED
THE MEAT INTO THE FIRE. HE WAS SO HUNGRY, HE DIDN'T WANT
THE MEAT TO GO TO WASTE SO HE RESCUED IT FROM THE FLAMES.
HE THEN BEGAN TO EAT THE "COOKED" MEAT. HE THOUGHT IT WAS
DELICIOUS} AND THAT IS HOW MAN LEARNED THE VALUE OF EATING
THEIR FOOD COOKED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CAVEMEN ; COOKING ; FIRE ; FOOD ; MYTH

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Human Life

Date learned: 02-18-1970

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COMPUTER ROOM GOOD LUCK CONVERSION

WHEN YOU ARE READING YOUR CARDS INTO THE COMPUTER YOU SHOULD RUB THE
CARD READER AND CALL IT POOH POOH. THIS WILL MAKE THE COMPUTER LIKE
YOU AND THE CARDS WILL BE READ IN WITHOUT A HITCH AND YOUR JOB WILL
BE PROCESSED QUICKLY.

Submitter comment: WHILE NOT MANY PEOPLE MAY OPENLY PROFESS TO THE BELIEF THAT THE
COMPUTER CAN LIKE YOU, IT MAY NEVERTHELESS BE WIDESPREAD.
I HAVE ONLY NOTICED THREE PEOPLE DOING THIS, INCLUDING MYSELF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

James Callow Keyword(s): MODERN FOLKLORE

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 11-23-1979

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AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE

WHEN YOU GET MARRIED AND HAVE A TOT,
SEND ME A LETTER FOR A PE-PE POT.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BABY ; EUPHEMISM: PE-PE POT FOR CHILD'S TOILET

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony

Date learned: 00-00-1974

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FOOD-VEGETABLE

IN THE OLD WEST A MAN ORDERED FRIED POTATOES CUT VERY THIN. WHEN
THE COOK BROUGHT OUT THE POTATOES, THE MAN COMPLAINED THAT THEY
WERE NOT THIN ENOUGH. THE COOK GOT SO MAD THAT HE RETURNED TO THE
KITCHEN AND CUT UP THE POTATOES RAZOR THIN AND FRIED THEM UP.
THE MAN THOUGHT THEY WERE DELICIOUS. THUS THE POTATO CHIP.

Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; NEWARK

Keyword(s): ORIGIN OF A FOOD ; ORIGIN OF A SNACK: THE POTATO CHIP

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Process
Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal

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