RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for Men returned 558 results.

prev | items
| next

(TO) THROW A HAT ON THE BED IS BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment:

MY INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT SHE DIDN'T REALLY
BELIEVE THAT, BUT HER MOTHER ALWAYS USED TO TELL
HER CHILDREN THAT "PROBABLY JUST TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY ALWAYS PUT THEIR CLOTHES AWAY."

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.)

Date learned: 00-00-1968

View just this record

IF ONE PUTS EITHER HIS HAT OR SHOES ON THE BED, HE
WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SHOES ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.)

Date learned: 02-20-1970

View just this record

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IT'S BAD LUCK TO PUT A HAT
ON A BED.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT BELIEVED THIS ABSOLUTELY WHEN SHE
WAS A CHILD IN DETROIT IN THE 30S.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.)

Date learned: 03-01-1970 ; 00001930S

View just this record

IT'S BAD LUCK TO PUT A HAT ON A BED.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER AUNT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.)

Date learned: 08-10-1964

View just this record

NEVER PUT HATS ON BEDS. THIS MEANS BAD LUCK..

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.)

Date learned: 11-00-1967

View just this record

IF YOU PUT A HAT ON A BED, YOU WILL RUN INTO BAD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: APARTMENT

Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.)

Date learned: 11-02-1969

View just this record

IT IS BAD LUCK TO PUT A HAT ON THE BED.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; LINCOLNSHIRE

Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.)

Date learned: 03-14-1971

View just this record

DO NOT PLACE YOUR HAT ON THE BED, OR YOU WILL HAVE
BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER, CARRIE
ADAMS, ABOUT 1910.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.)

Date learned: 05-12-1965

View just this record

NEVER PUT A HAT ON A CHAIR.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS A SIGN OF BAD LUCK ACCORDING TO LINDA.
THIS WAS TOLD TO HER BY HER AUNT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.)

Date learned: 02-15-1971

View just this record

THE TURN OF THE CENTURY FOUND A GREAT DEAL OF THE
PRAIRIE LAND OF THE DAKOTAS OPEN FOR SETTLEMENT
THROUGH THE HOMESTEAD ACT. THIS ARID LAND WAS FAR
FROM THE BEST FOR FARMING. MY PARENTS TOOK ADVANTAGE
OF THIS ONLY TO FIND OUT YOU COULD ONLY EXPECT ONE
GOOD CROP EVERY SEVEN YEARS. AFTER THREE YEARS OF
FARMING THE LAND, IT BECAME THEIRS AND THEY SOLD IT
AND MOVED TO THE SMALL TOWN OF LEMON, S. DAKOTA, WHERE
I WAS BORN. ONE OF THE FEW MEMORIES I HAVE OF THE
DAKOTAS ARE THE MANY PRAIRIE FIRES IN THE HOT MONTHS
OF THE YEAR. THESE FIRES WOULD CREEP ALONG THE GROUND
AND TAKE EVERYTHING IN ITS WAY. WHEN A FIRE WAS SPOTTED
EVERY ABLE-BODIED MAN WOULD GO OUT TO FIGHT THE FIRES.
THESE WERE BLAMED ON THE MANY RUSSIANS WHO LIVED IN THE
AREA. I DOUBT IF THERE WAS EVEN ANY PROOF OF THE
RUSSIANS BEING RESPONSIBLE, AS THIS WAS AT A TIME
WHEN WORLD WAR I WAS GOING ON IN EUROPE AND THE U.S.
HAD NOT YET BEEN INVOLVED. A MORE LOGICAL REASON, WHICH
WAS PROVED ON MANY OCCASIONS WAS SPARKS FROM LOCOMO-
TIVES. ON ONE OCCASION, EVERY BODY HAD TO LEAVE TOWN
AS THE FIRE WAS ON THREE SIDES OF THE TOWN AND ONLY ONE
ROAD WAS USABLE AS AN EXIT.
MOVING FROM DAKOTA TO MINNESOTA WAS LIKE TRAVELING
FROM ONE WORLD TO ANOTHER, FOR THE CITY LIFE IN MINN-
ESOTA WAS VERY MODERN. IT WAS EVEN POSSIBLE TO GET ICE
DELIVERED TO THE HOUSE THREE TIMES A WEEK. THIS WAS
SUFFICIENT SERVICE TO KEEP THE ICEBOX COLD ALL OF THE
TIME AND THE VEGETABLE WAGON WITH ITS RINGING BELL
WAS A WELCOME SIGHT FOR THE HOUSEWIFE, AS IT WAS A
CHANCE TO BARGAIN FOR FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
IN SEASON. AS TIME WENT ON, MODERNIZATION SET IN AND
THE MILKMAN, ICEMAN AND VEGETABLE MAN CHANGED FROM
HORSE DRAWN CARTS TO TRUCKS BEFORE THEY EVENTUALLY
DISAPPEARED ALTOGETHER.
WITH THE ADVENT OF THE CAR, THE MAIL MAN ON THE ROAD
NO LONGER HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY AS A MATTER OF RESPECT.
MY GRANDFATHER ON MY MOTHER'S SIDE NEVER KNEW FOR SURE
JUST HOW OLD HE WAS OR WHEN HIS BIRTHDAY WAS, SO, WHEN
HE MARRIED, HE TOOK HIS WIFE'S BIRTHDAY AS HIS. AS
NEAR AS HE COULD RECALL, HE WAS ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE
YEARS OF AGE WHEN HIS PARENTS WERE MURDERED FOR THEIR
MONEY. HE WAS PLACED IN A CHICAGO ORPHANAGE WITH A
YOUNGER SISTER. HOW MANY YEARS HE SPENT IN THIS
ORPHANAGE IS NOT EXACTLY KNOWN, BUT IN HIS EARLY DAYS
HE WORKED ON A RIVERBOAT BETWEEN NEW ORLEANS AND
MINNEAPOLIS. LATER, HE WAS WORKING AS A FARMHAND
IN SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, WHERE HE MET AND MARRIED
HIS LIFETIME PARTNER. ALL ATTEMPTS TO LOCATE HIS
SISTER WERE OF NO AVAIL, AS ALL RECORDS WERE LOST IN
THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PEORIA

Keyword(s): America ; CROPS ; Dakota ; FARMING ; Homestead Act ; Migration ; Modernization ; Prairie ; Russian ; Settlement ; Wildfire ; World War I ; WWI

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale

Date learned: 11-01-1971

View just this record

Entry filtered.

IN THE EARLY 1900'S BLACK WOMEN WHO CARRIED CLOTHES ON THEIR
HEADS WERE THOUGHT TO BE BEWITCHED WITH EVIL SPIRITS AND WERE
CALLED CUNGERS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): Black ; Evil Spirits ; Witch ; WITCHES ; Woman ; WOMEN

James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURERS?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

View just this record

Entry filtered.

YOUNG NEGRO CHILDREN WERE ONCE TAUGHT NOT TO DRINK COFFEE
BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE THEM DARK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ALABAMA, ASSUMED ; MONTGOMERY

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Coffee ; Coffee ; COLOR ; Dark ; Pigmentation ; SKIN ; SUPERSTITION ; WARNING

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR OF SKIN COMPLEXION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

Entry filtered.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

NEGROES WERE TAUGHT THE FOLLOWING:
1. DON'T LOOK AT A WHITE WOMAN BECAUSE THEY WILL HANG YOU. (MAN)
2. DON'T TOUCH ANY ARTICLE WHEN YOU ENTER A STORE OR THEY'LL
THINK YOU ARE SHOPLIFTING.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): Black ; Inter-racial ; Men ; RACISM ; Relationships ; SEXISM ; Shoplifting ; SHOPPING ; White ; WOMEN

James Callow Keyword(s): RACISM ; SEXISM ; SHOPPING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 08-09-1968

View just this record

WHY IS A BARBER POLE RED AND WHITE STRIPED? RED STANDS
FOR BLOOD AND WHITE STANDS FOR BANDAGES BECAUSE THE BARBER
ALWAYS DID THE BLEEDING FOR ALL KINDS OF AILMENTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; ROCKWOOD

Keyword(s): Ailments ; Bandages ; Barber ; Barber Pole ; Bleeding ; COLOR ; CURE ; DISEASE ; HAIR ; ILLNESS ; Pole ; PREVENTION ; Red ; SICKNESS ; Signal ; Symbolize ; White

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Color
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 07-28-1968

View just this record

CROWING HENS AND WHISTLING WOMEN ALWAYS COME TO NO GOOD END.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Hen ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Saying ; Whistle ; WOMEN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 05-13-1969

View just this record

MASH UP RED BERRIES FOR LIPSTICK AND PUT ON LIPS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BEAUTY ; Berries ; Lipstick ; Makeup

James Callow Keyword(s): ADORNMENT BEAUTIFICATION ; COSMETICS

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Human or animal body
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Color Design

Date learned: 09-17-1973

View just this record

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

View just this record

"IF I HEARD A VOICE AND NO HUMAN BEING WAS NEAR, THEN
EITHER GOD OR THE DEVIL WAS TRYING TO TALK TO ME."

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; SIGNET BOOK ; NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY

Keyword(s): Communication ; Divine ; Mental ; Voice

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Supernatural Being
BELIEF -- Devil Demon

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.