Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SPIRITS
IN ORDER FOR ONE TO KEEP SPIRITS OUT OF THEIR HOUSE HE OR SHE
SHOULD NAIL PENNIES ON THE FLOOR OF THE DOORWAY OR
HE OR SHE SHOULD WEAR PENNIES AROUND ONE'S NECK OR ANKLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 02-10-1972
HELEN
HELEN HAD A STEAMBOAT
STEAMBOAT HAD A BELL
HELEN PULLED THE WRONG CORD
AND BLOW US ALL TO HELLO OPERATOR,
GIVE ME NUMBER NINE
IF IT DOES NOT ANSWER
GIVE ME BACK MY DIME
Submitter comment:
SUNG TO A TUNE BUT I HAVE NO WAY OF EXPLAINING.
I CANNOT THINK OF A FAMOUS SONG WITH THIS TUNE.
Data entry tech comment: EUPHEMISM FOR HELL IN LINE FOUR
Where learned: FERNDALE ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): RHYME: ABA ; TELEPHONE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
GOOD LUCK: OBJECTS ( CLASSIFIER'S TITLE )
BIRTH STONES ARE LUCKY. YOU HAVE A GOOD LUCK CHARM FOR THE MONTH YOU
WERE BORN IN ALSO, JULY IS A CAT'S EYE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BIRTHSTONE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1 |
Date learned: 11-10-1970
JOHN C. WOBBLESQUAW
HE WAS MY FATHER,S GREAT, GREAT, GRANDFATHER ON HIS MOTHER,S SIDE.
ACCORDING TO THE LEGEND, HE BUILT MACKINAC ISLAND.
HE HAD A GIRLFRIEND ACROSS THE STRAITS, AND HE USED TO LIKE TO SEE
HER, SO HE WOULD SWIM ACROSS THE STRAITS. HE SAW LITTLE WHITE STONES
ON THE LOWER PENINSULA SIDE AND HE USED TO TAKE THEM TO HER.
NOW HE WAS A STRONG FELLOW, BUT HE TIRED WITH ALL THE STONES WHILE
SWIMMING, SO HE USED TO DUMP THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STRAITS.
THIS WAS A HOT ROMANCE, BUT HE COULDN,T GET ACROSS THE STRAITS WITH
SOME MORE STONES. THAT,S HOW HE BUILT MACKINAC ISLAND. BECAUSE IF YOU
GO THERE TODAY, YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE WHITE STONES IN THE SAND.
or something like that.
Where learned: MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; STONES USED TO MAKE BRIDGE NOW A HISTORIC PATH ; STONES USED TO MAKE BRIDGE OF LOVE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 00001968 FALL
CUSTOMS (NEW YEAR)
IF AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT A MARRIED
COUPLE IS HOLDING CASH IN ONE HAND
AND A PICKLED HERRING IN THE OTHER HAND AND EACH TASTES OF THE
HERRING THEY WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED FROM THE FAMILY.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): MONEY
Date learned: 09-30-1967
CHRISTMAS
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE MOTHER OF THE HOUSEHOLD PLACES A FEW GRAINS
OF VARIOUS SEEDS, AND VARIOUS SILVER COINS INTO A LINEN NAPKIN,
PUTS THE BUNDLE ON THE TABLE, COVERS IT WITH SOME HAY, AND THEN
COVERS ALL WITH A TABLECLOTH (THIS PREVENTS STARVATION AND POORNESS
ALL YEAR).
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM PARENTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD ; MONEY ; SUPERSTITION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.2 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
Date learned: 11-19-1967
NEW YEAR'S DAY
HOLDING A SILVER DOLLAR IN YOUR HAND AND EATING A HERRING TO WELCOME
IN THE NEW YEAR, MEANS THAT YOU WILL NEVER BE BROKE OR HUNGRY.
Submitter comment: IF YOU DO NOT LIKE HERRING, THEN YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
James Callow Keyword(s): COIN MONEY ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00-00-1978
FAMILY SUPERSTITION
FOR GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR, YOU MUST PLACE A QUATER OUTSIDE YOUR
FRONT DOOR ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.
THEN REMOVE IT AT THE END OF THE DAY.
Submitter comment:
THIS FAMILY HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR AS MANY GENERATIONS BACK
AS THEY KNOW OF
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): COIN MONEY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
PREGNANT WIVES
IN THE UKRAINE, DURING WW 1, MANY MEN LEFT THEIR WIVES AND
WENT TO AMERICA. THE WIVES WOULD BE SENT FOR WHEN THEY
COULD BE SUPPORTED. OCCASIONALLY, ONE OF THESE WIVES WOULD
GET PREGNANT. WHEN THE HUSBAND, WHOM MAY HAVE BEEN GONE
FOR SEVERAL YEARS, OFTEN FOUND HE ALSO HAD A FAMILY, THE
WOMEN DEVELOPED A STORY TO EXPLAIN THIS HAPPENING. THEY SAID
THAT AS A STORM TOOK PLACE, THE WIND BLEW UP UNDER HER DRESS
AND THEY BECAME PREGNANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
James Callow Keyword(s): WORLD WAR ONE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 04-00-1979
I WISH I HAD A NICKEL, I WISH I HAD A DIME, I WISH I HAD A SWEETHEART
WHO LOVED ME ALL THE TIME.
Submitter comment: SOMETIMES SAID WHILE JUMPING ROPE. EMOTIONAL YEARNING FOR LOVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): MONEY
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.322 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
THE DRESS.
A GIRL, PRESUMABLY A RELATIVE OF A FRIEND OR CLASSMATE, BOUGHT A
DRESS FOR A HIGH SCHOOL PROM. WHILE WEARING THE DRESS, SHE BECAME
VIOLENTLY ILL AND DIED LATER AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL. UPON INVESTIGATION
IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DRESS HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED
FROM THE STORE AND RETURNED. THE FIRST " OWNER " WAS A GIRL OF
THE SAME AGE WHO WORE THE DRESS TO BE LAID OUT BEFORE HER FUNERAL
IT WAS THE EMBALMING FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE SECOND OWNER'S DEATH.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): FATAL DRESS. ; THE POISONED DRESS. TY Z551 IN BAUGHMAN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: CA00001965
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE--PAY YOUR PARKING FINES.
Submitter comment: GRAFFITI FROM A BUMPER STICKER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): HUMOR MONEY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Entry filtered.
IN THE STOCK MARKET YOU WILL NEVER GO BROKE MAKING A PROFIT - AS
SMALL AS IT MAY BE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM ONE OF HIS FRIENDS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): MONEY ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-11-1971
THE DOVES
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW PANE
THE DOVES ARE MATING ONCE AGAIN
THEY BOW, THEY BILL, THEY FLAP, THEY FLUTTER
FROM ROOF TO RAIL, FROM GATE TO GUTTER.
THEY PECK AND PREEN AND SCRATCH AND SCATTER,
MAKING THE MOST INFERNAL CHATTER--
A COURSE OF CONDUCT OPPORTUNE,
NO DOUBT, TO SUCH A MONTH AS JUNE.
AND YET, I MUST CONFESS I FIND
SUCH BEDLAM (TO THE TEMPERATE MIND),
WHEN EMPHASISED WITHOUT ABATEMENT,
MERELY BECOMES AN OVER-STATEMENT.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; ONOMATOPAEIA ; PHONETIC INTENSIVE: FLAP, FLUTTER ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.444 |
Date learned: CA10001968
ANECDOTE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD DRESS IN THE
BASEMENT.
Submitter comment: TOM LEARNED IT FROM ONE OF HIS BOYFRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PEOPLE........SHOULDN'T THROW STONES.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
ANECDOTE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T WATCH
T.V. IN THEIR UNDERWEAR.
Submitter comment: SHE HEARD IT SOMEWHERE AND GAVE IT TO ME AS A VARIANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
James Callow Keyword(s): PEOPLE......SHOULDN'T THROW STONES.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
A SWARM OF BEES IN MAY
IS WORTH A LOAD OF HAY;
A SWARM OF BEES IN JUNE,
IS WORTH A SILVER SPOON.
A SWARM OF BEES IN JULY,
ISN'T WORTH A FLY.
Submitter comment:
ANOTHER OLD SAYING OF HIS FATHER, CLOSELY LINKED TO THE
TIME WHEN BEES PRODUCE THE MOST HONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COUPLET ; HONEY ; INCOME ; MONTHS OF YEAR ; OBSERVATION ; PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 03-10-1968
AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURE
REMEMBER ME WHILE LIFE IS SWEET
REMEMBER ME TILL NEXT WE MEET
LONG MAY YOU LIVE AND HAPPY BE
BELOVED BY ALL BUT MOST BY ME
YOUR FRIEND
ROSA HIMMELSBACH
JULY 30, 1882
Submitter comment: AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF LATE CLARA (SPIELBUSCH) MATHES
Keyword(s): FRIENDLY TONE ; INVERSION ; QUATRAIN ; WISH
James Callow Keyword(s): COMMAND INSTRUCTIONS ; FRIENDSHIP ; LONGEVITY ; REMEMBRANCE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me |
Date learned: 11-24-1965
SUPERSTITION CONCERNING BAD LUCK
IF SOMEONE GIVES YOU SOMETHING SHARP, LIKE A PIN OR KNIFE, YOU
MUST GIVE THEM A PENNY OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER COLLECTED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM A WOMAN WITH WHOM SHE WORKED. MRS. HAIRSTON LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER
AND GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: NATIONAL BANK OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; MONEY ; SOCIAL RELATIONS
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTGIVING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Conversions P883.18 |
Date learned: 02-00-1967