Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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NEW YEAR'S BELIEF
IF THE FIRST PERSON TO VISIT YOU ON NEW YEAR'S DAY IS FAIR-HAIRED THERE WILL BE MUCH TROUBLE FOR YOU THAT YEAR.
IF THE FIRST PERSON TO VISIT IS DARK-HAIRED THEN THERE WILL BE GOOD LUCK FOR THE YEAR.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING
Date learned: 09-10-1972
NEW YEAR'S BELIEF
IT IS CONSIDERED GOOD LUCK TO ACCIDENTLY BREAK A GOBLET ON NEW
YEAR'S EVE, BUT CONVERSELY BAD LUCK TO DO SO ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.
Submitter comment:
Informant says this has been observed for generations in her family, though she does not give much credence to it today.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F123 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Good luck P881.4 BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.42 |
Date learned: 09-10-1972
IF A PERSON DREAMS ABOUT A WEDDING, IT MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE A
DEATH OF SOMEONE CLOSE.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about weddings, funerals, and other crucial moments of life |
Date learned: 09-10-1972
{THE FATAL HAIRDO}
THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO WENT TO THE BEAUTY PARLOR TO GET A "BEE HIVE"
HAIRDO. THE HAIR IS RATTED AND PLACED ON A WAXED PAPER CONE AND
BUILT INTO A HIVE SHAPE. THERE WERE COCKROACH EGGS ON THE PAPER
AND THE WOMAN DIDN'T BOTHER TO WASH HER HAIR FOR A FEW WEEKS,
THE EGGS HATCHED. THE WOMAN AT FIRST THOUGHT THE ITCHING WAS DUE
TO HER NOT HAVING WASHED HER HAIR FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. IN FACT,
THE COCKROACHES ATE THROUGH TO HER BRAIN AND SHE DIED. PEOPLE
DISCOVERED THE COCKROACHES AFTER SHE HAD DIED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY WHILE LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN IN
WESTERN OHIO, BELLEVUE, AROUND 1959.
Where learned: OHIO ; DETROIT ; BELLEVUE
James Callow Keyword(s): DEVASTATING COCKROACHES, NOT SPIDERS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 09-20-1972
"EVERY DAY WE WOULD WALK DOWNTOWN TO TIEDKIES(IN TOLEDO, OHIO)
AND MEET
DAD WHERE WE'D BUY THE GROCERIES, LOOK AT THE ORGAN IN THE STORE, GO
THROUGH THE COFFEE DEPARTMENT AND SMELL ALL THE DIFFERENT SMELLS, AND
WATCH THE MAN PLAY THAT OLD ORGAN. PEOPLE WOULD NEVER THINK OF
WALKING THAT FAR NOW."
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SINCE BURNED DOWN. ; TIEDKIES WAS A DEPARTMENT & GROCERY STORE. IT HAS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-05-1972
" I ALWAYS BURN MY OLD PALMS IN MY FIREPLACE AS WHEN I WAS SMALL"
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT BELIEVED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS CUSTOM WAS REVERENCE
FOR SACRED OR BLESSED OBJECTS, BUT THE INFORMANT WAS NOT SURE OF THE
REASON FOR USING THE FIREPLACE.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F633 F633.11 |
Date learned: 11-05-1972
HE DRIVES LIKE SUTTER.
MR. GORSKI SAID HE USED THIS PHRASE AMONG FRIENDS WHEN BEHIND A
DRIVER WHO DROVE TOO SLOW FOR THEM. HE SAID THE NAME SUTTER CAME FROM
AN OLD MAN THEY KNEW AS KIDS, WHO ALWAYS "DROVE UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT
AND EVERY ONE MADE FUN OF HIM."
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONAL PROVERBIAL PHRASE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-01-1972
"PUTTING SWEATERS ON BACKWARDS WILL BRING BAD LUCK."
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1 |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
WART CURE
TO CURE A WART, RUB A RAW POTATO OVER IT AFTER YOU'VE CUT THE
POTATO OPEN. THEN THROW THE POTATO IN A FIELD. THE WART WILL
DISAPPEAR.
Where learned: OVER THE TELEPHONE
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
HOW YOU GET PILES
PILES ARE GOTTEN BY SITTING ON COLD CEMENT.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO INFORMANT BY PARENTS WHO SAW HIM SITTING ON THE GROUND.
James Callow Keyword(s): HEMORRHOIDS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
MENSTRUAL CUSTOM
AS A YOUNG GIRL I WAS TOLD THAT WHILE HAVING MY PERIOD
I SHOULDN'T WASH MY HAIR OR TAKE A SHOWER.
Submitter comment:
THIS CAME FROM A GIRLFRIEND OF MINE WHOSE NAME
I DON'T REMEMBER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MENSTRUAL TABU
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
THE LEGEND OF STRASBURG STREET
ONE DAY ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, A GIRL RIDING A
BICYCLE WAS KILLED BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER WHILE ON
STRASBURG STREET, ON DETROIT'S EAST SIDE. THE MAN WAS
CAUGHT AND TILL THIS DAY YOU CAN HEAR A THUMPING NOISE
ON THAT STREET--PEOPLE SAY IT IS THE DEAD GIRL.
Submitter comment: VICKY LIVES IN THE AREA AND IS A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE STORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): KNOCK-KNOCK STREET
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
LUKE THE SPOOK
LATE ONE NIGHT ON A COUNTRY ROAD NEAR ANCHORVILLE, A CHILD
WAS KILLED BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER. NOW, AT NIGHT, YOU
CAN SEE A SWAYING LANTERN LIGHT ON THAT ROAD. THE GHOST IS
CALLED LUKE THE SPOOK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, AS A YOUNG TEENAGER, WENT WITH SOME FRIENDS
TO SEE THE GHOST BUT GOT SCARED AND WENT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANCHORVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS LIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
EPITAPHS TO BAD DRIVERS
"MEAT HEAD," "FAT HEAD," "DUMMY," "DIMBULB," "HALF-WIT"
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT UTTERED THESE ON THE ROAD WHEN FEELING THREATENED
BY OTHER DRIVERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): INSULTS EPITHETS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
A BOTTLE OF INK
INK, /INK, A BOTTLE OF INK
THE CORK FELL OUT
AND YOU STINK.
Submitter comment: REPLY GIVEN BY A CHILD TO A PERSON HE IS ANGRY WITH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RETORT INSULT BODY ODOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
SUPERSTITION
POLISH PEOPLE NEVER PUT SHOES ON BED - BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): LOCATION POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1 |
Date learned: 11-30-1972
SUPERSTITION
POLISH PEOPLE DON'T KISS IN DOORWAYS - BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): LOCATION POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-30-1972
TRADITION
IRELAND - GOOD FRIDAY - CALLED BLACK FAST - FAST FROM
DAIRY PRODUCTS AND EGGS, BESIDES MEAT - COULD EAT FISH AND
POTATOES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FASTING ON GOOD FRIDAY
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 11-30-1972
PRANKS - PENNSYLVANNIA
PUSH OUTHOUSES FOR HALLOWEEN PRANK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SCATOLOGICAL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-30-1972
NO BUILDING CAN BE BUILT HIGHER THAN WILLIAM PENN'S HAT ON
TOP OF CITY HALL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PHILADELPHIA
James Callow Keyword(s): HEIGHT OF BUILDING ; STATUE OF WILLIAM PENN
| Subject headings: | Favorites ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Architecture BELIEF -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 11-30-1972