Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Legend returned 112 results.
LAKE BELIEF
ACCORDING TO LOCAL INDIAN BELIEF IN SYRACUSE NEW YORK, THE LAKE HAS
NO END AND JUST SINKS ENDLESSLY IN THE EARTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): American Indians ; ETYMOLOGY ; GEOGRAPHY ; INDIANS ; Lake ; Legend ; Lore ; NEW YORK ; River ; Syracuse ; WATER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Still water Small body. |
Date learned: 10-14-1970
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
BOTTOMLESS LAKE BELIEF
WHEN ON VACATION AT HOUGHTON LAKE, MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT
THERE WAS A LAKE NEARBY WHICH HAD BEEN SOUNDED BUT BOTTOM WAS NEVER
FOUND. (PROBABLY HIGGINS LAKE.)
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS PROBABLY HIGGINS LAKE, WHICH IS 135 DEEP.
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS GEODETIC SURVEY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HOUGHTON LAKE
Keyword(s): Bottomless Lake ; Higgins Lake ; Houghton Lake ; Lake ; Legend
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Still water Small body. BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
LAKES BELIEF
SOME PEOPLE HOLD THAT THERE IS A SUBTERRANEAN CONNECTION BETWEEN
LAKE HURON AND HIGGINS LAKE. THIS BELIEF IS EXEMPLIFIED BY AN
INDIAN TALE OF AN INDIAN WHO WAS DROWNED DURING A STORM ON HIGGINS
LAKE, BUT WHOSE CANOE WAS FOUND ADRIFT ON LAKE HURON.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; Higgins Lake ; INDIAN ; Lake ; Lake Huron ; Lakes ; Legend ; Subterranean
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Still water Small body. |
Date learned: 02-00-1968
WELL BELIEF
IN NORTH CAROLINA THERE IS A CERTAIN WELL WHERE AFTER THROWING
A ROCK DOWN INTO IT, IT WILL FLOAT BACK UP.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTOR'S HOME
Keyword(s): Float ; GRAVITY ; Legend ; North Carolina ; Well
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Still water Man made container. |
Date learned: 04-00-1970
MOUNTAIN BELIEF
THOSE WHO LEAP INTO THE SACRED MOUNTAIN
OF FUJIYAMA ARE NOT CONDEMNED.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
Keyword(s): ; Condemn ; Fujiyama ; Japan ; Legend ; Lore ; MOUNTAIN ; Region ; SALVATION ; Volcano
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Running water Man made current. |
Date learned: 02-05-1970
ESKIMO BELIEF
GOOD WIFELY ESKIMOS ARE KNOWN TO CHEW THEIR HUSBAND'S BOOTS
IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM SOFT FOR THE MEN TO WEAR.
THIS IS WHY THEIR TEETH ARE CHEWED DOWN TO A BARE MINIMUM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): ; Boots ; Culture ; Eskimo ; HUSBAND ; Inuit ; Leather ; Legend ; Lore ; Service ; Tanning ; TEETH ; Wife
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Custom CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- P4387 P4387.14 |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
SUPERSTITION
NEVER WAKE A SLEEPWALKER OR HE WILL DIE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A BELIEF COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): Awaken ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; Die ; Legend ; Lore ; SLEEPWALKER ; SUPERSTITION ; WAKE
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; NEGATIVE
| Subject headings: | Daily Life BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping |
Date learned: 09-20-1967
CRUEL BABYSITTER
IN HARPER WOODS {MICHIGAN} THIS GIRL WENT TO BABYSIT FOR
A FAMILY WITH A SMALL BABY. BEFORE THE PARENTS OF THE CHILD
WERE TO COME HOME, THE SITTER THOUGHT SHE WOULD SURPRISE
THE PARENTS WITH A MIDNIGHT SNACK. SO SHE SET THE TABLE
AND TOOK THE BABY AND BAKED IT AS THE MEAL SHE WOULD
SET FOR THE PARENTS. WHEN THE PARENTS CAME HOME THEY
WERE GREETED WITH A MEAL WHICH THEY DID NOT KNOW WAS
THEIR CHILD. IT WAS LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS GIRL
WAS TAKING LSD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY ; Babysitter ; CANNIBALISM ; Consumption ; DRUGS ; FOOD ; Hallucinogen ; HORROR ; LSD ; Urban Legend
James Callow Keyword(s): HALLUCINOGENIC DRUG
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 04-00-1971
LE GNOMME ROUGE
THE CITY OF DETROIT HAS A FRENCH ORIGIN. BOTH CADILLAC AND
FATHER RICHARD GREATLY AIDED THE CITIES FOUNDING. BOTH OF
THESE MEN WERE ADVISED BY 'LE GNOMME ROUGE.' THIS LITTLE
MAN HELPED IN MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS . MANY OF THE CITIZENS
SAW HIM FROM TIME TO TIME. HE WAS LAST SEEN IN 1806 DURING THE
DETROIT FIRE AND IN 1943 DURING THE RACE RIOTS. AT THAT TIME,
SOME CITIZENS SAW HIM, OPENLY SOBBING, WALKING THE STREETS
OF DOWNTOWN. BILL GORMAN HEARD THIS, I WOULD THINK, FROM TRADITIONAL
SOURCES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Cadillac ; Detroit ; ETYMOLOGY ; FESTIVAL ; FRENCH ; Gnomme Rouge ; Legend ; Nain Rouge ; Origin ; RACE ; Riots
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 07-08-1964
SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL AND BELIEFS
SAINT PATRICK DERTA GEROGADE E FRANC OR ALBAN. THAT MEANS SAINT
PATRICK CAME FROM FRANCE OR ENGLAND. WE WERE TAUGHT THAT EXPRESSION
AS CHILDREN. HE WAS SENT BY POPE CELESTINE TO BRING THE CATHOLIC
FAITH TO IRELAND. HE KILLED ALL THE SNAKES IN IRELAND BY SQUASHING
THEM WITH HIS STAFF. HE DIDN'T REALLY EXIST THOUGH. WE WOULD
CELEBRATE SAINT PATRICK'S DAY IN ENGLAND BY WEARING ALL GREEN.
Submitter comment:
"SPELLMAN, BURKE, AND I WOULD GO OUT FOR A WALK IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE
WE HAD NO MONEY AND WE DIDN'T WANT THOSE DAMN ENGLISH TO THINK WE
WERE STAYING HOME ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY."
MY MOTHER, WHO IS FROM IRELAND, WENT TO NURSING SCHOOL IN ENGLAND IN
1947. SHE CAME FROM A POOR FAMILY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Celebrate ; Green ; holiday ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Lore ; Origin ; Saint Patrick's Day ; Tale
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1947 ; 11-22-1979
FORMING MICHIGAN
ONE DAY THE INDIAN GOD WAS DRAWING THE VARIOUS LANDS ON THE GLOBE.
AND AS HE WAS TRACING ALONG, HE HAD TO LEAN ON THE LAND WITH HIS
OTHER HAND FOR SUPPORT. WELL, WHEN HE GOT DONE DRAWING AND HE
STOOD BACK TO LOOK AT HIS WORK, HE FOUND THAT HE HAD MADE A BIG
HAND PRINT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAND. WELL, THAT HAND PRINT
IS NOW THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
Submitter comment:
THIS LEGEND WAS TOLD TO MY SISTER ONE DAY IN SCHOOL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): CREATION ; ETYMOLOGY ; GEOGRAPHY ; INDIAN ; Legend ; Lore ; MICHIGAN ; Native American ; Origin
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation BELIEF -- Creator |
Date learned: 11-01-1968
FORMING MICHIGAN
ONE DAY THE INDIAN GOD WAS DRAWING THE VARIOUS LANDS ON THE GLOBE.
AND AS HE WAS TRACING ALONG, HE HAD TO LEAN ON THE LAND WITH HIS
OTHER HAND FOR SUPPORT. WELL, WHEN HE GOT DONE DRAWING AND HE
STOOD BACK TO LOOK AT HIS WORK, HE FOUND THAT HE HAD MADE A BIG
HAND PRINT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAND. WELL, THAT HAND PRINT
IS NOW THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
Submitter comment:
THIS LEGEND WAS TOLD TO MY SISTER ONE DAY IN SCHOOL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): CREATION ; ETYMOLOGY ; GEOGRAPHY ; INDIAN ; Legend ; Lore ; MICHIGAN ; Native American ; Origin
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation BELIEF -- Creator |
Date learned: 11-01-1968
FORMING MICHIGAN
ONE DAY THE INDIAN GOD WAS DRAWING THE VARIOUS LANDS ON THE GLOBE.
AND AS HE WAS TRACING ALONG, HE HAD TO LEAN ON THE LAND WITH HIS
OTHER HAND FOR SUPPORT. WELL, WHEN HE GOT DONE DRAWING AND HE
STOOD BACK TO LOOK AT HIS WORK, HE FOUND THAT HE HAD MADE A BIG
HAND PRINT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAND. WELL, THAT HAND PRINT
IS NOW THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
Submitter comment:
THIS LEGEND WAS TOLD TO MY SISTER ONE DAY IN SCHOOL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): CREATION ; ETYMOLOGY ; GEOGRAPHY ; INDIAN ; Legend ; Lore ; MICHIGAN ; Native American ; Origin
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation BELIEF -- Creator |
Date learned: 11-01-1968
ORANGE GROVE
A BOY AND GIRL IN FLORIDA WENT OUT PARKING IN AN ORANGE GROVE.
WHEN THEY WERE READY TO LEAVE THE BOY FOUND THAT HE WAS OUT OF
GAS. HE WAS REALLY DISGUSTED WITH HIMSELF AS HE STOMPED AWAY,
WARNING THE GIRL TO LOCK THE DOORS AND WAIT FOR HIM IN THE CAR.
HOURS PASSED AND THE GIRL WAS GETTING VERY WORRIED. IT WAS COLD
AND SHE WAS VERY TIRED SO SHE FELL ASLEEP. A TAP AT THE WINDOW
WOKE HER. A POLICEMAN TOLD HER TO GET OUT AND GO TO THE PATROL
CAR AND HE'D TAKE HER HOME. AS HE HELPED HER TO THE CAR HE WARNED
HER NOT TO LOOK BACK AT THE OTHER CAR. AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR
SHE GLANCED BACK AT THE OTHER CAR. THERE WAS HER BOYFRIEND'S
HEAD, ON THE ROOF, STREAMING BLOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Boyfriend ; DEATH ; Girlfriend ; MURDER ; PARKING ; Urban Legend ; VIOLENT
James Callow Keyword(s): DECAPITATION
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
KING ARTHUR
A FRIEND OF MINE, MIKE JONES, REVEALED TO ME THAT KING ARTHUR
REALLY LIVED. HE CONTENDS THAT ENGLAND KNEW A PERIOD OF FIFTY
YEARS WHEN THERE WAS COMPLETE PEACE. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE OF
THE SAXONS, AND THAT LEADS MIKE TO BELIEVE THAT KING ARTHUR AND
HIS KNIGHTS REALLY EXISTED.
Submitter comment:
MIKE LEARNED THIS SOMEWHERE, BUT HE WASN'T SURE WHERE, PROBABLY
MERE SPECULATION.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Camelot ; King Arthur ; Legend ; Saxons
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 10-05-1967
STORY
IN THE 1820'S AT SPRING ARBOR, MICHIGAN, AN INDIAN CHIEF WAS
CAPTURED DURING THE WAR. AFTER THE WAR, THE ENGLISH ALLOWED
HIM TO RETURN TO HIS TRIBE. HE WAS SIX FEET TALL AND USED
CRUTCHES TO GET AROUND. IT IS SAID THAT HE WOULD CHALLENGE
ANY MAN TO RACE WITH HIM AND THAT HE ALWAYS WON. EVEN THOUGH
ONE-LEGGED, HE HAD DEVELOPED AN ENORMOUS SPRINT WITH THE AID
OF HIS CRUTCHES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SPRING ARBOR
Keyword(s): INDIAN ; Legend ; Native American
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails |
STORY
IN THE 1820'S AT SPRING ARBOR, MICHIGAN, AN INDIAN CHIEF WAS
CAPTURED DURING THE WAR. AFTER THE WAR, THE ENGLISH ALLOWED
HIM TO RETURN TO HIS TRIBE. HE WAS SIX FEET TALL AND USED
CRUTCHES TO GET AROUND. IT IS SAID THAT HE WOULD CHALLENGE
ANY MAN TO RACE WITH HIM AND THAT HE ALWAYS WON. EVEN THOUGH
ONE-LEGGED, HE HAD DEVELOPED AN ENORMOUS SPRINT WITH THE AID
OF HIS CRUTCHES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SPRING ARBOR
Keyword(s): Chief ; INDIAN ; Legend ; Native American
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails |
Date learned: 03-19-1970
STORY
IN THE 1820'S AT SPRING ARBOR, MICHIGAN, AN INDIAN CHIEF WAS
CAPTURED DURING THE WAR. AFTER THE WAR, THE ENGLISH ALLOWED
HIM TO RETURN TO HIS TRIBE. HE WAS SIX FEET TALL AND USED
CRUTCHES TO GET AROUND. IT IS SAID THAT HE WOULD CHALLENGE
ANY MAN TO RACE WITH HIM AND THAT HE ALWAYS WON. EVEN THOUGH
ONE-LEGGED, HE HAD DEVELOPED AN ENORMOUS SPRINT WITH THE AID
OF HIS CRUTCHES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SPRING ARBOR
Keyword(s): INDIAN ; Legend ; Native American
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails |
Date learned: 03-19-1970
PLANT LEGEND
THERE IS A TREE BY THE TWO OCEANS WHICH PUTS YOU TO SLEEP WHEN
YOU SIT UNDER IT. UPON AWAKENING, YOU ARE COVERED WITH HIVES
AND THE ONLY CURE IS TO WASH IN THE OCEANS--SALT WATER REMOVES
THE HIVES.
Submitter comment:
MISS ZITZEWITZ LEARNED OF THIS FROM HER MOTHER AS A CHILD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Botanical ; HIVES ; Legend ; Ocean ; PLANT ; Tree
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Water BELIEF -- Earth |