Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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NURSING BELIEF
IF TWO MOTHERS ARE RAISING THEIR BABIES IN THE SAME ROOM, ONE
WILL 'STEAL' THE OTHER'S MILK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): OLRIK'S LAW OF TWINS
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-19-1971
Happy is she who married the son of a dead mother.
Submitter comment:
Her mother-in-law used to tell her that whenever
she could tell she was annoying her.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE ILE
Keyword(s): mother-in-law, nag
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00001940S
MURDER PROSE
THERE IS AN APARTMENT OR FLAT AND THESE GIRLS, WELL FIRST
OF ALL IT IS
S IN A FAMILIAR NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THIS ONE AROUND U OF D, LET'S SAY.
AND IT WOULD BE IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES TO LET'S SAY SOME GIRLS
GOING TO MARYGROVE. O.K., NOW THESE THREE CHICKS LIVE IN AN UPSTAIRS
FLAT.
AND TWO OF THEM HAD DATES THAT NIGHT, SOME WEEKEND NIGHT.
THEY
WENT OUT, AND THERE WAS ONE LEFT IN THE FLAT. SO SHE WAS STUDYING AND
EVERYTHING, BUT YOU KNOW, SINCE IT WAS SUCH A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD OF
COURSE THEY
HAD ALL THE DOORS LOCKED AND EVERYTHING AND THEY WERE VERY
SIDEWALK
STRICT ITH THEIR SECURITY. SO, IT WAS GETTING PRETTY LATE AND SHE W
WASN'T GOING TO WAIT UP FOR HER FRIENDS, SO SHE STARTS TO GO TO BED.
NOW, BEFORE SHE GOES TO BED, SHE HEARS SOME STRANGE NOISES OUTSIDE
LIKE
KE POSSIBLY A SCREAM, BUT SHE WASN'T REALLY SURE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
ALTHOUGH, HER CURIOSITY WAS AROUSED AND SHE AT LEAST WAS GOING TO
HAVE
A LOOK. SO SHE WENT TO THE WINDOW AND SHE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING,
BUT SHE STILL HEARD A LOT OF THRASHING AROUND OUTSIDE. NOW THIS
REALLY
SCARED THE GIRL BUT STILL SHE HAD TO GO DOWN AND SEE WHAT IT WAS.
SO SHE GOES DOWN AND GETS ENOUGH COURAGE TO LOOK OUT AGAIN AND
OPENS THE DOOR. SO SHE GOES OUT. ALONG THE TWO SIDES OF THE
THERE ARE THESE TWO SHRUBS AND OF COURSE THE SIDEWALK IS A
PRETTY
LONG ONE. SHE WALKS DOWN, STILL SCARED BUT ALL THE LIGHTS WERE
ON AND EVERYTHING. SHE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AND DIDN{T REALLY HEAR
ANYTHING
AND SORT OF EXPECTED IT WAS AN ALLEY CAT OR SOMETHING, BUT THEN,
SHE TURNED AROUND AND STARTED TO WALK BACK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE
HEARD THIS THRASHING SOUND, BUT SHE WAS REALLY SCARED AND SHE WASN'T
GOING TO BOTHER LOOKING BACK. SHE HEARD THE THRASHING SOUND RUNNING
ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HOUSE AND OF COURSE THIS MULTIPLIED IN HER
MIND,
ALL THE EFFECTS OF THIS THING, SO SHE RUNS UP, SHUTS THE DOOR AND
THEN RIGHT AFTER SHE SHUTS THE DOOR, SHE HEARS THIS FAINT SCRATCHING
AT THE DOOR, BUT SHE REALLY COULDN'T TELL WHAT IT WAS. SHE HAD HAD
IT/, SHE RUNS BACK UPSTAIRS SCARED TO DEATH, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK
LOOK OUT
OUT OR ANYTHING. SO ABOUT FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER, HER SECOND ROOMMA
ROOMMATE
CAME IN. HER ROOMMATE WAS JUST OUT OF IT. SHE RUNS UP TO THE GIRL
AND SAID, "WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?" THE GIRL SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN
THERE ALL NIGHT. SO SHE BRINGS THE GIRL DOWN TO THE DOOR AND
THERE IS
HER OTHER ROOMMATE DOWN ON THE PORCH TH A HATCHET IN HER BACK, WI
WITH ONE HAND ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
Keyword(s): STUDENTS, CLAWING
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
MURDER PROSE
THERE IS AN APARTMENT OR FLAT AND THESE GIRLS, WELL FIRST
OF ALL IT IS
S IN A FAMILIAR NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THIS ONE AROUND U OF D, LET'S SAY.
AND IT WOULD BE IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES TO LET'S SAY SOME GIRLS
GOING TO MARYGROVE. O.K., NOW THESE THREE CHICKS LIVE IN AN UPSTAIRS
FLAT.
AND TWO OF THEM HAD DATES THAT NIGHT, SOME WEEKEND NIGHT.
THEY
WENT OUT, AND THERE WAS ONE LEFT IN THE FLAT. SO SHE WAS STUDYING AND
EVERYTHING, BUT YOU KNOW, SINCE IT WAS SUCH A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD OF
COURSE THEY
HAD ALL THE DOORS LOCKED AND EVERYTHING AND THEY WERE VERY
SIDEWALK
STRICT ITH THEIR SECURITY. SO, IT WAS GETTING PRETTY LATE AND SHE W
WASN'T GOING TO WAIT UP FOR HER FRIENDS, SO SHE STARTS TO GO TO BED.
NOW, BEFORE SHE GOES TO BED, SHE HEARS SOME STRANGE NOISES OUTSIDE
LIKE
KE POSSIBLY A SCREAM, BUT SHE WASN'T REALLY SURE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
ALTHOUGH, HER CURIOSITY WAS AROUSED AND SHE AT LEAST WAS GOING TO
HAVE
A LOOK. SO SHE WENT TO THE WINDOW AND SHE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING,
BUT SHE STILL HEARD A LOT OF THRASHING AROUND OUTSIDE. NOW THIS
REALLY
SCARED THE GIRL BUT STILL SHE HAD TO GO DOWN AND SEE WHAT IT WAS.
SO SHE GOES DOWN AND GETS ENOUGH COURAGE TO LOOK OUT AGAIN AND
OPENS THE DOOR. SO SHE GOES OUT. ALONG THE TWO SIDES OF THE
THERE ARE THESE TWO SHRUBS AND OF COURSE THE SIDEWALK IS A
PRETTY
LONG ONE. SHE WALKS DOWN, STILL SCARED BUT ALL THE LIGHTS WERE
ON AND EVERYTHING. SHE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AND DIDN{T REALLY HEAR
ANYTHING
AND SORT OF EXPECTED IT WAS AN ALLEY CAT OR SOMETHING, BUT THEN,
SHE TURNED AROUND AND STARTED TO WALK BACK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE
HEARD THIS THRASHING SOUND, BUT SHE WAS REALLY SCARED AND SHE WASN'T
GOING TO BOTHER LOOKING BACK. SHE HEARD THE THRASHING SOUND RUNNING
ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HOUSE AND OF COURSE THIS MULTIPLIED IN HER
MIND,
ALL THE EFFECTS OF THIS THING, SO SHE RUNS UP, SHUTS THE DOOR AND
THEN RIGHT AFTER SHE SHUTS THE DOOR, SHE HEARS THIS FAINT SCRATCHING
AT THE DOOR, BUT SHE REALLY COULDN'T TELL WHAT IT WAS. SHE HAD HAD
IT/, SHE RUNS BACK UPSTAIRS SCARED TO DEATH, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK
LOOK OUT
OUT OR ANYTHING. SO ABOUT FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER, HER SECOND ROOMMA
ROOMMATE
CAME IN. HER ROOMMATE WAS JUST OUT OF IT. SHE RUNS UP TO THE GIRL
AND SAID, "WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?" THE GIRL SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN
THERE ALL NIGHT. SO SHE BRINGS THE GIRL DOWN TO THE DOOR AND
THERE IS
HER OTHER ROOMMATE DOWN ON THE PORCH TH A HATCHET IN HER BACK, WI
WITH ONE HAND ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
Keyword(s): STUDENTS, CLAWING
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
RIDDLE
A MAN IS IN HIS ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND HE LOOKS OUT THE
WINDOW, TURNS AROUND AND SAYS "OH MY GOD, MY WIFE HAS
JUST BEEN KILLED." WHERE UPON THE ATTORNEY TAKES OUT A
GUN AND KILLS THE CLIENT. WHY DID THE ATORNEY KILL THE
CLIENT? TELLER IS ASKED QUESTIONS WHICH CAN BE ANSWERED
YES OR NO UNTIL THE STORY UNFOLDS.
-- THE ATTORNEY WAS JEALOUS OF THE CLIENT'S WIFE. THE
ATTORNEY WAS A WOMAN.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; HOME ; LOS ANGELES ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): WOMEN LAW ATTORNEY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Entertainment: Gambling
In poker, a full house - aces and eights- is a Dead Man's Hand. Supposedly Wild Bill Hickok had this hand when he died.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out/ replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aces ; CARDS ; Dead Man's Hand ; DEATH ; Eights ; Entertainment ; Hero ; Legend ; NUMBERS ; Outlaw ; Poker, Gambling ; Wild West
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Entertainment: Gambling
Belief:
Aces and Eights - this is the Dead Man's Hand. Wild Bill Hickok was killed in a poler game with this hand.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] was written twice and crossed out each time/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): Aces ; CARDS ; Dead Man's Hand ; DEATH ; Eights ; Entertainment ; Hero ; Legend ; NUMBERS ; Outlaw ; Poker, Gambling ; Wild West
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Ethnic: Belgium
Homework Law:
In Belgium, where 51/2 days of school per week is the rule, there is a law which limits the amount of homework to 2 hours per day for any student.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F574.5, F574.82] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Belgium ; EDUCATION ; ETHNIC ; Homework ; Law ; SCHOOL ; Student
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Proverb
An Old Saying:
Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers.
Submitter comment:
It is not certain just when, or from whom my grandmother first heard this little saying; although, since it seems to be a typically American little adage, I'm quite certain that she did not hear it before she came to this country in 1910.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The contribution stamp date has been changed from [January 1964] to [May 1965].
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
KW:EZX
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Common Law ; Cry ; Discover ; Find ; Lose ; Loss ; LOST ; Ownership ; Weep
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Proverb
Finders Keepers, Losers weepers.
Submitter comment:
Heard this in grade school
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
KW: EZX
Keyword(s): Common Law ; Cry ; Find ; Keep ; Lose ; Loser ; Loss ; Ownership ; Weer
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Proverb
Necessity knows no law
Submitter comment:
Proverbial Phrase
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [ V600, V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Keyword(s): Law ; NECESSITY ; Need
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Order is Heaven's first law.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Keyword(s): HEAVEN ; Law ; ORDER ; RELIGION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Legend
DURING THE REVOLUTION, THERE WAS A DESERTER WHO LIVED IN A SHACK
WITH A WOMAN THAT HE KIDNAPPED, AND FROM THIS WOMAN HE HAD A SON
WHO LATER DID THE SAME THING AS HIS FATHER AND IT HAS GONE ON LIKE
THIS FOR GENERATIONS. IT IS RUMORED THAT THE MAN IS STILL
LOOKING FOR HIS WIFE BUT HAS NOT FOUND HER YET.
Submitter comment:
LEROY SAW THE CABIN AND SAYS HE GOT THE LEGEND FROM THIS
EXPERIENCE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 02-22-2011 by TRD
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): ABDUCTION ; Common Law ; DESERTER ; ILLEGITIMACY ; MARRIAGE ; MILITARY ; REVOLUTIONARY WAR ; Shack
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being |
Date learned: 09-25-1967
Belief
IN GERMANY YOU CANNOT KILL A TREE.
TODAY THIS IS A LAW, BUT IS BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT
THE GODS INHABITED THE TREES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B400] crossed out. Replaced with curretn classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; GERMAN ; Germany ; God ; Inhabit ; Law ; Live ; Origin ; SPIRIT ; Tree
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-11-1970
TO CURE A TOOTHACHE PICK THE TOOTH WITH A COFFIN NAIL,
MIDDLE TOE OF AN OWL, A SPLINTER FROM A TREE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING OR APPLY THE JUICE OF A PRICKLY ASH.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Claw ; Coffin ; Juice ; LIGHTNING ; Nail ; Owl ; Prickly Ash ; REMEDY ; Splinter ; TOOTHACHE ; Tree
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-30-1973
POLISH BELIEF
GDY CHTLOP TRAWE KOSI, LADA BABA DESZCZ UPROSI.
WHEN A MAN CUTS HIS GRASS, THE WOMAN BEGS FOR RAIN.
Data entry tech comment:
Possible cross reference for spelling: Dybza, Helen
Updated by TRD
Where learned: RESIDENCE
Keyword(s): Grass ; HUSBAND ; Lawn ; POLISH ; PROVERB ; Rain ; RHYME ; Saying ; Wife
| Subject headings: | Custom PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Entry filtered.