Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Legend returned 112 results.
Superstition
Certain tracks there is a figure of a man carrying a lantern down the tracks. He has no head and he is said to be looking for his head. [sic]
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The following name and address is crossed out from the [Collector] section of the card:
Miller, Kathy 28 West Willow Monroe, MI
Card was located in a pile marked with a [?]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM
Keyword(s): Beheaded ; HEAD ; Headless ; Legend ; Scare ; Spooky ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face |
Custom: Holiday
Rudolph:
In conjunction with the legend of Santa Claus is his famous team of reindeer. The leader being Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Every child knows the song about Rudolph, and looks upon him as a sort of hero of Christmas.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by TRD
Where learned: CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; Hero ; holiday ; Legend ; MYTH ; Reindeer ; Rudolph ; Santa
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Animals
There is a legendary snake with a crown on its head and the crown had bells on it. The snake has a beard like a nanny goat. It is a huge and fearsome snake. It is said to come out once a year on a holy day and few have seen it.
Submitter comment:
My father's dad claims to have seen it. He saw the ground shaking all around a house and he saw the head of this snake come out of the ground. He claims that 10 to 15 feet of ground was shaking.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Crown ; Fearful ; Holy ; Legend ; MYTH ; Serpent ; Snake ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mammal |
Legend
CROSS ON WHICH CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED WAS SUPPOSEDLY
OF DOGWOOD. THUS THE DOGWOOD FLOWER IS SHAPED LIKE A
CRUCIFIX AS A REMINDER OF THE CRUCIFIXTION. THE TEAR
DROP IN THE CENTER OF THE FLOWER REPRESENTS A TEAR
WHICH IS SHED FOR THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
Submitter comment:
ORIGIN: UNKNOWN
Data entry tech comment:
Updated 02-22-2011 by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Christ ; CRUCIFIXION ; CURSE ; DEATH ; Dogwood ; FLOWER ; Legend ; RELIGION ; Story ; Tale ; Tear ; Tree
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: 07-30-1964
Legend
CROSS ON WHICH CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED WAS SUPPOSEDLY
OF DOGWOOD. THUS THE DOGWOOD FLOWER IS SHAPED LIKE A
CRUCIFIX AS A REMINDER OF THE CRUCIFIXTION. THE TEAR
DROP IN THE CENTER OF THE FLOWER REPRESENTS A TEAR
WHICH IS SHED FOR THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
Submitter comment:
ORIGIN: UNKNOWN
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 2011-02-22 by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Christ ; CURSE ; Cursed ; DEATH ; Dogwood ; FLOWER ; Legend ; RELIGION ; Story ; Tale ; Tear ; Tree
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: 07-30-1964
Urban Legend
THE INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT STUDENTS ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE
WAS A PROFESSOR WHO USED TO THROW THE EXAMINATION PAPERS UP THE
STAIRS AS HIS METOD OF GRADING THEM. THOSE THAT LANDED ON THE
HIGHER LEVEL GOT "AS", THE NEXT STEP GOT "BS" AND SO ON DOWN
UNTIL THE BOTTOM STEP WERE THE STUDENTS WHOSE PAPERS LANDED THERE
RECEIVED "FS".
Submitter comment:
HE (THE INFORMANT) TOLD ME THAT THIS PRACTICE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO DR.
H. THEODORE HOFFMAN OF THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACADEMIC ; Grade ; Legend ; MYTH ; Stairs ; Student ; TEACHER ; URBAN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Urban Legend
Nashville Reservoir
The reservoir used to be a place for many people to sight-see. They could climb to the top of the wall and look in at our city's water supply. A locked gate was placed there becasue so many people were using the water supply to unload unwanted cats, dogs, babies, and trash.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Babies ; Cats ; Dogs ; Litter ; Nashville ; Reservoir ; TRASH ; Urban Legend
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Urban Legend
Hookman of Percy Warner Park:
I can't recall when I first heard this tale, but it seems to have been with me as long as I remember. There is supposedly a large rock located somewhere in Percy Warner Park, Nashville, where many people have reported seeing a hookman. The hookman only appears after dark and people whop have parked near this rock have heard the scraping of metal against their car.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): HOOK ; PARKING ; Sexuality ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; TABU ; Urban Legend
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Ghost Tale
In Chapel Hill, TN, There is a ghost that roams next to the railroad. All you can see is his light as he flashes it up and down the tracks. It is supposedly a lineman who had fallen off the train many years before. When he fell he lost his head. Now he roams the track swinging the light looking for his head.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Beheaded ; DECAPITATION ; GHOST ; HEAD ; Lineman ; RAILROAD ; Story ; SUPERNATURAL ; Tale ; Urban Legend
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Legend
Legend of Davey Crockett:
The West was a rich source of tall tales of a man such as Davey Crockett, the country boy/indian fighter elected to Congress. In washington, he told tall tales about his Western days"...killed himself a bear when he was only three."
Tales such as these have become legends.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Bear ; Congress ; Davey Crockett ; INDIAN ; Legend ; TALL TALE ; Wild West
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Celestial Body Legend
Idea of looking for the "man" in the moon.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): ASTROLOGY ; ASTRONOMY ; CELESTIAL ; Legend ; Man ; MOON ; Tale
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Moon |
Prose Narrative Tale
Prose Narrative Tale:
Folktale of New England -- The Gingerbread Man.
Children's story of a runaway cookie including repeated theme: "rubn, run, as fast as you can. Can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread man."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Bookhouse Volume One
Keyword(s): CATCH ; CHILDREN ; Cookie ; Fast ; Gingerbread ; Gingerbread Man ; Legend ; Narrative ; New England ; Prose ; REGIONAL ; Run ; Tale
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
THE LEGEND OF POT GOLD
THE TORIES BEFORE FLEEING NEW YORK, TOOK ALL THEIR GOLD
AND PUT IT IN HUGE IRON POTS. THEY BURIED THESE POTS IN THE
MOUNTAINS AND TO THIS DAY THERE STILL REMAINS SOME
TO BE FOUND.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Legend ; MONEY ; Pot of Gold ; Tories ; TREASURE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mineral |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
LEGEND OF MONTE SANO
THE NAME OF A MOUNTAIN NEAR HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA IS DERIVED
FROM A TRGIC LOVE STORY. A WHITE SETTLER FELL IN LOVE WITH
A BEAUTIFUL INDIAN MAIDEN NAMED MONTE. HER (MONTE'S)
FATHER SAID SHE COULD NOT MARRy THE WHITE MAN, BUT MUST
MARRY THE INDIAN PRINCE. THE WHITE MAN DIED OF A BROKEN
HEART SAYING, "MONTE SAY NO TO THE PRINCE."
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Alabama ; INDIAN ; Legend ; Marry ; Native American ; Settler
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
THE WELL HOUSE KISS
AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN BLOOMINGTON THERE IS A CERTAIN
WELL HOUSE SITUATED NEAR THE CAMPUS BELL TOWER. IN ORDER
TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL COED, A FRESHMAN MUST BE KISSED BY
AN UPPERCLASSMAN AT PRECISELY THE STROKE OF TWELVE
MIDNIGHT. THIS KISS MUST BE HELD THROUGHOUT THE TWELVE
STROKES OF THE CLOCK OR SHE WILL BE DOOMED TO OLD
MAIDSHIP.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Keyword(s): Co-ed ; COLLEGE ; KISS ; Legend ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
"WOODS' KIDS"
WHEN CERTAIN UNFAVORABLE HAPPENINGS OCCUR WITHIN THE
ROSSER HOME, THE WOODS' KIDS ALWAYS TAKE THE BLAME. THESE
SMALL CREATURES INHABIT THE WOODS BEHIND THE HOUSE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Blame ; FAMILY ; Fanciful ; Invisible ; Legend ; Tale ; TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Legend |
Date learned: 02-00-1972
TO BECOME A WEREWOLF
TAKE AN IRON COOKING POT INTO WHICH MUST BE DUMPED WATER, PARSLEY,
OPIUM, AND SAFFRON. YOU DO NOT EAT IT, IT IS TO ATTACK THE DEVIL.
RUB YOUR BODY WITH FAT OF A FRESHLY KILLED CAT AND PUT ON A
WOLF'S SKIN.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Keyword(s): DEVIL ; Legend ; MYTH ; SUPERNATURAL ; Werewolf
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Flavoring Spice BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
WEREWOLF AT A CERTAIN LOCATION
IF YOU PARK YOUR CAR AT THE END OF DIXIE HIGHWAY, TURN OFF
THE LIGHTS AND SIT QUIETLY, A MAN THAT HAS THE FEATURES
OF A WEREWOLF
WILL APPROACH THE CAR, LOOK IN, AND THEN RUN OFF.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Lycan ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Urban Legend ; Werewolf
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 10-18-1968
WEREWOLF
PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SLAVIC COUNTRIES STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE
EXISTENCE OF WEREWOLVES. THEY CLAIM THAT THE GYPSY WOMAN DELIVERS
A CURSE ON THE WEREWOLF AND THAT WHEN THERE IS A FULL MOON, PEOPLE
IMMEDIATELY LOCK THEIR HOUSES BECAUSE THE WEREWOLF IS COMING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Legend ; SUPERSTITION ; Werewolf
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 08-00-1964
WEREWOLF
WEREWOLVES ARE SAID TO COME OUT AT NIGHT WHEN THERE IS A
FULL MOON.
Data entry tech comment:
SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEY PUNCHER
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Legend ; Lycan ; MOON ; SUPERSTITION ; Werewolf
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 12-00-1965