Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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EXTRA CORPORAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION/ TO BE HEARD
ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, THE NOVICES (THOSE WAITING TO PROFESS THEIR
RELIGIOUS VOWS) WOULD WALK THROUGH THE CORRIDORS OF THE CONVENT
SINGING CHRISTMAS HYMNS. OTHERWISE, THE SISTERS WERE AWAKENED AND
PUT TO BED BY A BELL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT RITA CONVENT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. SPEECH -- To Be Heard |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
WHEN I WAS A KID I WENT DOWN THE ROAD
OVER A FRIEND'S HOUSE, WHEN I STARTED
BACK HOME I LOOKED IN BACK OF ME
AND THERE WAS A LITTLE RED BOUNCING BALL
FOLLOWING ME. I STARTED RUNNING HOME AND
THE BALL MOVED FASTER AND I RAN INTO MY
ROOM AT HOME AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND
THE RED BALL WAS STILL THERE. IT FINALLY
WENT AWAY AND I NEVER SAW IT AGAIN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001970S
YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER THE BIRTH OF YOUR
FIRST CHILD FIRST BECAUSE IT WAS THE
FIRST TIME YOU EVER HAVE EXPERIENCED
A THING LIKE THAT. THERE IS A CLOSER
BOND BETWEEN MOTHER AND FIRST CHILD
THAN BETWEEN THE OTHER CHILDREN.
Submitter comment:
YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW I MUST HAVE FELT
BECAUSE I WAS THE 4TH CHILD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001980S
THE BUG-A-LA-BOO
THE BUG-A-LA-BOO HAD 90 FITS AS HE CAME
FROM UNDER THE BED, HE RIPPED AND SCORNED
AND SHIT ON THE FLOOR AS HE WIPED HIS
TAIL ON THE DOOR KNOB DOOR, HE WENT OUT
SIDE AND CLIMBED A TREE AND IF I HAD'NT
BEEN LOOKING HE WOULD HAVE SHIT ON ME.
Submitter comment:
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT A BUG-A-LA BOO IS -
JUST A FICTITIOUS CHARACTER CREATED BY
THE MASTER MIND OF MY UNCLE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 00001970S
PROVERB
ONE BIRD IN HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE ; VEGETATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-15-1967
SPRING RITUALS
ONE SHOULD TAKE A BATH EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT
TO START THE WEEK/SPRING OFF FRESH.
ONE SHOULD TAKE CASTOR OIL AT THE END OF
WINTER TO CLEAN OUT THE SYSTEM FOR SPRING.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Spring BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00001980S
HE'S MORE TIRED THAN AN ONE-LEGGED MAN IN AN
ASS KICKIN' CONTEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00001970S
HE IS MORE NERVOUS THAN A LONG-TAILED CAT IN A
ROOM FULL OF ROCKIN' CHAIRS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00001980S
A PERSON BORN BEFORE NOON AND AFTER MIDNIGHT
INDICATES THRIFTINESS AND ARROGANCE WHILE A
PERSON BORN AFTER NOON AND BEFORE MIDNIGHT
INDICATES GENEROSITY AND KINDNESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00001980S
RIDDLE
Q: I WON'T TELL MOM IF YOU HIT ME...BUT IF YOU POKE ME WITH A PIN,
I 'LL CALL POP. WHAT AM I?
A: A BALLOON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ENTERTAINMENT AND ; NOTION ITEMS (Q) ; PERSON (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FISH IS BRAIN FOOD, THE MORE YOU EAT, THE MORE INTELLIGENT YOU WILL
BE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DIET ; FISH ; HEALTH ; Nutrition ; Smart
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish |
Date learned: CA00001915
Camp Songs, Girl Scouts
This song is used as a round.
A round is a song that is sung
by two groups at the same time
but is begun at different times.
This song is about the Girl Scout Trefoil.
My Trefoil, My Trefoil
Can I Tell you how I feel
You have given me your friendship,
And I thank you so.
Submitter comment:
The Trefoil is the symbol for the
Girl Scouts of the United States.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Camp Narrin ; Ortonville
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 06-00-1986
THE RUBBING OF MUD ON A BEE STING WILL TAKE THE
PAIN OUT AND IT WILL ALSO REDUCE THE SWELLING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00-00-1976
BABIES DONT LAUGH, THEY'RE ONLY HAVING GAS PAINS.
WHEN A BABY IS FIRST BORN HE/SHE CANT SEE - THEY START
TO SEE WHEN THEY BECOME A CERTAIN AGE.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO ME BY MY MOTHER WHO GOT THAT FROM HER MOTHER,
MY MOTHER NEVER BELIEVED THAT BECAUSE SHE TOLD MY
GRANDMOTHER THAT ALL OF HER BABIES COULD
SEE WHEN THEY WERE FIRST BORN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001980S
WHY DID THE BLACK MAN WEAR A TUXEDO TO HIS VASECTOMY?
ANSWER. IF I'M GONNA BE IMPOTENT I MIGHT AS WELL LOOK
IMPOTENT.
Submitter comment:
I GOT THIS JOKE FROM THE MOVIE "SOUL MAN." IT WAS TOLD
BY TWO WHITE GUYS IN FRONT OF A BLACK GUY TO MAKE HIM
FEEL BAD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): IMPOTENT- USED INSTEAD OF THE WORD IMPORTANT TO MAKE ; THE BLACK MAN'S SPEECH SEEM BAD.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- BLAC |
Date learned: 10-00-1987
PROVERB
AN OLD DOG WILL LEARN NO NEW TRICKS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): AGE ; ANIMAL ; OBSERVATION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-10-1967
EARACHE
IF YOU HAVE AN EARACHE PUT GARLIC IN YOUR EAR
AND IT WILL DRAW OUT THE PAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-17-1969
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
NOTHING VENTURED NOTHING LOST
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS
James Callow Keyword(s): AMBITION ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-15-1967
SPIRITUAL PRESENCE
I WAS LAYING IN MY MOTHER'S BED SOME TIME AFTER MY FATHER
DIED AND HER ROOM WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM HIS. I WASN'T
QUITE ASLEEP YET WHEN I SAW A TRANSPARENT PERSON ABOUT THE
SIZE AND SHAPE OF MY FATHER COME OUT OF THAT ROOM. I WAS
NOT SCARED BECAUSE IN LIFE MY FATHER WAS A VERY KIND MAN
THAT WOULD NOT HURT ME AND HE WOULD BE THE SAME IN DEATH.
I WENT TO SLEEP FEELING VERY COMFORTED.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1986