Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF A BIRD ENTERS A HOUSE, SOMEONE IN THAT HOUSE WILL DIE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 05-07-1969
IF AN EXPECTANT MOTHER LOOKS UPON A CORPSE, HER BABY
WILL BEAR A BIRTHMARK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
THE GHOST OF RESTON
RESTON, VIRGINIA, NEAR WASHINGTON, D. C., IS NOW A NEW TOWN
BUT WAS ONCE THE SITE OF A BEAUTIFUL MANSION, ALSO KNOWN AS
RESTON. A YOUNG GIRL WITH LONG BLONDE HAIR LIVED HERE LONG
AGO. SHE WAS COURTED BY A MAN WHO BECAME INSANELY JEALOUS AND
IN A FIT OF ANGER, KILLED AND DECAPITATED HER, TAKING THE HEAD
WITH HIM IN HIS FLIGHT. THE HEADLESS BODY WAS BURIED ON THE
GROUNDS OF RESTON, BUT THE HEAD WAS NEVER DISCOVERED. SEARCHING
FOR HER HEAD, THE "GHOST OF RESTON" HAUNTED THE MANSION UNTIL
IT WAS DEMOLISHED.
WITHOUT A HOUSE OR HEAD NOW, SHE CONTINUES TO HAUNT LONELY ROADS
AND WOODS NEAR THE TOWN OF RESTON, AND HAS RECENTLY APPEARED
TO SEVERAL CARLOADS OF TEENAGERS, WHO HAVE MADE A HOBBY OF
"GHOSTWATCHING." SHE SEEMS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN BLONDE GIRLS
LIKE HERSELF, FOR WHEN A CAR CONTAINING A BLONDE PARKED NEAR HER
HAUNTS, SHE NOT ONLY APPEARED BUT DREW CLOSE TO THE CAR AND TRIED
TO ENTER THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE GIRL INSIDE SCREAMED AND
THE GHOST DISAPPEARED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 05-12-1969
ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST, ESPECIALLY AROUND PARLEY'S ISLAND,
A STORY HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION OF THE
"GREY GHOST." THE STORY ORIGINATED PRIOR TO CIVIL WAR TIMES.
THE STORY BEGAN FROM A YOUNG MAN RETURNING HOME FROM A WAR TO
FIND HIS FIANCEE MARRIED. HE ONLY PEEPED IN A WINDOW AND FOUND
HER HAPPY, WHICH WAS HIS MAIN DESIRE, AND SO HE TURNED FROM THE
HOME AND WALKED INTO THE OCEAN.
ON MANY OCCASIONS, THE GREY GHOST HAS RETURNED AS A WARNING OF
IMPENDING TROUBLE OR DISASTER. THE LAST SUCH OCCURANCES WAS
DURING THE APPROACH OF THE HURRICANE, HAZEL, IN 1955. THE PEOPLE
IN CHARGE OF EVACUATING PARLEY'S ISLAND HAD CHECKED EACH HOUSE,
BUT AS THEY LEFT THE ISLAND, THEY SAW THE FIGURE OF THE GREY
GHOST IN A LIGHTED WINDOW WATCHING OVER THE ISLAND.
DURING MY VACATION ON THE ISLAND A FEW YEARS AGO, TWO TEENAGE
BOYS WERE WALKING ON THE BEACH BEFORE A THUNDER AND WIND STORM
ARRIVED, AND DECLARED THEY SAW A FIGURE WALKING TOWARD THEM. BUT
AS THEY CAME NEARER, THE FIGURE DISAPPEARED. WHEN THEY CAME
INSIDE, THEY WERE AS WHITE AS A SHEET, AS IF THEY HAD SEEN A
GHOST.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): SUICIDE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 05-08-1969
RECIPE AN UKRANIAN DISH CALLED HOLUBCHI
YOU TAKE SOME CABBAGE LEAVES AND IMMERSE THEM IN BOILING WATER FOR
ABOUT THREE MINUTES. THEN IN THE CENTER OF THE LEAVES YOU PLACE
A TABLESPOON FULL OF A MIXTURE OF GROUND BEEF, ONION AND RICE.
YOU THEN FOLD THE LEAF AROUND THE MIXTURE AND BAKE IN TOMATO SAUCE
FOR ONE HOUR AT 300 DEGREES.
Where learned: THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DORM
Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation |
Date learned: 03-02-1971
WHEN MY MOTHER, LAURA BASSETT BOOKER, WAS A CHILD IN
CONWAY, ARKANSAS, HER PARENTS EMPLOYED AS A GENERAL
HANDYMAN AND YARD WORKER, AN OLD NEGRO MAN, WHO WAS A
"SILVER WITCH" OR "SILVERDOUSER." IF SILVER MONEY WAS
HIDDEN IN THE GROUND, HE COULD FIND IT BY USING A
FORKED BRANCH WITH A CLEFT END INTO WHICH A SMALL PIECE
OF SILVER, SUCH AS A DIME, WOULD BE INSERTED.
SKEPTICAL OF HIS POWERS, MY MOTHER AND HER BROTHER CLINE
DECIDED TO TEST HIM BY HIDING MONEY IN A TREE. THE
"SILVER WITCH" WAS LED BY HIS DIVINING ROD TO BENEATH
THE TREE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE MONEY. WHEN THE
CHILDREN REVEALED THEIR TRICK, THE OLD MAN BECAME VERY
ANGRY AND REFUSED TO TRY TO FIND ANY MORE MONEY FOR THEM.
Where learned: DORM ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; Arkansas ; CONWAY
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 05-12-1969
DORMITORY CUSTOM
EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT IN CERTAIN DORMS, A GROUP OF GIRLS GATHER
ROUND IN A CIRCLE. THEY PASS A LIGHTED CANDLE AROUND. IF A GIRL
STOPS THE CANDLE THE FIRST TIME, IT MEANS THAT SHE HAS BEEN
LAVALIERED OVER THE WEEKEND. THE CANDLE GOES AROUND AGAIN AND IF
IT IS STOPPED, THAT GIRL HAS BEEN PINNED. THE CANDLE IS PASSED
AROUND FOR THE THIRD TIME AND WHOEVER STOPS IT THEN HAS BEEN
ENGAGED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT A FRIEND OF HERS MENTIONED DOING THIS
EVERY SUNDAY AT HER COLLEGE IN MISSOURI.
Data entry tech comment: LAVALIERE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Engagement |
Date learned: 10-18-1971
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 |
HEAVEN, GOD SPEAKING, SAID ROBIN ANSWERING TELEPHONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-04-1972
Remembering Belief
Tie a string around your index finger in order to remember something.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR ; WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
SPINACH BELIEF
IF YOU EAT SPINACH, YOU WILL HAVE ROSY CHEEKS AND CURLY HAIR.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER OFTEN TOLD THE FAMILY THIS TO GET THEM TO EAT THIS DISTASTEFUL VEGETABLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-12-1971