Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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HEARING THE DOOR SLAM BEFORE THE PERSON COMES
THROUGH IT, MEANS THAT THAT PERSON'S DEATH WILL
SOON FOLLOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-20-1970
NAVAHO LEGEND
MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A LAKE THAT COVERED THE
NORTH-EASTERN PART OF ARIZONA. IT DRAINED THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON.
THE NAVAHO INDIANS BELIEVED THAT THEIR FOREFATHERS WERE THERE
BEFORE THE LAKE. THE LAKE WAS MADE BY THE BACKING UP OF THE
LITTLE COLORADO RIVER. IN ORDER TO SURVIVE THESE INDIANS TURNED
THEMSELVES INTO FISH. TO THIS DAY THE NAVAHOS DON'T EAT FISH
BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY WILL EAT ONE OF THEIR ANCESTORS.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT MENTIONED THAT HE KNEW A PERSON OF NAVAHO ORIGIN
THAT WOULD NOT EAT FISH.
Data entry tech comment: COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Animal Life |
Date learned: 10-14-1971
IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE DOG OF A DEAD MAN KNOWS THE
INSTANT HIS MASTER IS PUT IN THE GROUND, AND WILL
YELP AT THAT SPECIFIC MOMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-27-1969
THE RACCOON'S EYE MARKINGS
BECAUSE THE RACCOON WAS SUCH A SNEAKY ANIMAL, GOD GAVE HIM A BLACK
MASK SO HE'D LOOK LIKE A CRIMINAL.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RACCOON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Characteristics of Animals |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
WEEPING WILLOWS
WEEPING WILLOWS WERE ONCE STRAIGHT LIKE ORDINARY TREES. ONCE UPON
A TIME SEVERAL WILLOWS WERE GROWING AROUND THIS SMALL COTTAGE.
SOME TERRIBLE TRAGEDY BEFELL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THAT HOUSE AND
THE WILLOWS BOWED THEIR BRANCHES IN SORROW. THEY HAVE BEEN THAT
WAY EVER SINCE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Origin of Characteristics of Plants |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
PUT A PENNY IN A CASKET AND MAKE A WISH.
Submitter comment:
SYLVIA LEARNED THIS FROM HER SISTER, WHO IN TURN
LEARNED IT AT THE HURSES' LOUNGE AT BEAUMONT
HOSPITAL, DETROIT (ACTUALLY IN ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 09-23-1967
IF YOU SLAP YOUR MOTHER, YOUR HAND WILL STICK OUT
OF THE GRAVE WHEN YOU ARE BURIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-27-1968
IF A PERSON WEARS A LADY BUG SYMBOL WITH A RELIGIOUS
SYMBOL (CROSS, ETC.) HE WILL THEN HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Emblem BELIEF -- Good luck |
WEARING BLUE SNEAKER LACES WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK
IN A BASKETBALL GAME.
Data entry tech comment: SNEAKERS=TENNIS SHOES
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 01-19-1972
NUNS SAY THAT GIRLS SHOULDN'T WEAR WHITE BECAUSE IT
REMINDS BOYS OF SHEETS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 09-25-1968
IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK IN AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE RACING
FOR A CAR TO BE PAINTED GREEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 09-24-1968
BLUE REPRESENTS UNHAPPINESS.
GREEN REPRESENTS YOUTH AND FRESHNESS.
YELLOW REPRESENTS SICKNESS OR JEALOUSY.
WHITE REPRESENTS PURITY.
BLACK REPRESENTS DEATH OR SADNESS.
RED REPRESENTS LOVE AND PASSION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 03-04-1971
CAR ACCIDENT
ONCE THERE WAS A CAR ACCIDENT AT J:00 A.M. NEAR CHERRY HILL AND
DENTON ON THE WEST SIDE. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE KILLED BY A BRIDGE
AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THEIR GHOSTS CAN BE HEARD BY THAT
BRIDGE AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
Data entry tech comment:
IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT GHOSTS ALWAYS COME BACK TO THE SCENES
OF THEIR DEATHS AND TO REMAIN THERE FOR ETERNITY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): DENTON ROAD.
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
WEREWOLF'S MARK
A PENTAGRAM MARKS A WEREWOLF'S INTENDED VICTIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
PROTECTION FOR A JOURNEY
WHEN YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE, MAKE THE SIGN OF THE
CROSS THREE TIMES FOR PROTECTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 03-31-1968
EVERYTIME CLARA'S MOTHER LEAVES THE HOUSE, SHE MAKES
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS THREE TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
CHILDREN'S VERSE
MISSED ME, MISSED ME, / NOW YOU HAVE TO KISS ME.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-27-1972
ETERNAL BLOOD PROSE
IN A HOUSE IN CALIFORNIA THIS LADY WAS MURDERED.
SHE WAS AX MURDERED.
THEY CHOPPED HER UP WITH AN AX. THIS HAPPENED IN HER BEDROOM AND
THE BLOOD WENT ALL OVER THE RUG. SO, IN ORDER TO RESELL THE HOUSE
AFTER EVERYTHING DIED DOWN, THEY WERE SELLING IT PRETTY CHEAP. SO
THIS NEWLY WED COUPLE BOUGHT THE HOUSE. THEY KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED
THERE, BUT THEY DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ONE MORNING THE
HUSBAND GOT
UP FOR WORK AND THERE WAS A LITTLE SPOT ABOUT THE SIZE OF
A DIME
ON THE RUG IN THE BEDROOM. HE LEFT AND WHEN HE GOT BACK FROM
WORK, THE SPOT HAD
GOTTEN BIGGER. GRADUALLY THE BLOOD RED SPOT GOT
GOT BIGGER AND BIGGER
UNTIL IT COVERED THE WHOLE RUG. THEY TRIED OVER AND
OVER AGAIN
TO GET RID OF IT, BUT THEY COULDN'T.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 09-27-1972
GIRLS DORM PROSE
NOW THIS IS IN A GIRLS DORM SOMEWHERE DOWN SOUTH AND THIS GIRL WAS
CONSTANTLY
SCARED. SO ALL THE GIRLS IN THE DORM WOULD PLAY TRICKS ON
HER
THEY WOULD SCARE H WHILE SHE WAS TALKING TO HER BOYFRIEND OR
JUMP OUT OF THE BUSHES WHEN SHE WAS WALKING AT NIGHT. SO AS SHE
CONSTANTLY BECAME MORE PARANOID, THE GIRLS WOULD SCARE HER MORE AND
MORE. SO ONE NIGHT THEY WERE STUDYING LATE IN THE CHEMISTRY LAB. IN
THE LAB THERE WAS A SKELETON. SO THIS GIRL WAS OUT ON A DATE AND WAS
COMING HOME LATE AND WAS COMING INTO THE LAB AFTER THE DATE. SO,
AFTER HER DATE SHE WENT TO THE LAB. THE OTHER GIRLS WANTED TO SEE
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY HUNG THE SKELETON IN THE DOORWAY IN A WAY
IN WHICH IT WOULD FALL ON HER. WHEN THEY FELT ENOUGH TIME HAD PASSED
BY, THEY WENT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. WHEN THEY GOT THERE, THEY SAW
THEIR FRIEND SITTING ON THE FLOOR, HER HAIR HAD TURNED WHITE, HER
FACE WAS DISFIGURED AND SHE WAS CHEWING ON ONE OF THE SKELETON'S
BONES.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
DISTILLERY PROSE
THIS ONE HAPPENED IN NORTH CAROLINA. THERE WAS THIS GUY NAMED LOSS
HONEYCUTT
AND HIS PROFESSION WAS BREEDING BULLS. ON THE SIDE HE RAN A
DISTILLERY. BACK IN THOSE TIMES, I THINK IT WAS THE EARLY 1900'S, AS
FAR AS POLICEMEN AND GUYS LIKE THAT, THEY DIDN'T FIND OUT TOO MUCH
ABOUT
DISTILLERIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ILLEGAL AND EVERYTHING. BUT
BY MOUTH OR WHATEVER, THE AUTHORITIES FOUND OUT THAT LOSS WAS RUNNING
THIS DISTILLERY AND MAKING PRETTY GOOD MONEY ON IT. SO ONE DAY TWO
LOCAL
SHERIFFS DECIDED TO PAY LOSS A VISIT. IT SO HAPPENS THAT THE
POLICE
WERE SEEN GOING IN THERE TO BREAK UP THE STILL AND OF COURSE A
CROWD BEGAN TO GATHER OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE. AND THEY WAITED AND WAITED,
BUT THE TWO SHERIFFS NEVER CAME OUT. THE PEOPLE GOT KIND OF CONCERNED
AND WENT TO THE POLICE STATION AND TOLD THEM THAT THE TWO SHERIFFS
HADN'T COME OUT OF THE HOUSE. SO THE POLICE INVESTIGATED. THEY WENT
INTO THE HOUSE AND DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT WHERE THE STILL WAS LOCATED
AND THERE WAS LOSS MAKING WHISKEY. IT SO HAPPENS THAT LOSS HAD DONE
AWAY WITH THE TWO SHERIFFS AND HAD MADE WHISKEY OUT OF THEM.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM: PEOPLE DISTILLED INTO WHISKEY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-25-1972