Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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TO KEEP YOUR CHILD FROM HAVING TERRIBLE NIGHTMARES,YOU SHOULD
PUT A BIBLE UNDER HIS OR HER PILLOW.
Where learned: VIRGINIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic Book BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 04091984CA
An Old African Fable: When a baby is about to teethe,
about four months or so (drooling stage) take a raw egg
from the refrigerator and wrap it in a cloth diaper if
you have one. Keep it where you place other diapers
(hamper). This will prevent the baby from any
difficulty in teething. Older people have sworn by it.
Where learned: VIRGINIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
It is not good to put your hat on the bed or table.
It is bad luck. When asked why it is bad luck, Mr. Ford's
answer was "I don't know".
Where learned: VIRGINIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
Don't let a woman in your house before 12 noon on Monday.
It is okay or good to let a man in.
Where learned: VIRGINIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
Among some black folks, it's good to let a "white" man
in your house before 12 noon. It's okay to let a black
man in also, but a "white" man takes precedence.
Where learned: VIRGINIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
If a dog howls that's a sign of death in the neighborhood.
Where learned: VIRGINIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
Some people say that a man of dark color is crazy about a
high yellow, but high yellow will throw you, and when
you come home, there will be another mule kicking in your
stall. A brown skin girl is the best gal after all.
Where learned: VIRGINIA
James Callow Keyword(s): African-American color of skin
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Color SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
I don't want no black woman to fix my tea, cause she's
liable to "PISON" me.
Where learned: VIRGINIA
James Callow Keyword(s): poison
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
NEVER HAVE A TOOTH PULLED WHEN THE MOON IS IN THE SIGN
OF THE HEAD OR BAD WILL COME OF IT.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO FOLLOWS THE
MOON'S CYCLE FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS. THE SIGNS OF THE
ZODIAC EACH CORRESPOND TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE BODY,
THE HEAD BEING THE SIGN OF CAPRICORN, THE RAM.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; SPLASHDAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
Entry filtered.
NOT GIVEN
WHEN A PERSON IN VIRGINIA IS REAL POOR, WE SAY HE'S SO
POOR THAT HE DON'T HAVE A POT TO PEE IN OR A WINDOW TO
THROW IT OUT OF.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; GALLATIN ; ROUTE 3
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF ONE EXPERIENCES REPEATED ITCHINESS OF THE PALMS,
IT IS A SURE SIGN THAT UNEXPECTED MONEY WILL BE RECEIVED.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; SPLASHDAM
Keyword(s): ITCH
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00001930ca
IF ONE IS CUTTING THE HAIR OF A CURLY-HAIRED CHILD AND
WANTS TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILD'S HAIR WILL REMAIN CURLY,
THE HAIRCUT SHOULD TAKE PLACE WHEN THERE IS A FULL MOON.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; SPLASHDAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon |
Date learned: 00001930ca
Room Location
The master bedroom should be located in the northeastern corner of the house to maintain harmony and fortune in the family.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; Roanoke
Keyword(s): Bedroom ; Feng Shui ; fortune ; Harmony ; House ; LOCATION ; Master
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Plan, design, color, building material, and technic |
OFFICIAL REQUEST
THERE WAS ONCE A MAN AND A WOMAN WHO HAD TWELVE SONS, AND THE
THIRTEENTH WAS ON THE WAY. THE FIRST TWELVE HAD BEEN NAMED
AFTER THE APOSTLES AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE NAME FOR THIS
ONE WOULD BE. BY THE TIME HE ARRIVED THEY HAD DECIDED TO NAME
HIM CHRIST--CHRIST MURPHY.
AFTER A FEW YEARS CHRIST MURPHY STARTED TO SCHOOL. ONE DAY
IN SECOND GRADE THE BISHOP WAS VISITING. HE SAID TO THE TEACHER,
"SISTER, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE SING. HOW ABOUT
THAT LITTLE BOY THERE," POINTING OUT LITTLE MURPHY.
"CHRIST MURPHY CAN'T SING," SHE PROTESTED.
"WELL, GODAMMIT, HE CAN TRY, CAN'T HE?"
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HAS NO RECORD OF WHERE HE FIRST HEARD THE JOKE.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; WOODSTOCK
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite |
IT IS BAD LUCK TO PASS THE SALT AND PEPPER SEPARATELY. ALWAYS
KEEP THEM TOGETHER WHEN YOU PASS THEM.
Submitter comment: SUSAN IS VERY SUPERSTITIOUS.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; R-MWC ; LYNCHBURG
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Flavoring BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink |
Date learned: 00001967-1968
IF YOU GIVE A BRIDE-TO-BE A KNIFE, SHE HAS TO GIVE YOU A PENNY
SO IT WON'T CUT YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
Submitter comment: SOMEONE HAD JUST GIVEN SUSAN A KNIFE AT A SHOWER WE HAD FOR
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; R-MWC ; LYNCHBURG
Date learned: 00001967-1968
IF YOU EAT OFF TWO PLATES, YOU WILL BE AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment: AT R-M, IF NOT ALL THE PLACES ARE FILLED AT THE TABLE, WHOEVER
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; R-MWC ; LYNCHBURG
Date learned: 00001967-1968
LIFE
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME BECAUSE THIS IS THE BASIC ELEMENT OF
LIFE, AS YOU KNOW LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT, IF YOU
WASTE ALL YOUR TIME, THINK...WHAT YOU HAVE GAINED IN LIFE.
Submitter comment:
SHE REMEMBERED THIS ITEM FROM TIMES WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG. BUT
IT WAS TOLD TO HER FROM HER MOTHER AND NEIGHBORS USUALLY BY WORD
OF MOUTH. HER MOTHER AS WELL AS HER MOTHER'S MOTHER BELIEVED
THAT OLD SAYINGS ARE WORTH REMEMBERING. THE INFORMANT REGARDS
THIS FOLK ITEM AS A PIECE OF GOLD FOR A GUIDE LINE OF LIFE'S
EXPERIENCE.
SHE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
THIS IS A SAYING CONCERNING THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; VIRGINIA ; PHILADELPHIA ; RICHMOND
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
SPEED PLUS ACCURACY
QUESTION: WHAT CAN KILL YOU FASTER THAN A TRAVELING
BULLET?
ANSWER: YOUR HEART.
Submitter comment:
SHE REMEMBERED THIS ITEM FROM TIMES WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG. BUT
IT WAS TOLD TO HER FROM HER MOTHER AND NEIGHBORS USUALLY BY WORD
OF MOUTH. HER MOTHER AS WELL AS HER MOTHER'S MOTHER BELIEVED
THAT OLD SAYINGS ARE WORTH REMEMBERING. THE INFORMANT REGARDS
THIS FOLK ITEM AS A PIECE OF GOLD FOR A GUIDE LINE OF LIFE'S
EXPERIENCE.
SHE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
THIS ITEM IS A QUESTIONING RIDDLE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; VIRGINIA ; PHILADELPHIA ; RICHMOND
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 00-00-1935