Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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INDIANS PUT FOUR POLES INTO THE GROUND. THEN THEY PUT
THE WRAPPED UP OBJECT ON THE STRETCHER, TIED TO THE
FOUR POLES. THEY SUPPLY THE BODY WITH FOOD AND DRINK
ON HIS TRIP TO THE HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS.
Submitter comment: DID A PAPER ON THE SUBJECT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
SWEETHEART SONG
OF ALL THE GIRLS OF COLLEGE YEARS
THERE IS ONE THAT I'VE LOVED LONG.
FOR ME SHE WEARS THE GOLDEN HEART.
FOR HER I SING THIS SONG.
SIGMA PHI EPSILON SWEETHEART
WONDERFUL SIG EP GIRL
TRUE IS THE HEART THAT YOU'RE WEARING,
YOU SET MY HEART IN A WHIRL.
VIOLETS AND ROSES,
MY HEART DISCLOSES,
SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME TRUE.
MY SIGMA PHI EPSILON SWEETHEART
WONDERFUL SIG EP GIRL
Submitter comment:
AS THE MEMBERS STANDING IN A CIRCLE SING THIS SONG, THE SWEETHEART
FOR THAT YEAR IS ESCORTED AROUND AND KISSES EACH OF THE GUYS.
THIS IS NOT SUNG TO A FAMILIAR TUNE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1980
THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
THE STORY OF THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY ORIGINATED DURING THE 100
YEARS WAR OF THE TURKS AND HUNGARIANS. A LITTLE BOY WANTED TO
BE A DRUMMER BUT HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO BE. ONE NIGHT HE WENT OUT
AND STARTED TO BEAT ON HIS DRUM. IT JUST HAPPENED THAT THIS WAS THE
SAME NIGHT THE TURKS HAD PLANNED TO ATTACK A
HUNGARIAN HAMLET. THE DRUM AROUSED THE PEOPLE IN TIME FOR THEM
TO NOTICE THE INVASION AND PUT UP A DEFENSE WHICH STARVED (SIC) OFF
THE ATTACK.
Submitter comment: HANK LEARNED AS A CHILD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
DEATH OMEN
THE INFORMANT'S THREE YEAR OLD BROTHER APPROACHED HIS MOTHER IN THE
KITCHEN OF THEIR HOME AND ASKED HER, "MOMMA, WHAT'S THAT MAN DOING
STANDING IN THE LIVING ROOM?" SHE SAID, "DON'T BE SILLY, JIMMY."
AGAIN HE SAID, "NO, WHAT'S THAT MAN IN THE BLACK SUIT DOING STANDING
THERE IN THE LIVING ROOM?" WITH THAT SHE GRABBED THE CHILD.,
AND WITHOUT LOOKING IN THE LIVING ROOM, RAN DOWNSTAIRS. THE
MOTHER'S BROTHER DIED THE SAME DAY.
Submitter comment:
YEARS LATER, THE THREE YEAR OLD STILL CONTENDS HE SAW A MAN
STANDING IN THE LIVING ROOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
LEGEND ----O'CONNER STREET
AT NINE MILE AND JEFFERSON, A LITTLE GIRL WAS RUN OVER BY A HIT
AND RUN CAR. IF YOU GO OVER THE STREET AT NIGHT, WITH YOUR LIGHTS
OFF, POUNDING IS EVIDENCED BY THE UNDERSIDE OF YOUR CAR, WITH FAINT
SCREEMS (SIC) PRESENT.
Submitter comment: FROM FRIEND
Data entry tech comment: THERE ARE TWO SIMILAR STORIES IN THE 5X8 FILE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SCREAMS
James Callow Keyword(s): KNOCK-KNOCK STREET?
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-12-1967
FLYING SAUCER BELIEF
"DRIVE DOWN ROUTE 20 NORTHWEST OF FREMONT, OHIO FOR ABOUT EIGHT
MILES UNTIL YOU COME TO COUNTY ROAD 19. PROCEED FIVE MILES ON
THIS ROAD UNTIL YOU CROSS A TWO LANE BRIDGE. GO A QUARTER MILE
BEYOND THE BRIDGE AND TURN RIGHT INTO A
FARMER'S FIELD.
IN THE FIELD FACING EAST, DRIVE IN A 360 DEGREE CIRCLE,
THERE IS A CREEK WITH A BRIDGE OVER IT. CROSS THE CREEK AND END UP
PARK, TURN OFF THE MOTOR AND TURN OFF EVERYTHING. BLINK THE LIGHTS
ON AND OFF THREE TIMES. A LIGHT APPEARS FROM THE EAST AND FLIES
DIRECTLY AT YOU AND THEN OVER YOU AND HEADS TOWARDS THE WEST. THIS
LIGHT IS IN THE FORM OF A BALL AND NEVER FAILS TO APPEAR AS LONG AS
THE LIGHTS ARE BLINKED ON AND OFF THREE TIMES."
THIS HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY MANY OF THE CONTRIBUTOR'S FRIENDS BUT THE
CONTRIBUTOR HAS NEVER SEEN IT AND ADMITS HE HASN'T
"... THE GUTS TO GO OUT
AND SEE IT." HE DOES, HOWEVER, SERIOUSLY BELIEVE IN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS SUPERNATURAL LIGHT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Fire |
Date learned: 10-12-1967
STORY ABOUT THE FITZGERALD
THOMAS FITZGERALD, THE LAST HEIR OF THE FITZGERALD LINEAGE, WAS
ASLEEP UPSTAIRS IN HIS CRIB IN A FAMILY CASTLE IN COUNTY
CORK, IRELAND.
A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE CASTLE. THERE WAS A PET MONKEY KEPT DOWN IN
THE BASEMENT AND HE WAS THE BABY'S PET. THE MONKEY BROKE HIS CHAINS
AND WENT UPSTAIRS AND PULLED THE BABY OUT OF ITS CRIB. AND HE SAVED
HIM BEFORE THE CASTLE BURNED DOWN. THIS SAVED THE
FITZGERALD FAMILY LINE.
Submitter comment:
HE HEARD IT FROM HIS FATHER. HOWEVER HIS UNCLE LEARNED IT FROM
A HISTORICAL SOURCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 02-00-1967
VERSE IN TEXTBOOK
IF YOU STEAL THIS BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE,
FOXHOLE PRISON WILL BE YOUR COLLEGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wisecracks, Gags, Silly Insults |
Date learned: 02-04-1972
SUPERSTITION
PIMPLES ON THE FACE MEANS YOU HAVE COMMITTED AN IMMORAL ACT.
Submitter comment:
PIMPLES WERE VIEWED AS THE ESCAPE OF IMPURITIES FROM THE BODY
IMPURITIES APPEAR IN THE BODY DURING ACTS WHICH ARE NOT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE ESTABLISHED PRECEPTS OF GOOD BEHAVIOR,
SPECIFICALLY IMMORAL SEX ACTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
VALENTINE ROSES
GOTTEN YOURSELF IN TROUBLE? WELL, ONE YOUNG MAN, AN ADMIRER OF A
MERCY STUDENT(MERCY COLLEGE), SENT HIS GIRL A RED ROSE FOR
VALENTINE'S DAY. IT SEEMS AS IF THIS IS A BAD THING FOR THE STORY
IS THAT A RED ROSE SIGNIFIES THAT THE FRIENDSHIP OR RELATIONSHIP
WILL BE BROKEN IN THE YEAR. A WHITE ROSE ON THE OTHER HAND, NOT
ONLY SHOWS A LOVING ATTITUDE BUT AN ASSURANCE OF THE STRENGTHENING
OF THAT LOVE. SO, IF YOU'D LIKE TO TELL A MERCY GIRL OF YOUR LOVE
ON VALENTINE'S DAY, SEND A WHITE ROSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COLOR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating, courtship mechanics |
Date learned: 02-14-1967
BELIEF IN RHYME
A BABY CRIES AND SOMEONE DIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-27-1970
OMEN
DREAM OF A WEDDING, HEAR OF A FUNERAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
SUPERSTITION VERSE
SEE A PIN, PICK IT UP.
ALL THE DAY YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK!
Submitter comment: THIS IS A VERSE COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 09-20-1967
SUPERSTITION VERSE
STEP ON A CRACK,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
STEP IN A HOLE,
CRACK THE SUGAR BOWL.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A VERSE COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.800 |
Date learned: 09-20-1967
EARLY TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE MAKES YOU HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HER MOTHER IN THE YEAR 1920
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
A HICCUP CURE
MY FATHER LEFT ME, JUST AS HE WAS ABLE
ONE BOWL, ONE BOTTLE, ONE LADLE,
TWO BOWLS, TWO BOTTLES, TWO LADLES (ETC. AS FAR AS YOU ARE
ABLE IN ONE BREATH).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.760 |
Date learned: 01-19-1971
STEP ON A CRACK YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK
STEP ON A LINE YOU WILL CRACK HER SPINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 03-26-1968
STEP ON A CRACK YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-22-1968
RUB-A-DUB-DUB,
THANKS FOR THE GRUB,
YEA GOD!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 03-02-1968