Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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DANCE ALL DAY ON A WHITE OAK LEAF. DESCRIBES A VERY SKINNY PERSON.
MAUREEN'S INFORMANT WAS HER GRANDMOTHER EVA HARMON 82 OF
FRENCH DESCENT CURRENTLY RESIDING IN ALGONAC, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
AS BROAD BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS AS HEARING IS BETWEEN THE EYES.
MAUREEN'S INFORMANT WAS HER 82 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER EVA HARMON
OF FRENCH DESCENT CURRENTLY RESIDING IN ALGONAC, MICHIGAN
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
THE INFORMANT'S INFORMANT WAS SARINNA OUENCHUSAK 22 WHO WAS
AN EXCHANGE STUDENT FROM THAILAND STAYING WITH THE LANNEN'S.
IF A BABY IS BORN WITH HIS THUMB TUCKED INSIDE HIS
FIST HIS LIFE
WILL BE BLESSED AND HIS DEATH WILL BE EXPECTED.
(NOT A SUDDEN DEATH, HE WILL BE ABLE TO PREPARE FOR HIS DEATH)
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
GOOD LUCK
IF YOU COMPARE LEGS WITH ANOTHER PERSON, THERE WILL BE
A WEDDING IN THE FAMILY. CLAUDIA'S INFORMANT WAS HER MOTHER
OF POLISH DESCENT.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 12-08-1972
OMEN
IF YOU COMPARE HANDS WITH ANOTHER PERSON, THERE WILL BE A DEATH
IN THE FAMILY.
CLAUDIA'S INFORMANT WAS HER MOTHER OF POLISH DESCENT.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 12-08-1972
WOMEN
A WOMAN IS LIKE AN EGG, THE MORE SHE'S BEATEN THE BETTER SHE
BECOMES. NEIL'S INFORMANT WAS HIS GRANDMOTHER AMELIA DUTTON
OF HAITIAN DESCENT.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 12-07-1972
WORM-ETTEN KIDS
THE TERM WORM-ETTEN DESCRIBES SCRAWNY LITTLE CHILDREN
MAUREEN'S INFORMANT WAS EVA HARMON, HER 82 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER OF
FRENCH DESCENT NOW RESIDING IN ALGONAC, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Common Word |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
SPIRIT IN HER SHOES
THEODORA HAYNES WAS MARYLOU'S ROOMMATE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
UNIVERSITY
BEFORE GOING TO BED, SHE WOULD PLACE HER SHOES UNDER THE BED SO
NO SPIRIT COULD COME DURING THE NIGHT TO COMMAND HER SOUL,
HER. {SIC} /THEODORA WAS 18, A BLACK-AMERICAN AND SINGLE
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL OBJECT AMULET ; NEGRO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
EVERY DOG FROM A DIFFERENT VILLAGE. (WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING CARDS
AND NONE ARE THE SAME). MAUREEN'S INFORMANT WAS HARMON'S GRANDMA
FROM BOHEMIAN DESCENT IRENE LANNEN, DECEASED.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
WHERE ARE THE COWS?
IF YOU PICK UP A SPIDER AND HOLD IT BY ONE LEG AND SAY GRANDADDY,
GRANDADDY, WHERE ARE THE COWS? HE WILL POINT TO THE COWS.
Submitter comment: MARYLOU'S INFORMANT WAS BEATRICE SAYAS A MARRIED NEGRO FROM NEW ORLEANS
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
THE RED HAND OF THE O'NEILL'S
A LONG TIME AGO, THE KING OF IRELAND DIED. SO, THE CITIZENRY HAD
TO FIND A NEW KING. APPARENTLY THE SUCCESSOR WAS IN DISPUTE BETWEEN
2 MEN ONE OF THEM NOBLE NAMED O'NEILL. THE PEOPLE DEVISED A RACE,
WHERE THE FIRST MAN TO CROSS THE BODY OF WATER WOULD BECOME KING.
THE RACE BEGAN, BUT HUGE WAVES PREVENTED THEM FROM LANDING. THE
FUTURE KING WOULD HAVE TO TOUCH THE SHORE TO BECOME KING. THE
O'NEILL BEING THE CLEVER REALIZED HE NEEDED HIS RIGHT HAND TO RULE
SO, HE TOOK A SWORD AND CUT OFF HIS LEFT HAND, AND THREW IT ON
THE SHORE, THUS HE WAS THE FIRST MAN TO TOUCH SHORE AND BECAME KING.
THE RED HAND OF THE O'NEILL'S CAN STILL BE SEEN ON THE FAMILY COAT OF
ARMS
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 12-08-1972
WHAT TIME WILL YOU BE HOME?
WHAT TIME WILL YOU BE HOME? PLENTY AFTER 12:00. (IF SAID QUICKLY
IT SOUNDS LIKE 20 AFTER 12:00. MAUREEN'S INFORMANTS WERE HER PARENTS
EDWARD OF IRISH AND FRENCH DESCENT AND PATRICIA OF IRISH AND BOHEMIAN
DESCENT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH TRICK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
I'M GOING TO SEE A MAN...
I'M GOING TO SEE A MAN ABOUT A HORSE. REFERS TO GOING TO THE
BATHROOM. THIS PIECE HAS UNKNOWN ORIGINS
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
THE SHAWANO LAKE MONSTER
THIS STORY WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD BY FR. ARNIE SHINKTON AT CAMP TIVOLI
WISCONSIN. THE STORY IS USUALLY TOLD TO BELIEVING 7-YEAR OLDS. IT
WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT AND SOME OF CABINERS WANTED TO SLEEP
OUT BY THE LAKE. THEY WENT TO THE CAMP DIRECTOR WHO WOULDN'T LET
THEM BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING OUT. BUT THEY WERE HEADSTRONG, SO AFTER
LIGHTS-OUT THEY WENT DOWN TO THE LAKE WITH THEIR SLEEPING BAGS. THE
CAMP COUNSELORS CHECKED THE GROUNDS AT NIGHT. THE YOUTHS SUCCESSFULLY
EVADED THE COUNSELORS AND PROMPTLY WENT TO SLEEP. THEY WERE
AWAKENED AT MIDNIGHT BY A TREMENDOUS STORM. THEY WERE AFRAID TO
RETURN TO THEIR CABINS FOR FEAR OF BEING CAUGHT.
SUDDENLY THEY WERE AWARE OF A STRANGE NOISE. SO ONE OF THEM TOOK
OUT HIS FLASHLIGHT AND SHINED IT AGAINST THE WATER. THE NARROW
AS THE BEAST APPROACHED THEM. ONE WAS ABLE TO GET UP AND RUN AWAY
BUT HE DIDN'T REALIZE HIS FRIEND WAS STUCK IN HIS SLEEPING BAG. HE
RAN UP TO THE CABINS AND AROUSED THE COUNSELORS. BUT, BY THE TIME
THEY REACHED THE SHORE IT WAS TOO LATE. ALL THEY FOUND OF THE
MISSING CAMPER WAS HIS SLEEPING BAG AND SHREDDED CLOTHES. THEY
STILL HEARD THE NOISE OF THE AWFUL BEAST AND RAN UP TO AROUSE
THE PRIEST. FR. BUTLER CAMP DIRECTOR SENT ONE OF THE COUNSELORS TO
THE RIFLE RANGE TO GET A GUN. THEY CALLED THE SHERIFF AND CAMP
CUSTODIAN NAMED BERT. FR. BUTLER LOADED THE GREAT SHOTGUN. THEY ALL
ARMED THEMSELVES AND WENT DOWN TO THE LAKE. FR. JOE
MAN, TOOK ONE OF THE ROWBOATS OUT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE. THEY
TOOK A GIANT FLASHLIGHT AND PLAYED THE BEAM OVER THE WATER. AND
THERE IT WAS... THE SHAWANO LAKE MONSTER.
THE MONSTER REARED UP IN THE WATER AND CHARGED JOE'S BOAT.
JUST BEFORE IT REACHED JOE, SOMEONE YELLED, "FIRE" AND THEY
ALL SHOT AT THE MONSTER. THE BULLETS SEEMED TO HAVE NO EFFECT.
THE BEAST STRETCHED ITS FULL LENGTH REVEALING A WHITE SPOT
BELOW ITS TWO BEADY EYES. JOE YELLED "FIRE AT THE WHITE SPOT."
THE BEAST SUDDENLY LURCHED AND IT SOON BECAME APPARENT THAT HE
WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED. FINALLY THE BEAST DIED AND WAS DRAGGED
SHORE. THE NEXT DAY AFTER EVERYONE HAD INSPECTED THE BEAST
THEY CUT IT UP INTO SMALL PIECES. THEY WEIGHTED EACH PIECE
WITH LEAD AND DROPPED THEM IN THE DEEPEST PART OF THE LAKE.
TEN YEARS LATER, FARMERS ON THE LAKE BEGAN TO REPORT MISSING
ANIMALS. FOOTPRINTS WERE LEADING TO AND FROM THE LAKE.
CURIOSITY WAS AROUSED ABOUT THE DEAD MONSTER. SO THEY SENT
EXPERT TEAM DIVERS DOWN TO EXAMINE THE REMAINS. THEY FOUND
NOTHING. THIS LEADS TO SPECULATION THAT THE SHAWANO LAKE
MONSTER IS ALIVE AND LIVING IN QUICKSAND CREEK (A TRIBUTARY
OF THE LAKE). THEY EVEN SAY THAT ON STORMY NIGHTS, HE COMES
OUT LOOKING FOR VICTIMS.
James Callow comment:
AT LEAST ONE KEYPUNCH CARD SEEMS TO BE MISSING HERE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Still water Small body. Lake, pond.... |
Date learned: 12-07-1972
QUARTZ CRYSTALS
IF YOU PUT QUARTZ CRYSTALS OVER YOUR DOOR BY TAPING
THEM THERE. YOU WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS AND HARM. THE REASON
BEING THAT SINCE QUARTZ IS MULTI-FACED, IT WILL REFLECT AWAY EVIL
SPIRITS. BRUCE'S INFORMANT WAS HIS MOTHER ORETHA OF CREOLE DESCENT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL OBJECT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 12-08-1972
ARABIAN MAXIM
THE SON OF A DUCK IS A SWIMMER.
Submitter comment:
EXPLAINED AS BEING SIMILAR TO MANY OTHERS
WHICH COMMENT ON HEREDITARY TRAITS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
GUMPTION IN YOUR LITTLE FINGER
YOU HAVE MORE GUMPTION IN YOUR LITTLE FINGER THAN THE REST OF
THE BUNCH HAS IN THEIR WHOLE BODY. GUMPTION MEANS INCENTIVE
OR INITIATIVE. MAUREEN'S INFORMANT WAS IRENE LANNEN, HER
GRANDMA OF BOHEMIAN DESCENT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
COLDNESS
COLDER THAN A WHORE'S HEART. (REFERRING TO THE WEATHER)
USED BY MAUREEN'S FATHER EDWARD. HE IS 53 YEARS OLD AND OF FRENCH
AND IRISH DESCENT.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
SLIPPERY
SLIPPERYER THAN CHUCKIN' A SNAKE IN A BUCKET OF SNOT. (REFERRING
TO A FINANCIAL LEECH) USED BY MAUREEN'S FATHER EDWARD OF FRENCH
AND IRISH DESCENT DURING WWII.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-08-72
BUMPS ON LOGS
YOU SIT THERE LIKE BUMPS ON LOGS. MAUREEN'S INFORMANT WAS HER
7TH GRADE TEACHER ELLA ROY OF GERMAN DESCENT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-08-1972