Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOU BUY A PIECE OF PORK RIND, YOUR WARTS WILL GO AWAY.
AS THE PORK ROTS, SO DOES THE WART.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
IF A PERSON HAS A WART HE IS TO PLACE A THIN SLICE OF FELS
NAPTHA SOAP ON IT AND COVER THE AREA WITH A BANDAGE. THIS
WILL REMOVE THE WART.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): POULTICE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-26-1969
BREAK THE STEM OF A MILKWEED PLANT AND POUR ITS JUICE ON A
WART. THE GROWTH WILL DISAPPEAR.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
RUB THE WART WITH CASTOR OIL FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND THE WART
WILL DISAPPEAR.
Submitter comment: FROM GRANDPARENTS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; GRANDPARENTS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU HEAR A DOG CRY AT NIGHT, SOMEONE HAS DIED.
Submitter comment:
FR. MALONY LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER, AT HOME,
WHO IS OF IRISH DESCENT.
Where learned: DETROIT ; RECTORY ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; HOLY NAME
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-19-1967
IF A DOG HOWLS IN THE NIGHT, IT IS A SURE SIGN THAT
SOMEONE HAS DIED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT MADE PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE
CHARACTERISTIC OF HOWL WHEN TOLD THAT OTHER VARIANTS
HAD BEEN COLLECTED WHICH INCLUDED SUCH THINGS AS
CRYING, OR YELLING, ETC.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-31-1967
Entry filtered.
A LITTLE GIRL WHILE CROSSING DECOSTA STREET, WAS HIT
BY AN ONCOMING CAR. ALL THE PARTS OF HER BODY WERE
FOUND EXCEPT HER LEFT ARM. FROM THAT TIME ON, ANYONE
DRIVING OVER THAT SPOT HEARS A KNOCKING SOUND UNDER
THE CAR. THIS KNOCKING SOUND IS SAID TO BE THE
LITTLE GIRL.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.13 |
Date learned: 02-02-1970
OMEN
HICCUPS MEAN SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
Date learned: 09-20-1969
AS CHILDREN, WE BELIEVED THAT IF ONE SNEEZED
FIVE TIMES CONSECUTIVELY, HE WOULD DIE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
Date learned: 12-00-1972
IF YOU STEP ON A CRACK IN THE SIDEWALK, YOU WILL
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED FROM A LADY WHO USED TO WALK HER CHILDREN
AND MYSELF TO KINDERGARTEN IN 1948.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
IF YOU BREAK A MIRROR, PUT IT IN RUNNING WATER OR
YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Running water BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 01-31-1971
IF YOU PUT ANY OF YOUR CLOTHES ON INSIDE OUT, YOU
SHOULD LEAVE THEM THAT WAY FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS BAD LUCK TO HAVE A BIRD FLY IN THE HOUSE, USUALLY
AN OMEN OF DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; PIZZERIA
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals |
Date learned: 03-21-1968
RAIN AT A WEDDING BRINGS BAD LUCK, RAIN AT A
FUNERAL BRINGS GOOD LUCK.
HAPPY IS THE BRIDE THAT THE SUN SHINES ON;
HAPPY IS THE CORPSE THAT THE RAIN POURS ON.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD. SHE
WAS BORN AND RAISED IN IRELAND.
Where learned: DETROIT ; RECTORY ; IRELAND ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; HOLY NAME
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Superstition about good weather BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Good luck Activities |
Date learned: 02-19-1967
JUMP ROPE--OVER THE MOON
THE ROPE IS SWUNG REGULARLY IN AN ARC AND A PERSON
HAS TO GO THROUGH WITHOUT JUMPING AND THE NEXT
PERSON MUST COME AFTER HIM AND TRY TO CATCH HIM.
THEN ONCE, THEN TWICE, AND SO ON UNTIL ONE
MISSES AND LOSES OR THE FIRST PERSON IS CAUGHT
BY THE SECOND.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement C560.50 |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
JUMP ROPE--HIGH WATER, LOW WATER
THE ROPE STARTS ON THE GROUND AND IS RAISED A FEW
INCHES AFTER EVERYONE HAS A TURN. THE ROPE KEEPS
GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER AND WHEN YOU TRIP ON
THE ROPE, YOU'RE OUT.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement C560.50 |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
THERE WERE ONCE TWO FARMERS AND THEY WERE ALWAYS
ENVIOUS OF EACH OTHER. WELL, ONE DAY, ONE OF THE
FARMERS HAD A BEAUTIFUL OUTHOUSE BUILT. IT WAS A
GORGEOUS THING. IT HAD THREE PILLARS IN THE FRONT, IT
HAD TWO EASTERN CHURCH TYPE DOMES ON TOP, IT WAS A
FOUR SEATER, AND BEST OF ALL, IT DIDN'T STINK. NOW THE
OTHER FARMER, WHO WAS GREEN WITH ENVY (AND WITH THE SMELL
OF HIS OWN OUTHOUSE) DECIDED THAT HE MUST HAVE ONE THAT
WAS BETTER IN ALL RESPECTS THAN HIS SWEET SNIFFING
NEIGHBOR. HE THUS CALL A CONTRACTOR IN TOWN AND GAVE HIM
THE DESIRED SPECIFICATIONS. HE WANTED HIS OUTHOUSE TO BE
COMPLETELY SURROUNDED WITH 12 PILLARS. HE WANTED A
STEEPLE ON TOP, 8 SEATS, WALL TO WALL CARPETING AND
FIGURES CARVED ON THE BUILDING TRIM, AND LASTLY, HE
STRICTLY STATED THAT THE OUTHOUSE COULD NOT STINK.
NEXT DAY THE CONTRACTOR AND HIS MEN CAME TO THE FARMER'S
PROPERTY AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS ERECTED THE
STRUCTURE. THE FARMER WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE VISIBLE
RESULT. A FEW WEEKS LATER, HOWEVER, THE FARMER FOUND IT
NECESSARY TO CALL THE CONTRACTOR. IT SEEMS THAT WHILE
THE FARMER WAS STROLLING AROUND HIS OUTHOUSE, HE SNIFFED
SOMETHING THAT WAS QUITE UNDESIROUS. HE IMMEDIATELY
CALLED THE CONTRACTOR AND TOLD HIM OFTHE DELEMMA. THE
CONTRACTOR QUICKLY DROVE TO THE FARM. HE GREETED THE
FARMER AND THEY BOTH STROLLED BACK TO THE OUTHOUSE. THE
CONTRACTOR PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE PILLARS, THE
FOUNDATIONS, THE CARPETING., THE STEEPLE, THE CARVED
FIGURES AND THE PAINT. FINDING NO FAULT, HE WANDERED
OVER TO ONE OF THE SEATS. OPENING THE COVER AND
LOOKING WITHIN, HE BECKONED THE FARMER. POINTING TO
THE INSIDE OF THE HOLE, HE EXCLAIMED, "HERE'S YOUR
PROBLEM RIGHT HERE: SOMEBODY SHIT IN IT."
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A STORY THAT MY DAD TOLD ME ABOUT FOUR YEARS
AGO. HE DOES NOT KNOW WHERE HE HEARD IT.
Where learned: ROYAL OAK ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 04-16-1965
JUMP ROPE GAME
CUT THE CHEESE: THE ROPE IS SWUNG STRAIGHT UP AND
DOWN AND YOU HAVE TO RUN THROUGH WITHOUT THE ROPE
TOUCHING YOU.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement C560.50 |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
GRAY DUCK
CIRCLE FORMATION. THE CHILD WHO IS "IT" WALKS
AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE. THE CHILDREN HE
TAPS (TO THEM) HE SAYS "DUCK, DUCK, GRAY DUCK."
WHEN HE TOUCHES THE CHILD AND SAYS "GRAY DUCK" HE
STARTS TO RUN AND THE CHILD TAGGED FOLLOWS, TRYING
TO CATCH HIM. IF THE CAUGHT CHILD DOES NOT GET
BACK TO HIS SPOT IN THE CIRCLE IN TIME, HE MUST
SQUAT LIKE A DUCK IN THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE AND
THE GAME CONTINUES TILL ALL THE DUCKS ARE SQUATTING.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM KINDERGARDEN CHILDREN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR: GRAY ; CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia |
Date learned: 12-05-1966