Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BELIEF
DO NOT GIVE ANY SHARP OBJECTS,(SCISSORS, KNIVES, ETC.)
AS A GIFT. YOU WILL SEVER YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THAT PERSON.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANTS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS VERY DEVOUT IN THIS BELIEF.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; Relationship ; Sever ; Sharp ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; HOSTILITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-12-1972
Proverb
There's no fool like an old fool.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
KW:PPP
Keyword(s): AGE ; Fool ; Old ; Senility ; WISDOM ; YOUTH
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHAT IS THE ANGELS' THEME SONG?
ANSWER: "I AIN'T GOT NO - BODY."
Where learned: OHIO
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
Mnemonic Device
A mnemonic Device for remembering the names of the Great Lakes:
H.O.M.E.S.
----------
H.uron
O.ntario
M.ichigan
E.rie
S.uperior
Submitter comment:
It is rather vague where, when or who I learned this from, But I do remember it!
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission card was located in a pile marked To Be Classified.
Where learned: OHIO ; FOURTH GRADE CLASS ; Teacher ; Brownhelm School
Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; EDUCATION ADVICE ; GEOGRAPHY ; GREAT LAKES ; MEMORY ; MNEMONIC ; Mnemonic Device
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
COUGH
AN OLD FASHIONED REMEDY FOR A COUGH IS A COMBINATION OF THE JUICE
FROM ONE LEMON, TWO TABLESPOONS OF GLYCERINE, AND A GLASS OF HONEY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER.
Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 12-05-1967
BLASON POPULAIRE
AN OPTIMIST LOOKS AT A DONUT AND SEES THE DONUT, A PESSIMIST
SEES THE HOLE.
Submitter comment: I WAS REMINDED OF THIS MANY TIMES AS A YOUNG GIRL.
Keyword(s): DEFINITION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 00-00-1951
PROVERB IN VERSE
NA SW GRZEGORZA POJDZIE ZIMI DO MORZA
ON THE FEAST OF ST. GREGORY THE WINTER GOES TO THE SEA.
Data entry tech comment:
ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD CONTAINS POLISH TEXT
TRANSLATED BY MRS K J UNIECHOWSKI
Keyword(s): WEATHER PROVERB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
Toast
May you get to heaven a half-hour before the devil knows you're dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [W200] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: OHIO
Keyword(s): Dead ; DEVIL ; DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; Irish ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
NURSERY RHYMES
TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR/ HOW I WONDER WHAT YOU ARE.
UP ABOVE THE WORLD SO HIGH/ LIKE A DIAMOND IN THE SKY
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM YOUR MOTHER.
Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE
Keyword(s): APOSTROPHE ; RHYME:AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse BELIEF -- Star |
Date learned: 10-07-1967
BAD LUCK ON SHIPS(COLLECTOR'S TITLE' ; BAD LUCK ON SHIPS (COLLECTORS TITLE) ; HUMAN BEINGS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
WOMEN ARE BAD LUCK ON BOARD ANY SHIP.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM OTHER SAILORS AT SAILING REGATTAS.
Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2 |
Date learned: 11-14-1967
Retort
Age before beauty.
Beauty was a horse.
Submitter comment:
Heard during college days
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: OHIO
Keyword(s): BEAUTY ; Black ; COMEBACK ; HORSE ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Pass the bread; here comes the bologna
Submitter comment:
Said when someone begins to tell an experience of theirs.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Taunt?
Where learned: OHIO
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
Wellerism:
"I see" said the blind man, as he took up his hammer and saw.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: OHIO
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BLIND ; Hammer ; Maxim ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PROVERB ; PUN ; Saw ; See ; Sight ; TOOLS ; VERSE ; Wellerism
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
CUSTOM
THE DUTCH THAT CAME FROM THE OLD COUNTRY
BELIEVED THAT AS SOON AS A BARN WAS ERECTED,
ALL SORTS OF FIGURES WERE PAINTED ON IT
SO AS TO DISCOURAGE ANY HOAX THAT MIGHT COME UPON THEIR CROPS
OR FARM ANIMALS. THEY REALLY BELIEVED THIS AND
STILL DO IT TODAY.
Submitter comment:
MRS. MURPHYS GREAT GRANDMOTHER TOLD HER THIS WHEN SHE LIVED
IN PENNSYLVANIA OVER 60 YEARS AGO.
Data entry tech comment: DATES ARE TYPED AS IS, CONFUSING.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 11-09-1967
A TOAST
MAY THE HAPPIEST DAY OF YOUR ENGAGEMENT BE THE SADDEST DAY OF YOUR
MARRIAGE.
Where learned: OHIO ; KETTERING
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
SUPERSTITION
SAVE THE FIRST PIECE OF HAIR CUT FROM A BABY'S
HEAD, BECAUSE IF IT IS PRESERVED IN A SAFE PLACE
THE CHILD WILL LIVE TO BE VERY OLD.
Where learned: OHIO
Keyword(s): FIRST HAIRCUT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Maturity BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-06-1971
LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE
HAD A LITTLE MONKEY
HIS NAME WAS JUNGLE JIM
PUT HIM IN THE BATHTUB
TO SEE IF HE COULD SWIM
PUT HIM IN SOME SOAPSUDS
TO SEE IF HE COULD FLOAT.
HE DIED LAST NIGHT WITH A BUBBLE IN HIS THROAT.
CALLED UP THE DOCTOR
CALLED UP THE NURSE
CALLED UP THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE.
IN WALKED THE DOCTOR
IN WALKED THE NURSE
IN WALKED THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE.
OUT WALKED THE DOCTOR
OUT WALKED THE NURSE
OUT WALKED THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE.
Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO ; 4143 N. LOCKWOOD
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
CAUSE OF ILLNESS
IF YOU EAT TOO MANY STRWBERRIES,
YOU WILL GET A STRAWBERRY MARK ON YOUR NECK.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
Keyword(s): FOOD ; PUNISHMENT FOR IMMODERATE EATING. ; STRAWBERRY ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body) |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
THE CHRISTMAS EVE SUPPER CONSISTED OF THE TRADITIONAL RED BEET
SOUP CALLED "KIVAS" SERVED ONLY WITH WHITE SLENDER EGG-NOODLES.
HERRING FISH CALLED "SLEDZIE" AND ONLY ONE PIECE OF WHITE HOMEMADE
BREAD WERE ALSO SERVED. THESE WERE THE ONLY THINGS ON THE TABLE.
WHITE DISHES COULD ONLY BE USED TOO. OPLATKI (UNLEAVED (UNLEAVENED)
BREAD) WAS SERVED FIRST. EVERYONE SHARED THEIR PIECE WITH EVERYONE
ELSE. THE BREAD SLICE WAS CALLED "CZERWONI KIVAS" AND WAS ONLY
ONE PER PERSON.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS CUSTOM. SHE HEARD IT FROM HER
GRANDMOTHER MRS. KATHERINE ANDZYEWSKI IN TOLEDO ABOUT 1930. SHE
WAS 60 AT THE TIME AND DIED 13 YEARS LATER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
THE DEVIL'S HOLE ROAD LEGEND.
" THE AREA IN WHICH I LIVE USED TO BE ALL SWAMPY. THE INDIANS
BELIEVED THAT WHEN AN INDIAN OR WHITE MAN WENT INTO THE AREA AND DID
NOT RETURN THAT THE DEVIL HAD CAPTURED HIM. SO THAT IS HOW DEVIL'S
HOLE ROAD GOT ITS NAME. "
Where learned: OHIO ; PEMBERVILLE
Keyword(s): CAPTURED BY DEVIL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |