Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BROAD SHOULDERS
AS BROAD BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS AS A HERRING IS BETWEEN THE EYES.
(DESCRIBING A GUY WITH SLENDER SHOULDERS.)
Submitter comment:
MAUREEN'S INFORMANT WAS HER 82 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER EVA HARMON
OF FRENCH DESCENT CURRENTLY RESIDING IN ALGONAC, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): COMPARISON ; FISH ; HUMAN BODY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
NAMES
THE FIRST SON MUST BE NAMED AFTER THE BOY'S GRANDFATHER ON THE BOY'S
FATHER'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY. THIS IS AN ITALIAN CUSTOM.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
PROVERB
BE ASHAMED TO CATCH YOURSELF IDLE.
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
THREE'S (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)
WHEN MY GRANDFATHER WANTED THE HIGHEST CARD IN A CUT,
HE WOULD KNOCK ON THE DECK OF CARDS THREE TIMES.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT ; SOUTH QUAD
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
HUMAN BEING
THERE IS A CAMP IN FLINT CALLED MOTT CAMP. THERE IS AN OLD
LEGEND THAT A HERMIT LIVES NEAR THE CAMP. EVERYTHING THAT WENT
WRONG IN THE CAMP WOULD BE BLAMED ON THE HERMIT. THE HERMIT
WOULD KIDNAP SMALL CAMPERS.
Where learned: TOLD AT ; SOUTH QUAD
James Callow Keyword(s): FLINT, MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
BAD LUCK, SUPERSTITION
BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN THREES (3'S) ESPECIALLY DEATHS
IF ONE MEMBER IN FAMILY DIES, TWO MORE WILL DIE SOON.
Submitter comment:
MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER OF INFORMANT REALLY BELIEVED
THIS AND IF SOMEONE DIED SHE WOULD BEGIN TO
WAIT FOR TWO MORE DEATHS NO MATTER HOW
MUCH TIME LAPSED BETWEEN DEATHS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
A PERSON BORN ON DECEMBER 25TH DIRECTLY AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT
WILL NOT LIVE LONG.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 25TH AND DIED QUITE EARLY IN
LIFE. WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS BORN ON THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT I DON'T
KNOW.
Where learned: DETROIT ; WORK ; J L HUDSONS ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: 10-13-1969
BELIEF/NUMBER
FAMILY BELIEVED THAT IF THERE WERE SEVEN CHILDREN OF THE SAME
SIX IN SUCCESSION, THE SEVENTH CHILD WAS ENDOWED WITH
SOMETHING SPECIAL. AT TEN YEARS OF AGE, THE SEVENTH CHILD
WOULD GO TO THE PARISH PRIEST AND HE WOULD GIVE THE
CHILD A SPECIAL BLESSING.
Where learned: TOLD AT ; SAINT RITAS
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
SONG
GRANDMOTHER IS SITTING CLOSE BY THE FIREPLACE,
WITH SNOW IN HER HAIR AND A SMILE ON HER FACE.
I BET SHE IS THINKING IT HASN'T BEEN LONG,
SINCE SHE ROCKED BABY'S MOTHER ASLEEP WITH THIS SONG.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS SONG AS A CHILD(1930'S).
THE INFORMANT DOES NOT
REMEMBER THE TUNE TO WHICH
THIS SONG WAS SUNG.
Where learned: HOME ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cradle song Lullaby |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
FATE
IF YOU THROW A COIN INTO THE TREVI FOUNTAIN,YOU WILL SEE ROME AGAIN.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 03-04-1971
FEVER
GENERALLY USED IN THE CASE OF AN INFANT:
TAKE THE LEAF OF A CACTUS PLANT, CUT IT IN HALF,
AND PLACE ON THE BABY'S STOMACH.
THIS WILL GRADUALLY DRAW THE FEVER OUT.
Where learned: WESTERN YMCA ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): CHILD'S FEVER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-12-1971
RIDDLE
HOW MANY MONTHS HAVE 28 DAY?
-- ALL OF THEM
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): TIME CALENDAR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-26-1968
CUSTOM
FOR CHRISTMAS EVE, THE FAMILY HAS AN ODD NUMBER OF DISHES FOR
CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER. THIS DINNER IS CALLED WIGILIA.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday
| Subject headings: | 122 Christmas |
Date learned: 02-22-1970
SEVENTH GIFT GIVER
WHEN A GIRL HAS A BABY SHOWER, THE PERSON WHO GAVE HER THE SEVENTH
GIFT THAT SHE OPENS WILL HAVE A BABY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S MOTHER, AND SHE REMEMBERS THIS FROM ALL HER
LIFE.
Data entry tech comment: THIS IS ONE SIMILAR ITEM IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVE
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Measure |
OMEN FOR ILL FATE
BEING THE LAST CAR IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION DENOTES ILL FATE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 04-03-1970
PROVERBIAL PHRASE IN VERSE FORM
THERE IS A DESTINY THAT MAKES US BROTHERS,
AND NONE GOES HIS WAY ALONE,
THE MORE THAT YOU PUT INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS,
THE MORE COMES BACK INTO YOUR OWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WORK ; CHILDRENS HOSPITAL ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 01-21-1970
BELIEF
WHEN ONE'S RIGHT EYELID TWITCHES, MANY BELIEVE HE WILL SOON
RECEIVE GOOD NEWS. HOWEVER IF IT IS THE LEFT EYELID, BAD
NEWS IS BELIEVED TO FOLLOW.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 02-01-1970
DUMMY DUMMY DODO I CHOOSE YOU TO CHASE AFTER ME.(THIS IS A JUMP-ROPE
RHYME WHICH IS USED TO GET THE JUMPERS TO JUMP IN AND OUT OF THE ROPE
IN QUICK SUCCESSION. ONE FOLLOWING AFTER THE OTHER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): CALL-RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
SILVERWARE BELIEF
IF A PIECE OF SILVERWARE IS DROPPED, A VISITOR WILL COME FROM THE
DIRECTION IT POINTS. THE VISITOR'S GENDER MAY BE DETERMINED FROM
THE FOLLOWING LIST:
KNIFE - INANIMATE OBJECT (LETTER OR GIFT)
SPOON- MAN
FORK- FEMININE
Submitter comment: THIS IS A GERMAN CUSTOM.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DORM ROOM ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
POLITICAL PARTIES BELIEF
MY DAD SAYS THAT WHEN THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN POWER, ALL LIQUOR CAN
BE BOUGHT ONLY IN PARTY STORES BUT WHEN REPUBLICANS ARE IN POWER,
ONLY DRUG STORES HAVE IT.
Submitter comment: ROSS LIVES IN TOLEDO, OHIO.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DORM ROOM ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 11-02-1970