RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for 82 returned 2860 results.

prev | items
| next

LEGEND

PEOPLE WHO PASS THE EVIL EYE IN SICILY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE
VERY DESTRUCTIVE WITH JUST ONE GLANCE.

Submitter comment: IN SICILY PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS VERY STRONGLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; TV STUDIO

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye

Date learned: 10-06-1970

View just this record

CUSTOM

THERE IS A LAW IN SICILY THAT PEOPLE POSSESSING THE EVIL EYE
CAN BE BROUGHT TO COURT AND FINED FOR DAMAGES IF IT CAN
BE PROVEN THAT THEY HAVE IT.

Submitter comment: KNOWN TRUE IN SICILY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; TV STUDIO

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye

Date learned: 10-06-1970

View just this record

EVIL-EYE

DON'T GET TOO ATTACHED TO CHILDREN.
SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN TO THEM.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 11-00-1967

View just this record

PROVERB

HOMELIER THAN A HEDGE FENCE.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

View just this record

BELIEF

IT IS BELIEVED THAT DEEPSET OR CLOSELY SET EYES ARE AN INDICATION
OF A PERSON'S DISHONEST NATURE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye

Date learned: 10-27-1969

View just this record

NICKNAME (SUGAR)

SHE TELLS ME THAT A BOY SHE KNOWS IS CALLED SUGAR, BECAUSE ABOUT 2
YRS. AGO, WHEN SHE WAS PLAYING WITH A DOG NAMED SUGAR, SHE CALLED THE
DOG, AND THIS BOY CAME. HE WAS THEN NICKNAMED SUGAR, AND THE NAME
STUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Person / Nickname

Date learned: 11-00-1968

View just this record

TANGLE TALK

GOOD BYE MORON: I SAT MYSELF DOWN, PENCIL IN HAND, TO
TYPEWRITE YOU A LETTER. PARDON THE INK. I DO NOT LIVE
WHERRE I LIVED BEFORE, BECAUSE I MOVED TO WHERE I DO NOW.
I AM SORRY WE ARE SO FAR TOGETHER, I WISH WE WERE CLOSER
APART. WE ARE HAVING MORE WEATHER THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.
MY AUNT NELLIE DIES AND IS DOING FINE. HOPE YOU ARE THE SAME.
I STARTED TO FLORIDA TO SEE YOU AND I SAW A SIGN THAT SAID,
"THIS TAKES YOU TO MIAMI", SO I GOT ON THE SIGN AND SAT THERE FOR
THREE HOURS, AND THE DARN THING DIDN'T MOVE. I AM MAILING
YOU A COAT BE EXPRESS, I CUT OFF THE BUTTONS TO MAKE IT
LIGHTER. THEY ARE IN THE POCKETS. IF YOU DON'T GET THIS LETTER
LET ME KNOW AND I WILL MAIL IT TO YOU. OUR NEIGHBOR'S BABY
SWALLOWED SOME PINS BUT THEY FED IT A PIN CUSHION SO
EVERYTHING IS O.K. NOW. I WOULD SEND YOU THE SIX DOLLARS
I OWE YOU BUT I DIDN'T THINK OF IT UNTIL I SEALED THE
ENVELOPE. ENCLOSED YOU WILL FIND A PICTURE, BUT FOR FEAR
OF LOSING IT, I TOOK IT OUT. HELLO,_____________

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; COMPUTER CENTER

Keyword(s): MAIL

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 10-11-1971

View just this record

A CURE

IN POLAND, IN THE COUNTRY IT'S PRACTICED TO PUT CLAY ON BUMPS
ON THE HEAD, TO MAKE THE SWELLING GO DOWN.

Submitter comment: ANNA STANISZKIS LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE SPENT
VACATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): POLISH BELIEFS ; REDUCTION OF SWELLING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 11-30-1967

View just this record

A CURE

SHE SAYS THEY (FOLK) PUT CLAY ON BURNS
IN ORDER TO HELP THEM HEAL MORE QUICKLY.

Submitter comment: ANNA STANISZKIS LEARNED THIS WHILE SHE SPENT VACATIONS IN THE
COUNTRY IN POLAND.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): BURNS, TREATMENT OF ; POLISH BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 11-30-1967

View just this record

BURNS

WHEN YOU BURN YOURSELF, IT IS BELIEVED
THAT YOU CAN RELIEVE THE PAIN
BY PUTTING BUTTER ON THE BURN.

Data entry tech comment: TWO SIMILAR CURES ARE IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVES.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): BUTTER, MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 10-22-1968

View just this record

REMEDY FOR BURNS

AN OLD POLISH REMEDY FOR BURNS.
IS TO PUT COOKED CABBAGE LEAVES ON THE AFFECTED AREA.

Data entry tech comment: OTHER SIMILAR CARDS IN ARCHIVES

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): CABBAGE LEAVES ; FOOD ; POLISH BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 03-15-1968

View just this record

REMEDY

SOME CHINESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT CANCER CAN BE CURED
BY EATING THE BRAINS OF A MONKEY.
THE BRAINS SHOULD BE THOSE OF A RECENTLY KILLED MONKEY,
AND THEY ARE EATEN RAW.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS HIS UNCLE TRIED THIS METHOD OF CURE,
WITH APPARENT SUCCESS.
THIS STORY CONCERNING HIS UNCLE'S SUPPOSED CURE
WAS LATER PUBLISHED IN A CHINESE NEWSPAPER.
THIS STORY IS NOT BELIEVED BY INFORMANT.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD ; MONKEY CURE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

Date learned: 02-23-1972

View just this record

CORNS

IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF A CORN- CUT IT OFF
AND BURY IT SOMEWHERE YOU WILL NEVER GO AGAIN AND IT WILL GO AWAY.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): SYMPATHETIC MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 03-31-1968

View just this record

HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT

TAKE A TEASPOON OF HONEY AND MOLASSES MIXED TOGETHER
EVERY DAY AT NOON FOR A MONTH,
AND AT THE END OF THE MONTH YOU WILL HAVE LOST
AN INCH OFF YOUR WAIST.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

View just this record

FEVER

TO GET RID OF A FEVER TAKE CORN IN A PASTY FORM, WRAP IT IN A TOWEL,
AND PUT IT ON YOUR FEET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS OFFICE

Keyword(s): TRANSFERENCE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 03-31-1968

View just this record

BELIEF

IT IS BELIEVED THAT A HIGH FOREHEAD IS AN INDICATION OF
EXCEEDINGLY HIGH INTELLIGENCE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Forehead

Date learned: 10-27-1969

View just this record

CONFUCIUS SAY:
MAN WHO FALL INTO MIMEOGRAPH MACHINE EASILY IMPRESSED.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RESIDENCE HALLS

Keyword(s): HUMOR

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

Date learned: 11-07-1970

View just this record

A SIGN OF BAD LUCK

IT IS BAD LUCK IN THE JAPANESE CULTURE TO CLEAN THE HOUSE ON THE
FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR. THE HOUSE IS CLEANED THOROUGHLY THE DAY BEFORE
THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HOUSECLEANING

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-11-1969

View just this record

IF YOU COUNT THE TEETH OF A COMB, THEY WILL ALL FALL OUT.
MARYLOU'S INFORMANT WAS LUCY COTTON 30, DIVORCED BLACK-AMERICAN
ORIGINALLY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, A CO-WORKER AT HENRY FORD HOSPITAL

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs

Date learned: 11-08-1972

View just this record

BELIEF

IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A PERSON WRAPS COPPER WIRE AROUND A JOINT
THAT IS AFFLICTED BY ARTHRITIS, THE PAIN WILL SUBSIDE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 10-27-1969

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.