Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THE FLOWER OF A DOGWOOD TREE IS SUPPOSED TO SYMBOLIZE THE CROSS
ON WHICH CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED, AND THE BROWNISH MARKS ON THE
ENDS OF THE PETALS REPRESENT, ACCORDING TO ONE LEGEND, THE
BLOOD OF CHRIST, AND ACCORDING TO ANOTHER, THEY REPRESENT
THE RUST FROM THE NAILS WHICH HELD HIM TO THE CROSS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): EASTER EASTERTIDE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Plant Life BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THIS WAS TOLD TO SISTER MARY ANTHONY BARR BY A YOUNG NEGRO
COLLEGE STUDENT. "IT IS AN ILL OMEN TO SNEEZE AT THE TABLE."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
ACHING TOES AND BONES
THIS WAS TOLD TO SISTER MARY ANTHONY BARR BY A NEGRO GRADUATE
STUDENT: IF YOUR TOES ACHES OR YOUR BONES ACHE IT WILL RAIN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
THIS WAS TOLD TO SISTER MARY ANOTHONY BARR BY A NEGRO
GRADUATE STUDENT: IF YOU DREAM OF THE DEAD, IT WILL RAIN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | 841 Dreams about the dead and sick BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about the dead and sick |
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
MOON RAYS
SISTER MARY EDMUND, WHO COMES FROM NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA,
SAID THAT IT IS A BELIEF THAT NO ONE SHOULD SLEEP IN THE
DIRECT RAYS OF THE MOON, THEN SHE RECALLED THE INCIDENT,
WHERE A WOMAN HAD DONE THIS REPEATEDLY AND THE MUSCLES IN HER
FACE DREW UP. PEOPLE BELIEVED THIS WAS DUE TO THE POWER OF
THE MOON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THIS WAS TOLD TO SISTER MARY ANTHONY BARR BY A YOUNG NEGRO
GIRL IN COLLEGE: TO DREAM OF FISH IS A SIGN OF PREGNANCY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about animals |
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
FATHER RYAN (POET-PRIEST) WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE
THE UNION OFFICERS AFTER NASHVILLE HAD GONE INTO UNION HANDS.
THEY QUESTIONED HIM FOR HAVING SAID THAT HE REFUSED TO BURY
UNION SOLDIERS. FATHER RYAN REPLIED THAT HE'D BE WILLING TO
BURY ALL OF THEM.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CIVIL WAR ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 07-00-1968
GHOST OF ROSECRAN
THE WINCHESTER ACADEMY SCHOOL HOUSE IN WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE,
WAS THE ROSECRAN HEADQUARTERS DURING THE CIVIL WAR. IN ONE OF
THE UPSTAIRS ROOMS A MAN IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN HUNG, AND
SUPPOSEDLY HIS BLOOD IS HEARD TO TRICKLE AT TIMES. THE
INFORMANT HAS SLEPT IN THIS ROOM AND HAS NOT FOUND THIS TO
HAPPEN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS NOISE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
GHOST OF ROSECRAN
MY INFORMANT SPENT 14 YEARS IN WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE, MOST OF
THEM IN THIS OLD CIVIL WAR BUILDING WHICH WAS THE HEAD-
QUARTERS OF ROSECRAN. AT THIS ONE TIME, THE SISTER WHO WAS
IN CHARGE, FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF THESE
SPIRITS. SHE WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY OF THE SISTERS TO SLEEP IN
THIS ROOM. THEY ALL HAD TO SLEEP IN THE DORMITORY. MY
INFORMANT HAD ASKED IF SHE COULD SLEEP ON THE BACK PORCH.
SHE WAS GIVEN PERMISSION. ONE AFTERNOON AS SHE CAME OUT OF
HER ROOM SHE COULD HEAR A SOUND ACROSS IN THE ROOM. SHE FELT
SURE THAT ALL THE SISTERS WERE IN THE CHAPEL AND THAT NO ONE
WAS UPSTAIRS. SHE WENT TO THE CHAPEL TO SEE. ALL THE SISTERS
WERE THERE. SO SHE WENT BACK UPSTAIRS OUTSIDE THE ROOM AND
FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR. A CAT CAME WALKING OUT. THE CAT PROBABLY
GOT IN THROUGH THE WINDOW ON THE BACK PORCH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
GHOST OF ROSECRAN; POLTERGEIST
FOUR SISTERS WERE TEACHING IN WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE, IN AN OLD
SCHOOL BUILDING THAT USED TO BE THE HEADQUARTERS OF ROSECRAN.
TWO SISTERS WERE IN THE SISTERS' ROOM AND THEY COULD HEAR THE
SOUND OF FEET DRAGGING, AND THE SOUND OF FINGERS POPPING. THIS
BUILDING HAD BEEN USED AS A PLACE TO HANG SPIES DURING THE
CIVIL WAR. ONE OF THE SISTERS SAID, "I HEAR FEET DRAGGING AND
SHUFFLING, DO YOU?" "YES," SHE HEARD IT TOO. THEY HEARD IT A
SECOND TIME. THEY WENT TO ANOTHER SISTER AND ASKED HER. SHE
DID HAVE A HEAVY FOOT; SHE SAID THAT SHE HADN'T. THIS SISTER
HAD HAD EXPERIENCES WITH THE SPIRITS ALSO. SHE SAID SHE KNEW
HOW TO GET RID OF THEM. SHE SAID TO SAY, "IN THE NAME OF GOD,
WHAT DO YOU WANT, AND MAY YOU REST IN PEACE." ALSO TAKE HOLY
WATER, WHICH IS A SACRAMENTAL IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND
SPRINKLE IT AROUND AS YOU SAY THIS. THE SISTER WHO WAS MY
INFORMANT, SAID THAT SHE WASN'T GOING TO SAY "WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO FIND OUT. BUT SHE DID SAY, "IN THE
NAME OF GOD MAY YOU REST IN PEACE." THEN THE NOISE STOPPED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): EXORCISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE, AT A CONVENT
OF DOMINICAN SISTERS. THE SISTER TAUGHT AT WINCHESTER ACADEMY.
THEY LIVED AT THE HOUSE ON NORTH HIGH STREET--THE HOUSE OWNED
BY THE VETERINARIAN. (BETWEEN 1964-1966) THE SISTERS WERE
DOING THEIR HOUSE CLEANING AND ONE OF THEM WAS USING WINDEX
AND A SPONGE. SISTER PUT IT DOWN AND LEFT FOR A FEW
MINUTES, WHEN SHE CAME BACK IT WAS GONE. SHE ASKED THE
OTHER SISTERS IF THEY HAD IT. NONE OF THEM HAD IT. THEY
SEARCHED, AND SEARCHED, AND COULD NOT FIND IT. ABOUT A
WEEK OR SO LATER THEY FOUND IT UNDER A CABINET, BOTH THE
WINDEX AND SPONGE TOGETHER, JUST AS IT HAD BEEN LEFT
BEFORE. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN IT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THERE WAS A MAN IN THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS WHO WAS A SHIFTLESS,
NO COUNT BUM. AFTER BUMMING AROUND FOR A GOOD WHILE, HE DIED.
AS HE WAS GOING UP, ST. PETER SAW HIM COMING AND KNOWING THE
TYPE OF MAN HE WAS, HE TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS SORRY BUT HE JUST
COULDN'T LET HIM IN. WELL, HE THEN WENT DOWN ON HIS WAY TO
HELL. THE DEVIL SAW HIM COMING. "OH, NO," HE SAID, "IT'S
NOT AS IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGHT LIKE HIM. I JUST CAN'T
TAKE ANY MORE." SO WHEN THE OLD MAN GOT TO THE GATES OF
HELL, THE DEVIL WAS WAITING. HE GAVE THE MAN A PIECE OF
COAL AND SAID, "GO START A HELL OF YOUR OWN. AND THAT'S
THE ORIGIN OF ALL THOSE LIGHTS IN THE MOUNTAINS THAT YOU
CAN'T EXPLAIN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): HEAVEN GATEKEEPER IS ST. PETER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fire BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
THE BARN OF BELLE-MEADE MANSION IS HAUNTED. IF ANYONE SPENDS
THE NIGHT IN THE BARN SOMEONE WILL DIE.
ONCE, A BUNCH OF FRATERNITY BOYS FROM VANDERBILT DECIDED TO
SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE BARN. THE NEXT MORNING, A BOY IN THE
GROUP WAS FOUND HANGING IN THE BARN. BELLE-MEADE HAS SINCE
FORBIDDEN ANY ONE TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE BARN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
IF YOU CUT THE TONGUE FROM A HUMMINGBIRD AND PUT IT IN
YOUR MOUTH AND KISS THE ONE YOU LOVE, THAT PERSON WILL
NEVER STRAY FROM YOU.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color SPEECH -- Gesture |
WHEN IT'S SUNNY AND RAINING AT THE SAME TIME, SATAN IS
BEATING HIS WIFE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): DEVIL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS A COUPLE ON VACATION, WHO HAD
TRAVELED ALL DAY AND FINALLY CAME UPON AN OLD TOWN. AS THEY
WERE WALKING THROUGH THE TOWN, THEY CAME UPON THE OLDEST
HOUSE THEY HAD EVER SEEN. WHEN THEY WERE MET BY AN OLD
COUPLE WHO OFFERED TO FEED THEM AND LET THEM SLEEP IN THE
UPSTAIRS OF THE HOUSE. THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN THE VISITORS
WOKE UP, IT WAS STILL VERY EARLY, SO THEY LEFT A SILVER
DOLLAR ON THE SMALL MARBLE TABLE IN THE ROOM FOR THE OWNERS
OF THE HOUSE. WHEN THE TWO OF THEM STOPPED DOWN THE STREET
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL PAST THE OLD TOWN, THEY ASKED
THE GASOLINE STATION ATTENDANT WHO IT WAS THAT LIVED IN THE
OLD HOUSE IN THE DESERTED TOWN BACK THERE. THE MAN TOLD THEM
THAT THAT TOWN AND HOUSE HAD BURNED DOWN OVER A HUNDRED YEARS
AGO AND THERE WAS NO LONGER ANYONE LIVING THERE. SO, THE
COUPLE WENT BACK, AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS NOTHING BUT
GREEN GRASS AND TREES GROWING ALL AROUND THE AREA WHERE THEY
HAD JUST BEEN. THE STRANGE THING ABOUT IT WAS THAT WHEN
THEY WENT TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PLACE WHERE THEY
HAD SPENT THE NIGHT, THEY FOUND THE MARBLE TABLE WITH
THE SILVER DOLLAR ON IT STILL STANDING THERE, ALTHOUGH IT
WAS ALL ALONE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
THEY SAY THERE IS A SPIRIT KNOWN AS THE BLUE LADY WHO HAUNTS
ONLY NON-BELIEVERS IN GHOSTS. SHE DIED ONE NIGHT ON THE WAY
TO A BALL, MANY YEARS AGO, AND WAS TO HAVE BEEN WEARING A
BEAUTIFUL BLUE DRESS. FOR THIS REASON, WHEREVER SHE APPEARS,
IT IS IN A BLUE HAZE. THE ONLY TIME SHE DOES APPEAR IS WHEN
THERE ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO REACH THE SPIRITS AND THERE IS A
NON-BELIEVER IN THE GROUP.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 07-01-1970
AFTER AN OLD LADY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DIED, THE BOYS WHO HAD
HATED HER WHILE SHE WAS LIVING, TOLD ONE OF THE LITTLE GIRLS
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HER $25.00 IF SHE
WOULD GO STICK A FORK IN THIS LADY'S GRAVE. ONE NIGHT AS SHE
WENT TO GET HER $25.00, SHE TOOK THE FORK WITH HER AND
QUICKLY STABBED IT IN HER GRAVE. HOWEVER, AS SHE TURNED
TO RUN AWAY, SHE FELT A TUG AT HER SKIRT. NOT REALIZING THAT
THE FORK HAD CAUGHT SOME OF HER SKIRT, SHE THOUGHT IT WAS THE
LADY GRABBING HER AND SHE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK ON THE GROVE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): DEATH FROM FRIGHT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 07-01-1970
IF IT'S 12 MIDNIGHT AND THE MOON IS OVER THE HILL, YOU CAN
SEE THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
WHEN IT'S THUNDERING, ST. PETER AND THE SAINTS ARE BOWLING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 06-30-1970