Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BELIEF
MAKE A VISIT IN A CHURCH YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN IN BEFORE AND
WHILE YOU ARE THERE, MAKE A WISH. IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 02-01-1970
A WOMAN SHOULD ALWAYS DRINK BEER DURING PREGNANCY.
IT MAKES THE BABY GOOD LOOKING.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT REVEALED THAT HE HEARD THIS FROM HIS FATHER WHO OWNED A BA
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-26-1971
HAPPY IS THE BRIDE THE SUN SHINES ON
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): MARRIAGE ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 01-22-1970
NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR. ; NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
THERE WAS A BELIEF THAT A MOTHER WOULD DIE IF THE EVIL SPIRIT
CAME UPON HER BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO BE CHURCHED. MY GRANDFATHER
RECALLED THAT AFTER MY UNCLE JOSEPH WAS BORN THE EVIL SPIRIT
TRIED TO HARM MY GRANDMOTHER. ONE NIGHT, MY GRANDFATHER WAS
AWAKENED BY THE SOUND OF TAPPING AND SOMEONE CALLING FOR MY
GRANDMOTHER. MY GRANDMOTHER DID NOT HEAR IT SO MY GRANDFATHER
WENT TO THE DOOR BUT NO ONE WAS THERE. THE TAPPING AND
CALLING FOR MY GRANDMOTHER OCCURED THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME
WHEN HE WENT TO THE DOOR HE CALLED OUT: WHOEVER YOU ARE
SHOW YOUR FACE IF IF YOU ARE GOOD AND BEGONE IF YOU ARE EVIL.
AGAIN, THERE WAS NO ONE AND IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): CHURCHING OF WOMAN ; DEMON SUMMONS WOMAN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 01-15-1970
BABIES DONT LAUGH, THEY'RE ONLY HAVING GAS PAINS.
WHEN A BABY IS FIRST BORN HE/SHE CANT SEE - THEY START
TO SEE WHEN THEY BECOME A CERTAIN AGE.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO ME BY MY MOTHER WHO GOT THAT FROM HER MOTHER,
MY MOTHER NEVER BELIEVED THAT BECAUSE SHE TOLD MY
GRANDMOTHER THAT ALL OF HER BABIES COULD
SEE WHEN THEY WERE FIRST BORN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001980S
WHY DID THE BLACK MAN WEAR A TUXEDO TO HIS VASECTOMY?
ANSWER. IF I'M GONNA BE IMPOTENT I MIGHT AS WELL LOOK
IMPOTENT.
Submitter comment:
I GOT THIS JOKE FROM THE MOVIE "SOUL MAN." IT WAS TOLD
BY TWO WHITE GUYS IN FRONT OF A BLACK GUY TO MAKE HIM
FEEL BAD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): IMPOTENT- USED INSTEAD OF THE WORD IMPORTANT TO MAKE ; THE BLACK MAN'S SPEECH SEEM BAD.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- BLAC |
Date learned: 10-00-1987
SPIRITUAL PRESENCE
I WAS LAYING IN MY MOTHER'S BED SOME TIME AFTER MY FATHER
DIED AND HER ROOM WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM HIS. I WASN'T
QUITE ASLEEP YET WHEN I SAW A TRANSPARENT PERSON ABOUT THE
SIZE AND SHAPE OF MY FATHER COME OUT OF THAT ROOM. I WAS
NOT SCARED BECAUSE IN LIFE MY FATHER WAS A VERY KIND MAN
THAT WOULD NOT HURT ME AND HE WOULD BE THE SAME IN DEATH.
I WENT TO SLEEP FEELING VERY COMFORTED.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1986
YOU ARE SO OLD THAT YOU REMEMBER WHEN GOD'S MOTHER WAS
PREGNANT WITH HIM.
Submitter comment: MADE THIS UP WHEN PLAYING THE DOZENS WITH MY SISTER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
YOU ARE SO OLD THAT THERE ARE RECORDS OF YOU PLAYING
BALL WITH GOD WHEN HE WAS A BOY.
Submitter comment: MADE UP JOKE TO PLAY THE DOZENS WITH MY SISTER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
"THE MISTRESS"
I WAS SITTING IN A RESTAURANT AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN THIS WOMAN STARTED ARGUING WITH HER HUSBAND. THE REASON
FOR THE OUTBURST WAS BECAUSE THIS BEAUTIFUL BLOND WOMAN CAME
OVER AND KISSED THE HUSBAND ON THE LIPS. I HEARD THE
HUSBAND SAY, "YES, SHE IS MY MISTRESS." THE WIFE GOT REALLY MAD
AND SAID SHE WANTED A DIVORCE. THE HUSBAND SAID OK AND WENT ON
TO TELL HER THAT THE MERCEDES WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND SHE WON'T
BE GETTING FUR COATS EVERY YEAR, SHE WON'T BE GETTING HER
MONTHLY ALLOWANCE OF $1000 PER MONTH. (THIS MAN IS VERY RICH.)
FINALLY THE WIFE SAT BACK DOWN AND ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT HER
HUSBAND HAD A MISTRESS. TEN MINUTES LATER THE WIFE LOOKED
ACROSS THE ROOM AND SAW A FAMILY FRIEND NAMED DAN AND HE
WAS WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WHO WASN'T HIS WIFE. THE WIFE SAID,
"THERE'S DAN BUT WHO'S THAT WOMAN WITH HIM?" THE HUSBAND SAID,
"THAT'S DAN'S MISTRESS -- I BET YOU DON'T HEAR HIS WIFE
COMPLAINING."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
WHEN A LITTLE GIRL WHISTLES, THE DEVIL DANCES.
Submitter comment: THIS SAYING WAS USED FREQUENTLY BY THE INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HELL MUSIC CHILDREN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-18-1971
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
THE WHEEL THAT SQUEAKS LOUDEST IS THE ONE THAT GETS THE GREASE.
Submitter comment:
TOLD BY HER TENNESSEE GRANDMOTHER. MEANS ATTENTION GOES TO
TH LOUDEST PERSON.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
GOSSIP
WHAT GOES IN THE WASH MUST COME THROUGH THE WRINGER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
OLD SAYING
THE WAY YOU RAISE 'EM, THAT'S THE WAY YOU GET 'EM.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FATHER TOLD HIM THIS AND HIS GRANDFATHER TOLD
HIS FATHER THIS. IT'S AN OLD SAYING THAT'S BEEN PASSED
DOWN IN THE FAMILY.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILDREN PARENTS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
THE TRUTH IS IN THE WINE.
Submitter comment: ITALIAN: IN VINO VERITAS
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ALCOHOL
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
WHAT IS HOPE?
TROUBLE CAUSES ENDURANCE: INDURANCE CAUSES CHARACTER AND
CHARACTER RESULTS IN HOPE.
Submitter comment: THE VICAR HANDSCHIN USED THIS SAYING IN A CHURCH SERMON ONCE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-28-1970
TO HAVE FIFTEEN FITS AND WALK IN EACH ONE OF THEM.
Submitter comment: WHICH MEANS TO BE VERY ANGRY.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM MAXIM
THE SMILE THAT YOU SEND OUT RETURNS TO YOU.
SMILE AND USUALLY SOMEONE WILL SMILE IN RETURN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-07-1971