Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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A SAYING
WHEN I'M RIGHT, NOBODY REMEMBERS;
WHEN I'M WRONG, NO ONE FORGETS.
Submitter comment: TOLD BY LANDLADY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-20-1967
SUPERSTITION
WEAR DARK COLORED CLOTHES AFTER A DEATH TO ALLOW THE SOUL OF
THE DEAD TO REST.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT STATES THAT BRIGHT CLOTHES, BECAUSE OF THEIR
EMITTING PROPERTIES, STIMULATE THE SOUL AND PREVENT ITS REST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
SUPERSTITION
PIMPLES ON THE FACE MEANS YOU HAVE COMMITTED AN IMMORAL ACT.
Submitter comment:
PIMPLES WERE VIEWED AS THE ESCAPE OF IMPURITIES FROM THE BODY
IMPURITIES APPEAR IN THE BODY DURING ACTS WHICH ARE NOT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE ESTABLISHED PRECEPTS OF GOOD BEHAVIOR,
SPECIFICALLY IMMORAL SEX ACTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
SUPERSTITION
WALKING UNDER A LADDER RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THIS BELIEF WAS CONTRIBUTED BY A NUMBER OF INFORMANTS, HOWEVER, NONE
WERE ABLE TO GIVE REASON FOR ITS SUPPORT OR TO EXPLAIN THE
ORIGIN OF THE BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
SUPERSTITION
DEATH OCCURS IN THREES.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT STATES THAT SHE ADHERES TO THIS BELIEF BECAUSE SHE HAS
WITNESSED, SEVERAL TIMES, THE DEATH OF AN INDIVIDUAL FOLLOWED
BY THE DEATH OF TWO OTHERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
PROVERB
THE HOUR OF HAPPINESS BRINGS INDIFFERENCE; THE HOUR OF SADNESS BRINGS
MEDITATION; AND THE HOUR OF DEATH BRINGS CONFESSION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
HOW CAN YOU GET SIX ELEPHANTS IN A VW? (GERMAN CAR)
THREE IN FRONT AND THREE IN THE BACK.
HOW CAN YOU GET 12 ELEPHANTS IN A VW?
YOU CAN'T.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
PROVERB
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!
Submitter comment:
"MAN IST WAS MAN ISST!" IS A GERMAN PROVERB WHICH TOYS
WITH THE LIKE SOUNDS OF "IST" AND "ISST" WHILE CONVEYING
QUITE AN INTERESTING FACT.
BIOLOGICALLY SPEAKING, QUITE TRUE OF COURSE.
GERMAN INSTRUCTOR, DR. WEDBERG, UNABLE TO PINPOINT
SOURCE OF SAYING, CLAIMS IT'S A FOLK SAYING IN
GERMANY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-00-1968
TO THINK IS TO BE HAPPY. TO FEEL IS TO SUFFER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
CHEEKWOOD IS THE OLD FAMILY HOME OF THE CHEEK
FAMILY, WHO MADE COFFEE. WHEN TEDDY ROOSEVELT
CAME TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, HE STAYED AT
THE MAXWELL HOUSE HOTEL, WHERE THE CHEEKS HAD
THEIR COFFEE BEING SERVED. HE HAD SOME AND
SAID IT WAS "GOOD TO THE LAST DROP." CHEEKS,
BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, CALLED THEIR COFFEE
"MAXWELL HOUSE."
Where learned: CLASSROOM ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee |
SPEECH IS OF SILVER, BUT SILENCE IS OF GOLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
SUPERSTITION
CROSSED FINGERS ON EACH HAND RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT REASONS THAT SINCE CROSSING TWO FINGERS ON ONE
HAND RESULTS IN GOOD LUCK, DOING THIS WITH ANOTHER HAND MUST
RESULT IN BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
James Callow Keyword(s): OPPOSITES CONTRAIETY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
SUPERSTITION
KNOCKING ON WOOD RESULTS IN GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
WOOD IS THOUGHT TO BE A GOD. AND TO KNOCK ON THE GOD IS TO RENDER HIS
FAVOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Good luck |
YOGA
TO PREVENT INSOMNIA, DO YOGA EVERY NIGHT PRIOR TO GOING TO BED.
Submitter comment: TOLD BY MOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
Prank
Fletcher Tube:
The Fletcher Tube us a non-existent piece of equipment. When freshmen are having problems in lab, you tell them that a Fletcher Tube will do the trick. They go to the stockroom to check one out and are laughed at.
Submitter comment:
Informant said that he pulled this gag while he was a graduate student.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM ; CHEMISTRY BUILDING
Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES ; Chemistry ; COLLEGE ; COLLEGE PRANK ; COLLEGE PRANK ; Entertainment ; Freshman ; Hazing ; JOKE ; Laboratory ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; Prank
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |