Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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LEECH LAKE
THIS WAS LEECH LAKE IN MINNESOTA, AND IT'S
BOTTOMLESS, AND THERE WAS A DROWNING.
THERE WAS TWO BOYS AND THEIR FATHER IN A
MOTOR LAUNCH, AND THE BOAT OVERTURNED AND
ALL THREE SUPPOSEDLY DROWNED. AND NONE
WERE FOUND. AND LIKE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER A
CAP, IDENTICAL TO THE ONE OWNED BY ONE OF
THE BOYS WAS WASHED UP ON THE SHORE OF THE
HUDSON BAY. THE LAKE IS ABOUT FIVE AND
A HALF MILES WIDE AND SIXTEEN LONG, AND
THEY SUSPECT THAT THE HOLE FOR THE LINK
BETWEEN LAKES IS SOMEWHERE ON THE SIDE.
Where learned: CARMICHAEL TOWERS ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THE DEVIL AND THE MISER
A RICH, GREEDY, OLD MISER AGREED TO SELL
HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL IF THE DEVIL WOULD
FILL HIS BOOT WITH GOLD. HE PUT A HOLE
IN THE FLOOR BY THE FIRE PLACE. SO THE
NEXT MORNING HIS WHOLE BASEMENT WAS FULL
OF GOLD. THE MAN DIED EARLY AND WENT
TO HELL.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; VANDERBILT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
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 |
THERE WAS THIS DEAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
WHO HAD THIS DOG WHO KEPT ANNOYING HER AS SHE WAS
GETTING READY TO GIVE A DINNER PARTY. SO TO QUIET
HIM SOME, SHE GAVE HIM SOME OF THE CASSEROLE FOR
THAT NIGHT'S PARTY. THE GUESTS ARRIVED AND THE
DINNER ALMOST FINISHED BEING EATEN, WHEN THE
DEAN'S MAID CAME IN AND WHISPERED TO HER THAT
THE DOG HAD DIED.
WELL, THE DEAN TOLD HER GUESTS AND RUSHED THEM
DOWN TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE THEIR STOMACHS
PUMPED.
THE DOG, SHE LATER FOUND OUT, HAD BEEN RUN OVER.
Where learned: TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman |
Date learned: 04-20-1969
BELIEF: SNAKES
BELIEF THAT THE EASTERN COACHWHIP SNAKE STANDS
ON ITS HEAD AND BEATS YOU TO DEATH. FALSE.
Where learned: NATURE STUDY CLASS ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
BELIEF: WEATHER
RED SKY AT NIGHT, SAILOR'S DELIGHT.
RED SKY IN MORNING, SAILOR'S WARNING.
Submitter comment:
RED SKY AT NIGHT MEANS FAIR WEATHER THE NEXT DAY, BUT A RED SKY IN
THE MORNING INDICATES BAD WEATHER FOR THAT DAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; GREENEVILLE
Keyword(s): COLOR ; NATURE ; Nautical ; Ocean ; PREDICTING WEATHER ; Sailor ; Sky ; WARNING ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 02-27-1969
BELIEF-PROVERB
GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; GREENEVILLE ; GEORGE PEABODY COLLEGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quantity or weight PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 02-24-1969
SAYING
YOU'VE HEARD THE OLD SAYING ABOUT A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE.
WELL, I GUESS THAT IT MEANS ABOUT THE SAME THING AS "AN OUNCE
OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 08-06-1968
IF YOU SEE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF BUZZARDS THIS MEANS SOMETHING.
ONE FOR A SORROW, 2 FOR JOY, 3 FOR A LETTER AND 4 FOR A BOY.
DON'T KNOW WHAT COMES BETWEEN THERE AND 8, (BUT) 8 IS A SIGN
OF DEATH.
Where learned: HAMPSHIRE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number To specific numbers |
Date learned: 07-25-1968
WHEN MY MOTHER, LAURA BASSETT BOOKER, WAS A CHILD IN
CONWAY, ARKANSAS, HER PARENTS EMPLOYED AS A GENERAL
HANDYMAN AND YARD WORKER, AN OLD NEGRO MAN, WHO WAS A
"SILVER WITCH" OR "SILVERDOUSER." IF SILVER MONEY WAS
HIDDEN IN THE GROUND, HE COULD FIND IT BY USING A
FORKED BRANCH WITH A CLEFT END INTO WHICH A SMALL PIECE
OF SILVER, SUCH AS A DIME, WOULD BE INSERTED.
SKEPTICAL OF HIS POWERS, MY MOTHER AND HER BROTHER CLINE
DECIDED TO TEST HIM BY HIDING MONEY IN A TREE. THE
"SILVER WITCH" WAS LED BY HIS DIVINING ROD TO BENEATH
THE TREE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE MONEY. WHEN THE
CHILDREN REVEALED THEIR TRICK, THE OLD MAN BECAME VERY
ANGRY AND REFUSED TO TRY TO FIND ANY MORE MONEY FOR THEM.
Where learned: DORM ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; Arkansas ; CONWAY
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 05-12-1969
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY,
COME AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; PRIMM SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 08-06-1968
HANDS DOWN
DR. BOURNE HAS TREATED PATIENTS WHO BELIEVE THAT A PREGNANT
WOMEN SHOULD NEVER PLACE HER HANDS ABOVE HER HEAD FOR FEAR
THAT THE CORD WILL WRAP AROUND THE BABY'S NECK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CAMDEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 07-00-1968
EATING PEANUTS IN THE PITS OF A RACETRACK CAUSES BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; MURFREESBORO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 06-11-1972
RECIPE--(PASSED DOWN VERBALLY) : "FRIED PIES"
COOK FRUIT UNTIL TENDER, MASH UP, AND SWEETEN TO TASTE. I MAKE
CRUST WITH SWEET MILK, PLAIN FLOUR, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF LARD.
ROLL OUT THEN AND CUT OUT IN ROUNDS, THE SIZE YOU PLEASE; SPREAD
FRUITS ON ONE-HALF OF CRUST THEN BRING OTHER HALF OVER TO COVER.
FASTEN EDGES THEN PRICK WITH A FORK ON TOP. FRY IN LARD AT MEDIUM
HEAT. TURN AND FRY ON OTHER SIDE. DRAIN ON PAPER TOWELS TO GET
OFF EXCESS FAT."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; BELFAST
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Kind of Food and Its Preparation |
Date learned: 06-24-1972
RECIPE--(PASSED DOWN VERBALLY) : "POLK SALLET"
"POLK IS BEST PICKED AS SOON AS IT COMES THROUGH THE GROUND. WASH
AND PARBOIL IN GOOD AMOUNT OF WATER UNTIL REAL TENDER, THEN PUT
IN SKILLET WITH SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER AND LARD OR BACON DRIPPINGS
AND SALT. COOK SLOWLY UNTIL ALMOST DRY. THEN ADD AS MANY EGGS AS
YOU WANT AND COOK UNTIL THE EGGS ARE DONE. SOME LIKE LOTS OF EGGS,
SOME LIKE A FEW."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; BELFAST
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Kind of Food and Its Preparation |
Date learned: 06-24-1972
The phrase "knock on wood" originates from Ireland
in a time when people believed in fairies, trolls
and gnomes. It was believed that gnomes resided in
anything wooden and that they were cruel and
mischievous. When a person spoke of good times or good things
then they must knock on the wood to make sure that
the gnomes didn't hear them or to scare them away.
They believed that the gnomes would bring bad luck
on the optimist who spoke.
Submitter comment:
The informant heard this from her grandfather whose
father was from Ireland.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; Black Kettle
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
RECIPE--(PASSED DOWN VERBALLY)
TEA CAKES OR SUGAR COOKIES, ONCE EATEN WITH HOT TEA:
1 EGG
1 1/2 CUP OF SUGAR
1 TEASPOON OF SODA
1/2 CUP OF FRESH BUTTERMILK
1/2 CUP OF LARD
1 TEASPOON OF VANILLA
2 TEASPOON OF BAKING POWDER
1 PINCH OF SALT
Submitter comment:
ALL THE RECIPES RECORDED FROM THIS INFORMANT HAVE BEEN HANDED
DOWN BY HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER AND ARE WRITTEN NOW FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; BELFAST
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Kind of Food and Its Preparation |
Date learned: 06-24-1972
A BAD (WAD?) OF COTTON DIPPED IN BLOOD AND HUNG IN THE
HOUSE WILL KEEP AWAY EVIL SPIRITS.
Submitter comment: OBSERVED NEAR MT. EAGLE, TENNESSEE
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MOUNT EAGLE
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration |
Date learned: 05-07-1972
PROVERB: ANGER
I AM AS MAD AS AN OLD WET HEN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; FRANKLIN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NAMES
MR. TUCKER ONCE SAT IN ON A TRIAL IN TENNESSEE. ONE OF
THE DEFENSE WITNESSES WAS NAMED WHUPSAW WILLIAMS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TENNESSEE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 00-00-1967