Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for DETROIT returned 16887 results.
INFORMANT TOLD ME OF HOW IN HER KENTUCKY CHILDHOOD, HER PARENTS
WOULD HAVE THE MINISTER FROM THEIR CHURCH THEY ATTENDED COME
OVER FOR A CHICKEN DINNER ON SUNDAY AFTRNOON. ON ONE PARTICU-
LAR SUNDAY, SHE AND HER BROTHER THOUGHT OF A WAY TO MAKE THE
MINISTER (WHOM THEY BOTH FOUND INSUFFERABLE) LEAVE EARLY.
THAT MORNING, BEFORE CHURCH, THE INFORMANT'S BROTHER STUCK
A PAIR OF HUGE SCISSORS UNDER THE THIN CUSHION THAT WAS ON THE
MINISTER'S FAVORITE CHAIR HE ALWAYS CHOSE TO SIT ON WHENEVER
HE VISITED THEIR HOME. LATER THAT AFTERNOON, AFTER DINNER,
THE FAMILY RETIRED TO THE PARLOR. THE MINISTER WAS NOTICE-
ABLY UNCOMFORTABLE, AND EVENTUALLY GOT UP TO LEAVE. AFTER
TH MINISTER LEFT, THEY ADMITTED TO THEIR GRANDMOTHER WHAT
THEY HAD DONE AFTER SHE FOUND THE SCISSORS, AND THEY RECEIVED
THEIR DUE PUNISHMENT. HOWEVER, THE GRANDMOTHER SAID, "I HOPE
HE WASN'T TOO UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT I NEVER LIKED HIM TOO MUCH
ANYWAY."
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY IS COMPARABLE TO "THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA" IN
CONTENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; KENTUCKY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation Food Drink -- Food |
Date learned: 11-29-1971
Belief: Children's Song
STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK. STEP ON A LINE
BREAK YOUR FATHER'S SPINE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT USED TO SING THIS WHEN SHE PLAYED HOPSCOTCH ON
THE SIDEWALK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; Father ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE
James Callow Keyword(s): GAME SONG
PASTIME
INFORMANT STATED THAT A FAVORITE PASTIME ACTIVITY
AMONG NEIGHBORING PEOPLE WAS TO GO NUTTING IN THE FALL.
THIS MEANT THAT ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON THE NEIGHBORING
FAMILIES WOULD GATHER TOGETHER AND GO NUT PICKING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT RITA CONVENT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
COLONEL TALBOT
A SETTLER NAMED COLONEL TALBOT CAME TO THE AREA KNOWN AS ST.
THOMAS, ONTARIO, CANADA. HE PLANTED A CROP BUT DUE TO DROUGHT,
THE HARVEST FAILED. HE WAS IN DEBT TO MANY PEOPLE "UP TO HIS
EYEBALLS." HE DECIDED TO STAY FOR A YEAR. HIS CROP WAS SUCCESS-
FUL. HE THEN STAYED YEAR AFTER YEAR. THE MAIN STREET IN ST.
THOMAS IS NAMED TALBOT STREET AFTER COLONEL TALBOT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
COLONEL TALBOT
A SETTLER NAMED COLONEL TALBOT CAME TO THE AREA KNOWN AS ST.
THOMAS, ONTARIO, CANADA. HE PLANTED A CROP BUT DUE TO DROUGHT,
THE HARVEST FAILED. HE WAS IN DEBT TO MANY PEOPLE "UP TO HIS
EYEBALLS." HE DECIDED TO STAY FOR A YEAR. HIS CROP WAS SUCCESS-
FUL. HE THEN STAYED YEAR AFTER YEAR. THE MAIN STREET IN ST.
THOMAS IS NAMED TALBOT STREET AFTER COLONEL TALBOT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
IF PEARLS ARE NOT YOUR BIRTHSTONE DO NOT BUY THEM. PEARLS MEAN TEARS
AND THEY WILL BRING YOU BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: I NEVER KNEW PEARLS MEAN TEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1980 ; 00-00-1950
Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields and
Until we meet again...
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Leave Taking?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Back ; BLESSING ; Culture ; ETHNIC ; Field ; God ; Irish ; Rain ; Road ; TRAVEL ; Wind
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
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
THE RAIN IN SPAIN FALLS
MAINLY ON THE PPLAPLAIN.
Submitter comment: HEARD IT IN TOLEDO SOMEWHERE; DOESN'T REMEMBER.
Data entry tech comment: ARPART OF A SONG FROM "MY FAIR LADY"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb |
JAPANESE POETRY
THE "HAIKU" IS A TRADITIONAL FORM OF JAPANESE POETRY
BASED ON SIXTEEN SYLLABLES, GENERALLY CONCERNED
WITH NATURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
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
EXTRA CORPORAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION/ TO BE HEARD
ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, THE NOVICES (THOSE WAITING TO PROFESS THEIR
RELIGIOUS VOWS) WOULD WALK THROUGH THE CORRIDORS OF THE CONVENT
SINGING CHRISTMAS HYMNS. OTHERWISE, THE SISTERS WERE AWAKENED AND
PUT TO BED BY A BELL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT RITA CONVENT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. SPEECH -- To Be Heard |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
WHEN I WAS A KID I WENT DOWN THE ROAD
OVER A FRIEND'S HOUSE, WHEN I STARTED
BACK HOME I LOOKED IN BACK OF ME
AND THERE WAS A LITTLE RED BOUNCING BALL
FOLLOWING ME. I STARTED RUNNING HOME AND
THE BALL MOVED FASTER AND I RAN INTO MY
ROOM AT HOME AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND
THE RED BALL WAS STILL THERE. IT FINALLY
WENT AWAY AND I NEVER SAW IT AGAIN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001970S
YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER THE BIRTH OF YOUR
FIRST CHILD FIRST BECAUSE IT WAS THE
FIRST TIME YOU EVER HAVE EXPERIENCED
A THING LIKE THAT. THERE IS A CLOSER
BOND BETWEEN MOTHER AND FIRST CHILD
THAN BETWEEN THE OTHER CHILDREN.
Submitter comment:
YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW I MUST HAVE FELT
BECAUSE I WAS THE 4TH CHILD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001980S
THE BUG-A-LA-BOO
THE BUG-A-LA-BOO HAD 90 FITS AS HE CAME
FROM UNDER THE BED, HE RIPPED AND SCORNED
AND SHIT ON THE FLOOR AS HE WIPED HIS
TAIL ON THE DOOR KNOB DOOR, HE WENT OUT
SIDE AND CLIMBED A TREE AND IF I HAD'NT
BEEN LOOKING HE WOULD HAVE SHIT ON ME.
Submitter comment:
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT A BUG-A-LA BOO IS -
JUST A FICTITIOUS CHARACTER CREATED BY
THE MASTER MIND OF MY UNCLE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 00001970S
SPRING RITUALS
ONE SHOULD TAKE A BATH EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT
TO START THE WEEK/SPRING OFF FRESH.
ONE SHOULD TAKE CASTOR OIL AT THE END OF
WINTER TO CLEAN OUT THE SYSTEM FOR SPRING.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Spring BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00001980S
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
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