Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Sylvania returned 534 results.
Belief: Animal
White Horse:
make a wish, and it will come true if you see a white horse.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P800] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; COLOR ; Equine ; HORSE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; White ; WISH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
GOOD TURN
ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001920S
STAR WITHIN A STAR
I SAW THIS DESIGN ON THE PEAK OF A BARN. THE BARN
WAS RED AND THE SYMBOL WHITE. IT WAS ALONGSIDE THE
PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE, ABOUT TWELVE MILES WEST
OF BEDFORD ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
Submitter comment:
CORRECTION ON FIGURE; THERE WAS ALSO A CIRCLE
WITHIN THE SMALLER STAR.
Data entry tech comment:
DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD SHOWS A STAR, WITH A STAR
IN A CIRCLE IN THE MIDDLE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
SHOW BELIEF
IF YOU CAN PLAY TO ERIE, YOU CAN PLAY TO ANYONE. (LOCAL BELIEF)
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-15-1968
CUSTOM
WHEN BORROWING A PIN OR ANYTHING SHARP, ALWAYS GIVE THE LENDER A
PENNY SO YOUR FRIENDSHIP IS NOT BROKEN.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD AND SAW THIS PRACTICED SINCE SHE WAS YOUNG (1915),
BUT DOES NOT PRACTICE IT HERSELF. HOWEVER, SHE KNOWS SOME WOMEN
WHO DO PRACTICE THIS TODAY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
EXCHANGE APRONS AS GIFTS WITH FRIENDS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY TO KEEP
THE FRIENDSHIPS.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT PRACTICES THIS CUSTOM.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
"SHIT HOUSE" 111
WHILE BOWLING, IF THE SCORE 111 COMES UP IT IS DRAWN TO REPRESENT
AN OUTHOUSE AND IS REFERRED TO AS THE SHIT HOUSE. IF GOTTEN
IN THE SEVENTH FRAME IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK; ANY OTHER FRAME IT IS
GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Date learned: 00-00-1965
DIMPLES
DIMPLES ARE WHERE THE ANGELS HAVE TOUCHED.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Date learned: 10-15-1968
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE / RUNNING DOWN CHICAGO LINE,/ IF THE TRAIN
SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK/ DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK? YES, Y-E-S SPELLS
YES. (NO, N-O SPELLS NO) AND YOU ARE NOW OUT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; ON A PLAYGROUND ; JOHNSTOWN ; WORKING
Keyword(s): ENDURANCE ; Jump ; PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-06-1967
THREE KNOCKS AT THE DOOR MEANS DEATH.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD HER MOTHER SAY THIS ONE TIME WHEN
SHE WAS TELLING GHOST STORIES WHICH WERE SUPPOSED
TO BE TRUE. SHE HAD ALSO HEARD HER MOTHER SAY
IT AT DIFFERENT TIMES AFTERWARDS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001960S EARLY
FOOD NAME: SHIT ON A SHINGLE
INFORMANT HEARD THIS TERM USED IN THE ARMY(1969-1971) TO DESCRIBE
SOME INDESCRIBABLE CONCOCTION SERVED IN A MESS HALL. INFORMANT'S
BROTHER ALSO REMENBERS HEARING THIS TERM USED WHEN HE WAS IN THE
SERVICE FROM 1964 TO 1966.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Trade & commerce |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
SCHOOL BELIEF
IT IS BELIEVED THAT GETTING TOTALLY DRUNK THE NIGHT BEFORE A
PSYCHOLOGY TEST WILL BRING A PASSING GRADE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT AND HIS ROOMMATE FOLLOWED THIS FOR THREE
TESTS AND RECEIVED PASSING GRADES OF B OR BETTER,
HOWEVER THE INFORMANT LATER DROPPED OUT DUE TO POOR GRADES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
SOUR DOUGH
SISTER MEL SAID THAT IN MISSOURI, THE OLDER WOMEN KEEP THEIR BAKING
DOUGH IN STONE CROCKS. AS THEY USE THE DOUGH, THEY REPLENISH THE
CROCK WITH THE SAME AMOUNT. THEY BELIEVE THERE IS ALWAYS SOME OF THE
ORIGINAL DOUGH LEFT IN THE CROCK. THIS AGING OF THE DOUGH,
SUPPOSEDLY ENRICHES THE DOUGH, THEREFOR IMPROVING THE FLAVOR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT BELIEVED IT TO BE A MAJOR CUSTOM OF THE PEOPLE AROUND
WHERE SHE LIVED.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; DALLAS
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Food container |
Date learned: 03-20-1972
This was an autograph in my mother's yearbook:
"Ashes to ashes,
Dust to dust,
Why wear a bra,
Without a bust?"
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 06001958 ca.
This was an autograph in my mother's yearbook:
"2-4-6-8, Don't make love by the garden gate,
Love is blind, but the neighbors ain't."
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
James Callow Keyword(s): Assonantal rhyme
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 06001958 ca.
This was an autograph in my mother's yearbook:
"Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Flush the toilet,
When you are through."
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
WHEN MY INFORMANT'S LITTLE SISTER WAS BORN, THE NEIGHBORS
TOLD HER MOTHER THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL THE FUTURE
BECAUSE THE BABY WAS BORN WITH A VEIL OVER HER FACE. THIS
HAPPENED IN A MINING TOWN IN PENNSYLVANIA EARLY IN THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): CAUL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body) BELIEF -- Birth |
MY INFORMANT HAD AN UNCLE WHO WAS VERY FOND OF ONE OF HER
BROTHERS. HER BROTHER WAS ALSO VERY CLOSE TO HIS UNCLE.
ONE DAY WHILE THEY WERE AT HOME, A WHITE MOTH FLEW IN THE
ROOM AND LANDED ON JOE'S (THE BROTHER) SHOULDER. THE MOTH
JUST STAYED THERE FOR A LONG TIME. THEY FOUND OUT LATER
THAT THEIR UNCLE HAD DIED AT THIS EXACT TIME. JOE
IMMEDIATELY RECALLED THE PRESENCE OF THE MOTH AND BELIEVED
THAT THIS HAD BEEN A SIGN OF DEATH. THE FAMILY WAS LIVING
IN A MINING TOWN IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
EATING HABITS
IN BELGIUM, IT IS TAUGHT IN THE HOME TO EAT WITH THE
FOR IN THE LEFT HAND. THIS PERMITS EASY ACCESS TO
CUTTING THE FOOD WITH A KNIFE IN THE RIGHT HAND.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BELGIUM ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): MANNERS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food SPEECH -- Eating |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
IN BELGIUM, BOY SCOUTS WOULD WALK TO RECEIVE HOLY
COMMUNION IN CHURCH WITH THEIR ARMS CROSSED. THIS
WAS A DEFINITE WAY TO INDICATE THAT YOU WERE ONE OF
THIS GROUP. THIS TRADITION IS STILL IN EFFECT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BELGIUM ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Religious |
Date learned: 11-01-1970