Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ASSUMED returned 1444 results.
ON CHRISTMAS EVE THE BRIGHT STAR TO THE NORTH IS SHINING OVER THE
STABLE AT BETHLEHEM.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.4 |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY THE COLLECTOR
STORE
NATIVES OF HAPPY HOLLOW IN DALTON GA. SHOP ONLY AT ONE STORE WHICH
THEY CALL A "JOT 'EM DOWN STORE". IT'S CALLED THIS BECAUSE HERE
THE PURCHASER CAN BARTER OR SIMPLY ARGUE AN ITEMS' PRICE DOWN
HENCE, JOT 'EM DOWN.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
HAUNTED ROOM
I WAS TIEING MY SHOES IN THE ROOM WHERE MY MOTHER DIED WHEN ALL OF
A SUDDEN THE MIRROR BROKE ALL TO PIECES.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS REALLY DID HAPPEN
Data entry tech comment: THE KEYPUNCHER HAS CORRECTED THE COLLECTOR'S SPELLING
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
HOW THE ROBIN GOT ITS RED BREAST.
WHEN CHRIST WAS SUFFERING ON THE CROSS, AND BLOOD TRICKLED DOWN
HIS FOREHEAD DUE TO THE SHARP THORNS OF HIS CROWN, A ROBIN FLEW BY
THE LORD'S HEAD AND TOOK PITY ON HIM. THE BIRD WONDERED HOW HE COULD
ALLEVIATE OUR LORD'S PAIN. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD TRY AND REMOVE AT
LEAST ONE OF THE THORNS FROM HIS FOREHEAD. AS HE TUGGED AT THE
THORN IT, IN TURN, PIERCED HIS BREAST--AND EVER SINCE THE ROBIN BEAR
THE MARK OF A RED BREAST DUE TO ITS HEROIC DEED.
Data entry tech comment: GRAMMAR CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Animal Life PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
HOW THE ROBIN GOT ITS RED BREAST.
ONE DAY A GROUP OF BOY SCOUTS WERE SITTING AROUND A CAMPFIRE. THEIR
COUNSELOR PROCEEDED TO TELL THEM ABOUT HOW THE ROBIN GOT HIS RED
BREAST. MANY YEARS AGO A SIMILAR CAMPFIRE EXISTED WHEN A ROBIN,
ATTRACTED BY ITS FRIENDLY SONG AND CONVERSATION, FLEW BY TO HEAR
WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE FLEW TOO CLOSE TO THE FIRE AND SINGED HIS
BREAST--EVER SINCE ALL ROBINS HAVE RED BREASTS. AS THE COUNSELOR
TOLD THIS TALE A ROBIN FLEW BY, AGAIN TOO CLOSE TO THE FLAMES.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Animal Life |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
WHY DOGS HAVE WET NOSES
THE DOG HAS A WET NOSE BECAUSE HE WAS LATE BOARDING THE ARK AND
NOAH HAD NO PLACE TO KEEP HIM. THUS, FOR FORTY DAYS AND NIGHTS HE
HAD TO STAND ON DECK IN THE RAIN.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Characteristics of Animals BELIEF -- Number P686.1.40 |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
HOW THE GIRAFFE GOT A LONG NECK
THE GIRAFFE USED TO HAVE A SHORT NECK LIKE A HORSE. GIRAFFES
STARTED EATING THE LEAVES OFF TREES AND AS THE LOWER LEAVES WERE
EATEN AWAY THEY HAD TO STRETCH TO REACH MORE. THIS MADE THEIR
NECKS LONGER UNTIL THEY REACHED THEIR PRESENT LENGTH.
Submitter comment: THIS, INTERESTINGLY, IS SIMILAR TO THE LAMARCHIAN THEORY OF EVOLUTIO
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Characteristics of Animals |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
LEGEND
ACCORDING TO AN INDIAN LEGEND, BECAUSE THE OWL KEPT HIS EYES OPEN
DURING A CREATION CEREMONY WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE KEPT THEM CLOSED
HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO KEEP THEM CLOSED EXCEPT AT NIGHT
AND THAT HE COULD NO LONGER SEE HIS ANIMAL AND BIRD BROTHERS
DURING THE DAYTIME.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Animal Life |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
THE WEARING, OR THE PLACING OF RELIGIOUS MEDALS TO WARD OFF DIRE
HAPPENINGS.
Submitter comment:
PREDOMINANT IN THE CATHOLIC AND JEWISH RELIGIONS. ONE GOOD EXAMPLE
IS THE ST. CHRISTOPHER MEDAL.
Data entry tech comment: COLLECTOR OBSERVED THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): CHARM EVIL
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 10-15-1968
Entry filtered.
ON TELEVISION I ONCE HEARD THAT DREAMS ARE JUST A PAST
EXPERIENCE. HE SAID THAT YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE LIFE.
WHEN YOU DIE, YOU ARE BORN AGAIN IN THE BODY OF A
BABY THAT IS BORN THE SAME DAY AND SECOND YOU ARE.
HE PUT ONE WOMAN FROM THE AUDIENCE IN A TRANCE AND SHE
REMEMBERED HER LIFE IN THE 16TH CENTURY. SHE TOLD WHEN
SHE GOT MARRIED, WHEN HER HUSBAND DIED, BUT SHE
COULDN'T REMEMBER HER LAST DAY. SHE ALSO SAID THAT SHE
WAS IN THE 18TH CENTURY AND SHE TOLD ABOUT SOME OF HER
EXPERIENCES. SOMETIMES I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO ME
IN MY PAST LIVES, IF THERE WERE ANY, BECAUSE IN MOST
OF MY DREAMS I GET KILLED BY SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; SAINT HYACINTH SCHOOL
James Callow Keyword(s): REINCARNATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Dreams Reincarnation |
Date learned: 02-29-1972
IF THE PICTURE OF A DEAD PERSON FALLS OFF THE WALL, IT'S A SIGN
OF DEATH. AT UNCLE'S FUNERAL, HIS SITER'S PICTURE FELL OFF
THE WALL, AND SHE HAD BEEN DEAD FOR A LONG TIME, BUT NOBOBY
DIED.
Submitter comment: SHE HEARD THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER AS A GIRL IN FORT SMITH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; FORT SMITH ; ARKANSAS, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-08-1968
IF A ROOSTER CROWS BEFORE MIDNIGHT, IT'S A SIGN OF DEATH.
Submitter comment: MRS. REAVES HEARD THIS WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL IN FORT SMITH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; FORT SMITH ; ARKANSAS, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-08-1968
IF YOU LOOK IN A MIRROR AND STARE FOR SOMETIME IN
THE DARK, YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF TURNING OLD.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; SAINT HYACINTH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 02-29-1972
Entry filtered.
I WAS TOLD QUITE A WHILE AGO, A RELATIVE WAS A WITCH
AND SHE HAD CAST A SPELL ON MY MOTHER, THAT SHE WAS
GOING TO DIE WITHIN A FEW YEARS AND SHE DID. ALSO,
SHE PREDICTED THAT IF MY SISTER EVER GOT MARRIED,
HER MARRIAGE WOULD NEVER WORK OUT. SOMETIMES, WHEN I
GET MAD AND SAY THINGS, THEY REALLY COME TRUE. IF I
PUT MY MIND TO IT, I CAN LOOK INTO SOMEONE'S EYES
AND REALLY CONCENTRATE, I CAN TELL THEM WHAT THEY
ARE THINKING.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; SAINT HYACINTH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer |
Date learned: 02-29-1972
ELEPHANT JOKE
DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN AN ELEPHANT AND A BANANA?
NO
THEN YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS GOING TO THE STORE TO SHOP.
Submitter comment: I DON'T KNOW WHERE I GOT IT.
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 11-24-1967
THE PERSON HOLDS HIS FRIEND BY THE ELBOW AND SAYS:
IS THIS JOINT OPEN?
Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
EARACHE
MY MOTHER TOLD ME OF THIS CURE FOR EARACHES.
MY UNCLE WHEN HE WAS SMALL HAD A VERY BAD EARACHE
AND WAS VERY SICK.
MY GRANDFATHER HEARD OF A CURE BUT HAD NEVER TRIED IT HIMSELF.
GRANDFATHER SHAPED A PIECE OF CARDBOARD INTO A FUNNEL OR DUNCE HAT
ABOUT TWELVE INCHES HIGH AND FOUR TO FIVE INCHES IN DIAMETER
AT THE BASE. OVER THE CARDBOARD LINEN CLOTH
WAS PLACED. OVER THE LINEN, MELTED WAX WAS PLACED AND THE CARDBOARD
WAS NOW REMOVED, THE FUNNEL NOW CONSISTED OF ONLY THE CLOTH AND WAX.
GRANDFATHER THEN HAD HIS SON, MY UNCLE, LIE DOWN ON THE FLOOR
AND HE PLACED THE BASE OF THE FUNNEL OVER THE ACHING EAR.
HE THEN LIT THE TIP OF THE WAX-CLOTH FUNNEL
AND ALLOWED IT TO BURN DOWN FOUR TO FIVE INCHES.
WHEN HE REMOVED THE FUNNEL, A LARGE AMOUNT OF PUS FROM THE EAR
WAS FOUND UP INSIDE WHAT REMAINED OF THE FUNNEL.
THE AREA AROUND THE EAR WAS SOMEWHAT SINGED FOR AWHILE.
SINCE THAT TIME MY UNCLE HAS NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH HIS EARS.
Where learned: ROYAL OAK ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): HEAT REMEDY
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-16-1969
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY CALL A MILKMAN IN HIGH HEELS?
A DAIRY QUEEN.
Data entry tech comment: REFERENCE TO HOMOSEXUALITY
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 04-13-1967