Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for OFFICE returned 52 results.
THE MUSICAL INSIGNIA OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT CHORUS
IS A REPRODUCTION OF "DISTLEFINK" FROM PENNSYLVANIA
DUTCH FOLKLORE. THIS BIRD IS ACTUALLY A GOLDFINCH
WHICH FED ON THISTLE SEED AND FURNISHED HIS NEST WITH
THISTLE DOWN. FOR THE CHORAL SINGER, THE "DISTLEFINK"
HAS SPECIAL POWERS, BRINGING NOT ONLY GOOD LUCK BUT
SWEETNESS OF SONG AS WELL. THE TWIN TULIPS BRING FORTH
FAITH IN WHAT YOU DO. THE DOUBLE BAND AROUND THE
CIRCUMFERENCE KEEPS ONE STRONG AND SECURE IN THE WORLD
OF MUSIC.
Data entry tech comment: DIAGRAM OF INSIGNIA ON 5 X 8 CARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CHORUS OFFICE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms |
Date learned: 01-17-1968
POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, IT WAS A CUSTOM IN OUR FAMILY TO GATHER
AT THE HOME OF OUR GRANDPARENTS FOR A MEAL AND CELEBRATION.
AT MIDNIGHT EVERYONE TOOK A PIECE OF WHITE WAFER,
CALLED OPLATKI, AND WENT AROUND TO ALL THE OTHERS,
WISHING THEM A MERRY CHRISTMAS. THE RECIPIENT OF THESE
GREETINGS WOULD BREAK OFF A BIT OF THE OTHER PERSON'S
WAFER AND THEN OFFER HIM HIS OWN, RETURNING THE GOOD
WISHES.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS THE CUSTOMS STOPPED ABOUT EIGHT YEARS
AGO WHEN THE GRANDFATHER DIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; VARSITY NEWS OFFICE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
THE RIGHT OVARY PRODUCES GIRLS; LEFT OVARY PRODUCES BOYS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT ACTUALLY FOUND THIS IN THE ANN LANDERS
COLUMN OF THE "DETROIT NEWS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; FARMINGTON ; DETROIT ; CHORUS OFFICE
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
AROUND THE WORLD
THIS IS A BASKETBALL GAME. THE IDEA IS TO MAKE A
SHOT FROM SEVERAL PREDESIGNATED SPOTS ON THE COURT.
YOU USUALLY START FROM BENEATH THE BASKET AND WORK
TO THE SIDELINES, TO MID-COURT, TO THE OTHER SIDELINE
AND BACK. EVERY TIME YOU MAKE A SHOT, YOU ADVANCE
TO THE NEXT POSITION. IF YOU MISS THE FIRST SHOT,
YOU CAN WAIT FOR YOUR TURN TO COME AROUND AGAIN OR
TAKE A "CHANCE." WHEN YOU TAKE A CHANCE, YOU REPEAT
THE SHOT YOU MISSED. IF YOU MAKE IT, YOU MOVE TO
THE NEXT POSITION AND CONTINUE. IF YOU MISS, YOU
START OVER FROM THE BEGINNING.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FRIENDS.
Where learned: UNION BOARD OFFICE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
NAMING CUSTOM
IT IS AN OLD MEXICAN CUSTOM TO GIVE A CHILD HIS MOTHER'S
MAIDEN NAME AS HIS MIDDLE NAME. RICK KALOSKI WOULD BE RICK
SMITH KALOSKI AND HIS KIDS WOULD BE RICK SMITH JONES KALOSKI.
NAMES GET VERY LONG AND THIS IS HOW ONE TRACES THEIR FAMILY
TREE. RICK ACTUALLY OBSERVED THIS IN SOME PARTS OF MEXICO
CITY, 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
(A FRATERNITY INDUCTION)
OUT IN THE SOUTHWEST THERE IS A VERY LONELY AND DESERTED
SECTION OF DESERT, WHERE THE ONLY SIGN OF CIVILIZATION
IS A TWO LANE ROAD. THE ONLY TRAFFIC ON THIS OLD ROAD
IS A SINGLE BUS WHICH CARRIES INDIANS TO PHOENIX,
ARIZONA FROM THEIR RESERVATION. ON A VERY DARK,
MOONLESS NIGHT, THE BUS WAS ON ITS WAY WITH ONLY TWO
PASSENGERS, AN OLD INDIAN WOMAN (WHO WAS SLEEPING) AND
HER DEAF HUSBAND. ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
ROAD, A LIGHT APPEARED. THE DRIVER SLOWED DOWN THE BUS,
AND SAW AN OLD MAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE MAN
ASKED THE DRIVER IF HE COULD HAVE A RIDE, BUT SAID THAT
HE HAD NO MONEY. THE DRIVER ADMITTED THAT HE SOULDN'T
ALLOW IT, BUT THAT SINCE THE RIDE WAS SO LONG AND SO
LONELY, IT WOULD BE NICE IF HE HAD SOMEONE TO ACCOMPANY
HIM, AND TO TALK TO HIM. THE STRANGER THANKED THE DRIVER
AND GOT ABOARD THE BUS. THE DRIVER THEN ASKED THE
STRANGER WHERE HE HAD COME FROM AND THE STRANGER SAID
THAT IT WAS A RATHER LONG STORY. THE DRIVER ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT HE HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND THE STRANGER BEGAN.
AT THIS POINT THE STORY SHIFTS TO A FIRST PERSON
NARRATIVE.
I WAS BORN THE SON OF VERY WEALTHY PARENTS, AND I ATTENDED
ALL THE BEST SCHOOLS. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GO TO COLLEGE
THERE WAS NO DOUBT AS TO WHERE I WOULD ATTEND, ONLY THE
BEST OF THE EVY LEAGUE WAS GOOD ENOUGH. WHEN I WAS READY
TO JOIN A FRATERNITY, AGAIN ONLY THE BEST, THE ONE WHICH
FAMILY TRADITION DICTATED. THE FRATERNITY WAS SMALL,
BEING LIMITED TO ONLY THE TOP MEN FROM OUR SCHOOL.
PLEDGE TIME CAME, MY SECOND YEAR IN THE FRATERNITY,
AND I HELPED CHOOSE THE THREE NEW PLEDGES, ONE, THE
BEST ENGINEER IN THE SCHOOL; ONE, THE BEST FOOTBALL
PLAYER; AND, ONE, THE BEST MUSICIAN IN THE BAND.
WHEN TIME CAME FOR THEIR FINAL TEST, THE MEN WERE TAKEN
OUT TO AN OLD DESERTED HOUSE WHICH HAD THREE FLOORS.
EACH MAN WAS GIVEN THREE KITCHEN MATCHES, A PENCIL AND A
NOTEBOOK. EACH MAN WAS TOLD TO GO INTO THE HOUSE, LIGHT
ONE MATCH, LOOK AROUND, WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING HE SAW, AND
THEN CLIMB TO THE NEXT FLOOR AND REPEAT THE PROCESS.
THE MUSICIAN WENT INTO THE HOUSE. A FAINT GLOW CAME FROM
THE WINDOWS OF THE FIRST STORY. IT SOON DIED OUT AND HE
COULD BE HEARD FUMBLING UP THE STAIRS TO THE SECOND STORY.
AGAIN THE FAINT GLOW, AND AGAIN THE FUMBLING AS HE
ASCENDED TO THE THIRD STORY. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A
BLINDING FLASH OF LIGHT FROM THE THIRD STORY OF THE HOUSE,
LIKE A THOUSAND FLASHBULBS AT ONCE. THEY (SWITCH BACK TO
IMPERSONAL) FIGURED IT WAS A PLEDGE PRANK, BUT THE OTHER
PLEDGES INSISTED IT WASN'T AND VOLUNTEERED TO GO IN AND
GET THE OTHER PLEDGE BACK OUTSIDE. THEY AGREED AND LET
THE ENGINEER GO IN AFTER HIM. THE SAME LIGHT GLOWED AS
AS HE WENT INTO THE FIRST STORY, AS HIS MATCH DIED OUT, HE
WAS HEARD GOING UP THE CREAKING STAIRS, AGAIN THE FAINT
GLOW, AND AGAIN THE CREAKING STAIRS TO THE THIRD FLOOR.
ONCE MORE THERE WAS THE SAME BLINDING FLASH. THE FOOTBALL
PLAYER SWORE THAT HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT AND VOWED HE WOULD
BRING THE OTHERS BACK OUT. THIS TIME HE DIDN'T BOTHER
WITH THE MATCHES, HE WENT RIGHT UP THE STAIRS TO THE THIRD
STORY. THE BLINDING FLASH OF LIGHT EXPLODED ONCE MORE. THE
MEMBERS WERE AWESTRUCK. THEY ALL SCATTERED AND FINALLY
REGROUPED THE NEXT MORNING. IN THE LIGHT OF MORNING THEY
ALL FELT MORE AT EASE AND DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE HOUSE.
ON THE FIRST STORY, THEY SAW THE FOOTPRINTS LEFT BY THE
PLEDGES IN THE DUST. THE SAME WAS TRUE ON THE SECOND
STORY, BUT ON THE THIRD STORY THE DUST WAS UNMOVED, BUT IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR THERE BRAND NEW AXES WERE STUCK INTO
THE WOOD, AND ALL THREE WERE COVERED BY BLOOD. THE
FRATERNITY WAS DISSOLVED, OF COURSE, AND FEW OF THE
MEMBERS WERE GRADUATED. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ALMOST ALL
OF THE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO HAVE GONE MAD AND
MURDERED PEOPLE, BUT IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT THEY HAVE
DONE THIS ONLY ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE OCCURRENCE,
WHICH HAPPENS TO BE TONIGHT, AND I AM THE LAST--
(AT ANY POINT NEAR THE END OF THIS, THE TELLER OF THE
STORY STARTS GETTING CLOSER TO ANY LISTENER WHO APPEARS
DEEPLY ENGROSSED, AND FINALLY, AT THE END HE LEAPS TOWARD
THAT LISTENER).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DOWNTOWN ; MAIN OFFICE ; NATIONAL BANK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 06-00-1968
IRISH NEW YEAR CUSTOM
THE FIRST PERSON TO WISH YOU A "HAPPY NEW YEAR" IN THE NEW
YEAR SHOULD BE A DARK-HAIRED PERSON BECAUSE THEN YOU WOULD
HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID HIS GRANDMOTHER MADE IT A POINT TO SEE HIS
FATHER EACH NEW YEAR FIRST BECAUSE HE HAS DARK-HAIR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; OFFICE ; BRIGGS 338
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Good luck P881.42 SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
TIGER PROVERB.
HE WHO RIDES A TIGER DARE NOT DISMOUNT (EAST INDIAN).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; OFFICE ; BRIGGS 338 ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): WILD ANIMAL METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
IT ISN'T THE COUGH THAT CARRIES YOU OFF IT'S THE COFFIN
THEY CARRY YOU OFF IN.
Where learned: OFFICE
Keyword(s): DEATH
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 08-03-1964
PROVERB
MORNING HOUR HAS GOLD IN THE MOUTH.
TRANSLATION OF:
MORGEN STUND' HAT GOLD IM MUND'.
Where learned: OFFICE
James Callow Keyword(s): GERMAN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-28-1967
DERISIVE GESTURE
WHEN SOMEONE MAKES A REMARK INTENDED TO BE SARCASTIC OR
FUNNY, BUT YOU DON'T THINK IT WAS, YOU TURN TO THEM
AND SAY, "DO YOU KNOW HOW FUNNY THAT WAS? THIS FUNNY."
YOU THEN HOLD UP ONE HAND INDICATING A SPACE (VERY
SMALL) BETWEEN YOUR THUMB AND FOREFINGER INDICATING
AN AMOUNT OF FUNNY (OR FUNNINESS I GUESS YOU SAY).
Submitter comment:
EXPLAINED BY INFORMANT AFTER HAVING USED IT ON
COLLECTOR. INFORMANT SAYS SEVERAL OF HER FRIENDS
USE THIS GESTURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; VARSITY NEWS OFFICE
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Derision Scorn |
Date learned: 10-00-1966
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
TO DETERMINE SEX OF UNBORN CHILD TAKE AN ERASER AND STICK
A COMMON PIN INTO IT. TIE A STRING TO PIN AND HAVE
A WEIGHTED OBJECT TIED TO OTHER END. THE WAY THE
PENDULUM SWINGS, UP AND DOWN OR RIGHT AND LEFT OVER THE
PREGNANT WOMAN'S STOMACH DETERMINES WHETHER THE BABY WOULD
BE A BOY OR GIRL.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMER DOESN'T KNOW WHICH WAY DETERMINES WHAT SEX.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; OFFICE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
YOU CAN GET THE GIFT OF "BLARNEY" WITHOUT KISSING THE
BLARNEY STONE--JUST KISS SOMEONE WHO HAS ALREADY
KISSED THE STONE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT TRAVELLED
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OFFICE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Blarney ; Blarney Stone ; CUSTOM ; Irish ; KISS ; Legend ; LUCK ; STONE ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 10-03-1967
FEVER
TO GET RID OF A FEVER TAKE CORN IN A PASTY FORM, WRAP IT IN A TOWEL,
AND PUT IT ON YOUR FEET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS OFFICE
Keyword(s): TRANSFERENCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 03-31-1968
Maxim
It begins with you sinking into his arms and ends with your arms in the sink.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission card located in pile marked [?]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; OFFICE
Keyword(s): Feminism ; MARRIAGE ; Newlywed ; OMEN ; ROMANCE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |