Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PROVERB: ACCOMPLISHMENT VERSUS PLANS
A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD - 01-19-2011
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; OWENSBORO
Keyword(s): BIRD ; Bush ; Hand ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 02-00-1972
THIS SONG WAS SUNG AT FAMILY GATHERINGS IN KENTUCKY:
"I GOT CHOKED ON A COLD TATER PIE
AND I THOUGHT TO MY SOUL I WOULD DIE
I GOT CHOKED ON A COLD TATER PIE
TATER PIE! TATER PIE! I GOT CHOKED ON A COLD TATER PIE.
TATER PIE! TATER PIE! I GOT CHOKED ON A COLD TATER PIE."
THE SONG WAS SUNG AS A ROUND. EVERYONE PARTICIPATED.
Submitter comment:
MY INFORMANT MADE THE COMMENT THAT HER STRAIGHT-LACED FATHER'S
RELATIVES WOULD MAKE THE PIE, AND HER MOTHER'S MORE CAREFREE SIDE
OF THE FAMILY WOULD SING ABOUT THEM.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; CENTRAL
James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 00001940S
THE WIGGLING TURTLE MEAT
BACK WHEN THE INFORMANT WAS A LITTLE GIRL (SOME 60-ODD
YEARS AGO), SHE WAS WALKING WITH HER BROTHERS BY THEIR
HOME IN KENTUCKY WHEN THEY SPOTTED A HUGE TURTLE.
WHERE SHE LIVED, TURTLE MEAT WAS A GREAT DELICACY, SO
SHE GOT A NEIGHBORING FARMER WHO RAN OUT OF HIS HOUSE
CARRYING AN AX. HE KNOCKED THE TURTLE ON THE SHELL AND
AS IT STUCK ITS HEAD OUT, HE CHOPPED IT OFF WITH THE AX.
THEN HE TURNED IT OVER AND SLICED THE UNDERBELLY AROUND
FROM END TO END. HE FOUND THAT THE TURTLE'S INSIDES
CONTAINED 40 EGGS. WHEN THE FARMER CUT OFF THE TURTLE'S
HEAD, THE REST OF THE BODY BEGAN TO WIGGLE. WHEN THE
INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER PREPARED THE MEAT IN THE PAN
IT STILL WIGGLED, AND IT DIDN'T STOP WIGGLING UNTIL SHE
TOOK IT OUT OF THE PAN. THAT WASN'T THE END OF THE
TURTLE, HOWEVER, FOR THE INFORMANT'S FAMILY USED TO EAT
POPCORN OUT OF THAT TURTLE'S SHELL FOR MANY YEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; KENTUCKY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fish Food Drink -- Kind of Food and Its Preparation Food Drink -- Meat Fish and other animal life related to water |
Date learned: 11-29-1971 ; 00-00-1911
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
THE WIGGLING TURTLE MEAT
BACK WHEN THE INFORMANT WAS A LITTLE GIRL (SOME 60-ODD
YEARS AGO), SHE WAS WALKING WITH HER BROTHERS BY THEIR
HOME IN KENTUCKY WHEN THEY SPOTTED A HUGE TURTLE.
WHERE SHE LIVED, TURTLE MEAT WAS A GREAT DELICACY, SO
SHE GOT A NEIGHBORING FARMER WHO RAN OUT OF HIS HOUSE
CARRYING AN AX. HE KNOCKED THE TURTLE ON THE SHELL AND
AS IT STUCK ITS HEAD OUT, HE CHOPPED IT OFF WITH THE AX.
THEN HE TURNED IT OVER AND SLICED THE UNDERBELLY AROUND
FROM END TO END. HE FOUND THAT THE TURTLE'S INSIDES
CONTAINED 40 EGGS. WHEN THE FARMER CUT OFF THE TURTLE'S
HEAD, THE REST OF THE BODY BEGAN TO WIGGLE. WHEN THE
INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER PREPARED THE MEAT IN THE PAN
IT STILL WIGGLED, AND IT DIDN'T STOP WIGGLING UNTIL SHE
TOOK IT OUT OF THE PAN. THAT WASN'T THE END OF THE
TURTLE, HOWEVER, FOR THE INFORMANT'S FAMILY USED TO EAT
POPCORN OUT OF THAT TURTLE'S SHELL FOR MANY YEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; KENTUCKY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fish Food Drink -- Kind of Food and Its Preparation Food Drink -- Meat Fish and other animal life related to water |
Date learned: 11-29-1971 ; 00-00-1911
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
DOGWOOD WINTER
DOGWOOD WINTER--THE FIRST COOL SPELL OF SPRING; APPROXIMATELY WHEN THE DOGWOOD TREES BLOOM.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; HOPKINSVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 04-15-1972
DEWBERRY WINTER
DEWBERRY WINTER--THE SECOND COOL SPELL OF SPRING; APPROXIMATELY THE TIME THAT THE DEWBERRIES START APPEARING ON THE GROUND.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; HOPKINSVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
BELIEF
THERE WILL BE A BIG CHANGE IN WEATHER WHEN THE TELEPHONE POLES AND LINES BEGIN TO BUZZ.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; HOPKINSVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 03-28-1972
IT IS BAD LUCK TO OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; WINGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
IF A BIRD FLUTTERS AT YOUR WINDOW, THERE WILL BE A DEATH IN
THE FAMILY.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; WINGO
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
THUNDER BEFORE SEVEN, AND IT WILL RAIN BEFORE ELEVEN.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; WINGO
Date learned: 08-10-1968
IT IS BAD LUCK TO ROCK AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR. THE
INFORMANT BELIEVES IN THIS STRONGLY. HE GOT FURIOUS WHEN
HIS CHILD ROCKED THE ROCKING CHAIR WITH HIS FOOT. THE
BELIEVE MEANS THAT DEATH OR A VERY BAD THING WILL HAPPEN
TO A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. THE INFORMANT SAID THAT
EVERYONE IN HIS FAMILY AND EVERYONE HE KNEW BELIEVED
THIS WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP IN PRESTONBURG, KENTUCKY.
AND IT IS STILL STRONGLY (UNDERLINED) BELIEVED.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; PRESTONSBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
CURE FOR FEVER BLISTERS OR COLD SORES
TAKE A BOBBY PIN AND GET SOME WAX FROM YOUR EARS. RUB THE
WAX ON THE SORE.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; CATLETTSBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN OR FOURTEEN YEARS OLD I WAS VISITING MY
UNCLE'S FAMILY AT CATLETTSBURG, KENTUCKY. UNCLE JIM LIVED
ABOUT A HALF A MILE FROM WHERE THE BIG SANDY EMPTIES INTO THE
OHIO RIVER. EVERY AFTERNOON WE WOULD GO TO THE RIVER TO SWIM.
TO GET TO THE RIVER WE HAD TO GO DOWN THIS STEEP EMBANKMENT
AND ACROSS A CORNFIELD. AS I WENT DOWN THE BANK I STEPPED ON
A PIECE OF GLASS AND MADE A DEEP GASH ABOUT AN INCH LONG ON MY
HEEL. MY COUSINS HELPED ME BACK UP THE BANK AND TO THE FRONT
PORCH SWING. MY AUNT SALLY BROUGHT SOME CLEAN RAGS AND A BASIN
OF WATER AND WAS TRYING TO WASH OFF MY HEEL BUT THE BLOOD JUST
KEPT POURING. MY COUSIN CATHERINE SAID, "I'LL GO GET UNCLE
ISHAM TO STOP IT."
UNCLE ISHAM DANIEL WAS IN HIS EIGHTIES. HE WAS NOT MY UNCLE, BUT
WAS DISTANTLY RELATED TO MY AUNT'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY. HE LIVED
ABOUT 400 YARDS FROM MY UNCLE JIM'S. HE WAS SITTING ON THE
PORCH OF HIS HOUSE. CATHERINE RAN OVER THERE, AND WE COULD
SEE HER TELLING UNCLE ISHAM. THE BLOOD SUDDENLY STOPPED.
CATHERINE TOLD ME UNCLE ISHAM SAID A CERTIN VERSE FROM THE
BIBLE. SINCE HE WAS GETTING OLD AND KNEW HE WOULDN'T BE AROUND
MUCH LONGER, HE WAS WILLING TO TELL THE SECRET OF STOPPING BLOOD
BUT IT HAD TO BE TO SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT A BLOOD RELATIVE.
CATHERINE DIDN'T QUALIFY AND SHE TRIED TO GET ME TO GO. FOR
SOME REASON I DON'T REMEMBER, I NEVER DID GO. IT WAS FAIRLY
COMMON FOR NEIGHBORS TO CALL ON UNCLE ISHAM TO STOP BLOOD.
I NEVER HEARD OF HIM FAILING.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; CATLETTSBURG
James Callow Keyword(s): CLOTTING ; HEMORRHAGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
EXTREME HOT SUMMER MEANS HARD WINTER (VICE VERSA)
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; CRUTCHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
A DRY JUNE IS A SIGN OF A GOOD CROP YEAR
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; CRUTCHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PLANT THINGS THAT GROW ON TOP OF THE GROUND IN THE LIGHT
OF THE MOON
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; CRUTCHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
ARE THEY KIN? NO THAT'S A DIFFERENT SET OF DOGS.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; CRUTCHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
THEY ARE NEIGHBORHOOD SAINTS AND A HOME DEVIL.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; CRUTCHFIELD
Keyword(s): HYPOCRISY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 06-20-1970