Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for TENNESSEE returned 5179 results.
THE SQUIRREL LADY
THIS OLD LADY HAS BEEN AROUND THE VANDY CAMPUS EVER
SINCE ANYONE CAN REMEMBER. SHE JUST COMES AROUND THREE
OR FOUR DAYS A WEEK AND FEEDS THE SQUIRRELS AND SHE HAS
NAMES FOR ALL OF THEM. SHE FIGHTS FOR THE SQUIRRELS
WHEN BUILDING IS GOING ON AND THEY START TEARING DOWN
THE TREES WHERE THE SQUIRRELS HAVE THEIR HOMES. OH
YES, SHE WALKS WITH A WALKER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS ANIMAL-LOVER ; VANDY=VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 04-13-1969
JESSE JAMES WAS HERE
JESSIE JAMES ROBBED THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA. THE BANK IS BUILT ON A CLIFF
OVER "THE BIG SPRING," AND IN MAKING HIS GET-AWAY
JAMES IS SAID TO HAVE JUMPED OFF THE CLIFF.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ESCAPE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
Date learned: 02-15-1969
LOCAL LEGEND
IN THE QUITE EARLY 1900'S, KATE FREEMAN CLARK, A YOUNG LADY
FROM HOLLY SPRINGS, WENT TO NEW YORK CHAPERONED BY HER MOTHER TO
STUDY WITH THE ARTIST CHASE (PRESUMABLY WILLIAM MERRITT CHASE).
WHEN HER MOTHER DIED A GOOD MANY YEARS LATER, SHE RETURNED TO LIVE
OUT HER LIFE IN THE FAMILY HOME.
BECAUSE SHE DID NOT BELIEVE IN KILLING ANY LIVING THING, SHE
WOULD NOT HAVE THE GRASS AND WEEDS CUT OUT OF HER YARD. IT GREW UP
INTO SUCH A JUNGLE OF UNDERBRUSH THAT YOU COULD BARELY SEE THE
HOUSE. SHE ONCE ADMITTED TO HAVING 47 CATS SO IT IS NO TELLING
HOW MANY SHE ACTUALLY HAD.
SHE SELDOM LEFT HER HOUSE AND WOULD NOT COME TO THE DOOR UNLESS
YOU TELEPHONED AHEAD TO TELL HER YOU WERE COMING. BUT IF SHE WAS
LISTENING TO HER FAVORITE RADIO PROGRAM, SHE WOULDN'T COME TO THE
TELEPHONE, EITHER!
BACAUSE SHE LEFT HER PAINTINGS STORED IN NEW YORK, NO ONE HAD
EVER SEEN THEM IN MISSISSIPPI. THE PAINTINGS PROVED TO BE QUITE
GOOD AND ARE NOW HOUSED IN A MUSEUM IN HOLLY SPRINGS.
James Callow comment: SPELLING OF NO ONE CORRECTED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 08-06-1968
ORIGIN OF PLACE NAME
"WAY, MISSISSIPPI IS A VERY SMALL VILLAGE, REALLY A
RAILROAD STOP BETWEEN CANTON AND JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.
WHEN THE RAILROAD WAS BEING BUILT, THE PEOPLE WHOSE
PROPERTY WOULD BE USED DIDN'T WANT TO SELL, ESPECIALLY
THE WIFE. FINALLY THEY DID SELL, BUT THE HUSBAND
DEMANDED THAT THE STATION BE CALLED "HAS-'ER-WAY."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 08-07-1968
WHY THE LIZARD NEVER LEARNED TO BELLOW
ONCE THERE WAS A LIZARD WHO HEARD A BULL BELLOW.
THIS SEEMED TO BE A FINE THING TO DO, SO HE
DECIDED TO ASK THE BULL TO TEACH HIM. THE BULL
WAS VERY FLATTERED AND DECIDED TO GO ABOUT TEACHING
THE LIZARD IN A VERY CAREFUL WAY. "FIRST," THE BULL
SAID, "YOU MUST HUMP UP YOUR BACK LIKE THIS," AND HE
SHOWED HIM. "OH, YES," SAID THE LIZARD, "I SEE NOW."
THANK YOU VERY MUCH."
SO THE LIZARD WENT AROUND FROM THEN ON HUMPING UP HIS
BACK, AND HE NEVER LEARNED TO BELLOW.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A STORY WHICH MY MOTHER TOLD ME WHEN I WAS
A SMALL GIRL. HER GRANDMOTHER TOLD IT TO HER IN
FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL. I
RECORDED IT JULY 23, 1968, IN NASHVILLE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Arkansas ; FORT SMITH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
THE DEVIL ALWAYS WANTS MORE SOULS
THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOULS, NO MATTER HOW
MANY HE HAD, HE ALWAYS WANTS MORE SOULS. ONE DAY
HE WAS WALKING DOWN THE ROAD, AND HE HAD SOULS
EVERYWHERE. THEY WERE HANGING OFF HIS BODY, IN HIS
HANDS, AND SOME IN HIS MOUTH. SOMEBODY ASK HIM IF
HE WANTED SOME MORE AND ALL HE WOULD DO WAS NOD
HIS HEAD AND MAKE A NOISE IN ANSWER, BUT HE STILL
WANTED MORE SOULS.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A STORY WHICH MY MOTHER USE TO TELL ME
WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD. ITS PURPOSE WAS TO SHOW
HOW GREEDY THE DEVIL WAS. I RECORDED IT JULY 22,
1968, NASHVILLE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 07-22-1968
SAVING YOUR LANTERN
ON A DARK, STORMY NIGHT MANY YEARS AGO, A TRAIN HIT
AN AUTOMOBILE AT A CROSSING NEAR THE TOWN OF DICKSON,
TENNESSEE. IN THE TRIAL THAT FOLLOWED, THE KEY
WITNESS WAS A LOYAL NEGRO EMPLOYEE WHOSE JOB WAS TO
SIGNAL AT THE CROSSING. ON CROSS EXAMINATION, HE WAS
ASKED HOW HE SIGNALED. HE SAID THAT HE SWUNG HIS
LANTERN TO AND FRO OVER HIS HEAD BUT THEY KEPT COMING
ANYWAY. CONVINCED BY HIS TESTIMONY, THE JURY RELIEVED
THE RAILROAD COMPANY OF ANY LIABILITY.
ON LEAVING THE COURTROOM, THE RAILROAD LAWYER PRAISED
THE EMPLOYEE AND TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD SAVED THE
COMPANY A LOT OF MONEY. THE EMPLOYEE SAID, "BOSS,
IF THEY HAD ASKED ME ONE MORE QUESTION WE WOULD HAVE
BEEN SUNK." THE LAWYERS WERE SURPRISED AND INQUIRED,
"WHAT QUESTION WAS THAT?" THE EMPLOYEE REPLIED,
"IF THAT LANTERN WAS LIT!"
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
MEAT PEDDLERS
MANY YEARS AGO BEFORE NASHVILLE HAD A FARMER'S MARKET,
FARMERS FROM NEARBY FARMS WOULD KILL HOGS AND BRING
THE FRESH MEAT TO TOWN TO SELL. THEY WOULD GATHER
NEAR WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE COUNTY COURT HOUSE SQUARE
AND SELL THE FRESH PORK FROM THEIR WAGONS. AS THE DAY
PASSED AND TIME TO GO HOME NEARED, IF THE PORK WAS
NOT ALL SOLD, THE FARMERS MERELY DROVE THE WAGONS
SEVERAL BLOCKS AND SET UP MARKET AGAIN ALONG THE WALL
THAT SURROUNDED THE JEWISH CEMETERY. IN A SHORT TIME
THE WAGONS WERE EMPTY AND THE FARMERS WERE ON THEIR
WAY HOME.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO MR. REGISTER BY THE WELL KNOWN
ATTORNEY, MONTY ROSS, WHO IS NOW NEARING 90 YEARS
OF AGE. MR. ROSS HAS REPEATED THE STORY MANY TIMES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
HOME OF THE DEVIL
I THINK I READ SOMEWHERE ONCE THAT THE PURITANS
BELIEVED THAT AMERICA WAS THE HOME OF THE DEVIL
AND THAT THE INDIANS WERE THE CHILDREN OF THE
DEVIL.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 08-01-1968
A DORM LEGEND
I HEARD A STORY ONCE WHICH CIRCULATED AROUND PARTS
OF THE DORM. IT DEALT WITH A GIRL AT ANOTHER
COLLEGE WHO WAS FOUND DEAD THE NEXT MORNING WITH HER
WRISTS SLASHED. THE GIRL IN THE NEXT ROOM HAD HEARD
HER SCRATCHING AT HER DOOR, CLAWING IT, BUT THOUGHT
IT WAS JUST SOMEONE JOKING, TRYING TO SCARE HER. SHE
NEVER WENT TO SEE WHO IT WAS AND THE NEXT MORNING
FOUND THE GIRL OUTSIDE HER DOOR, DEAD. THE GIRL WHO
TOLD THE STORY BELIEVED IT TO BE TRUE, BUT I HAVE
TALKED TO OTHER GIRLS AT OTHER COLLEGES WHO HAVE
HEARD THE STORY IN ONE FORM OR OTHER--SOME SAYING
IT'S TRUE, OTHERS SAYING IT'S NOT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CAMPUS HORROR STORY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 08-09-1968
RING CHURCH BELLS SO THE TROLLS WILL GO AWAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
AN OLD LADY AND SON WERE IN A CABIN NEAR A RAILROAD
TRACKS. HE GOT HIT BY A TRAIN. ALL SHE COULD FIND
WAS A THUMB. SHE LOCKED HERSELF IN THE CABIN AND
DIED AND TO THIS DAY YOU CAN HEAR HER WAIL AT MIDNIGHT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 07-25-1968
THE SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK ATTACHED TO A BROKEN MIRROR
IS SAID TO HAVE ORIGINATED DURING SLAVERY, WHEN
MIRRORS WERE HIGHLY EXPENSIVE AND OBTAINED ONLY
THROUGH IMPORT FROM ENGLAND. WHEN A SLAVE WAS
CARELESS WITH THE VALUED ITEM, ITS OWNER WOULD WINCE
AND WARN, "CAREFUL, CAREFUL...YOU'LL HAVE
SEVEN YEARS BACK LUCK IF YOU BREAK THAT MIRROR."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
IN CINCINNATI, OHIO, IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT
THERE WAS AN UNDERTAKING ESTABLISHMENT THAT KEPT THE
BODY OF AN UNCLAIMED NEGRO MORE THAN 28 YEARS. THIS
WAS AS RECENT AS 1963. A VISITOR TO THE CITY OF
CINCINNATI SAW THIS BODY, WHICH WAS STILL PRESERVED
THROUGH THE SKILL OF THE UNDERTAKER, AND THIS WAS
TOLD TO MY INFORMANT.
THE REASON FOR HIS BODY BEING KEPT FROM BURIAL WAS
THAT IF NO ONE CLAIMED HIM, ACCORDING TO UNDERTAKERS
LAWS, HE COULD NOT RELEASE THE BODY FOR BURIAL. THE
LAWS HAVE SINCE BEEN CHANGED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
HOMELY TALE
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, OUR COW WOULDN'T LET A MAN
MILK IT. SO, MY GRANDFATHER SPENCE DRESSED UP IN A
SUNBONNET AND A MOTHER HUBBARD DRESS WHICH WAS A
LONG DRESS THAT TOUCHES THE FLOOR. BUT AS SOON AS
HE SAT TO MILK IT, THE COW KICKED THE BUCKET AND OFF
WENT THE COW. YOU COULDN'T FOOL THAT COW.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): DISGUISE FAILS TO FOOL COW ; TRANSVESTISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 07-21-1968
GHOST LEGEND
WE LIVED IN AN OLD, OLD HOUSE IN GEORGETOWN, TEXAS
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND A MAN HAD ONCE HUNG
HIMSELF IN THE ATTIC. THE BATHROOM TO OUR APARTMENT
HAD THE ENTRANCE TO THE ATTIC. THEY SAID HIS GHOST
STILL LIVED UP THERE, SO WHEN I WAS THERE BY MYSELF
I WAS ALWAYS TERRIFIED THINKING THAT GHOST WAS GOING
TO COME DOWN THROUGH THAT TRAP DOOR.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 07-19-1968
SPOOK LEGEND
THERE'S A HOUSE AND EVERY TIME YOU GO BY IT YOU SEE
A SHADOW AGAINST THE HOUSE LIKE A MAN HANGING WITH A
NOOSE. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT, BUT I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT.
IT'S IN WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 07-21-1968
I ONCE SAW THIS THING IN 1964, LIKE A JET VAPOR TRAIN
AND IT WOULD GO ACROSS THE SKY WITHOUT SPREADING OUT.
SO ALL OF US KIDS WHO SAW IT ON THE PLAYGROUND AT
ROSEBANK STARTED GETTING REAL EXCITED THINKING WE
WERE BEING VISITED BY OTHER PLANETS AND EVERYTHING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT ; VAPOR TRAIL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-20-1968
ONCE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IN SUMMER OF LAST YEAR, I SAW
THIS BRIGHT STAR-LIKE THING IN THE SKY. IF I TOOK
IT TO THE AIR FORCE, THEY'D TELL ME IT WAS THE PLANET
VENUS. HOWEVER, IT WAS ABOUT TEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT--
TOO LATE AT NIGHT FOR THE PLANET VENUS TO BE SEEN.
ALSO, THE OBJECT WAS TOO BRIGHT. IT WASN'T MOVING
AT ALL, SO IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A LIGHT FROM AN
AIRPLANE, HELICOPTER OR BLIMP. I TOOK A PICTURE OF IT
WHICH DIDN'T TURN OUT, SO WE HAVE NO PROOF. WHEN I
WENT OUTSIDE LATER THE THING WAS GONE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-20-1968
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE HAUNTED HOUSE. ONCE UPON
A TIME, A GROUP OF BOYS STARTED A CLUB. BEFORE YOU WERE
A MEMBER, YOU HAD TO VISIT A CERTAIN HAUNTED HOUSE. ONE
BOY WENT TO THE HEAD AND TOLD HIM HE WANTED TO BE A
MEMBER. THEY TOLD HIM WHEN HE GOT INSIDE THE HAUNTED
HOUSE, HE WOULD FIND THREE WINDOWS. THEY TOLD HIM TO
SHINE ONE LIGHT IN THE FIRST WINDOW, TWO IN THE SECOND,
THREE IN THE THIRD. HE WENT UP THERE AND WHEN HE GOT
INSIDE, HE JUST FOUND TWO WINDOWS. HE SHINED ONE
LIGHT IN THE FIRST WINDOW AND TWO IN THE SECOND. HE
LOOKED AROUND AND FOUND A DOOR. HE OPENED IT AND IN
FRONT OF HIM WERE BODIES OF BOYS WHO HAD BEEN UP
HERE BEFORE. HE STARTED TO LEAVE WHEN HE BLACKED OUT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 08-10-1968