Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NEW YORK returned 598 results.
THE STORY OF THE BOY WHO CAMPS OUT. AN ANT GETS IN HIS
EAR. AS THE YEARS GO BY, HE GETS WORSE HEADACHES.
FINALLY HE IS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND HIS HEAD IS SPLIT
OPEN. OUT COMES THOUSANDS OF ANTS, THEY HAD A COLONY
THERE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses PROSE NARRATIVE -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
LACKAWANNA
DID YOU EVER HEAR OF LACKAWANNA, NEW YORK? WELL, I USED TO LIVE
THERE A COUPLE (OF) YEARS AGO. THE STORY AROUND THERE CONCERNING
HOW THE CITY GOT ITS NAME GOES LIKE THIS: THERE WAS THIS INDIAN
TRIBE IN NEW YORK (THE ONEIDAS, I THINK) WHO INHABITED THE
BUFFALO AREA. ONE OF THE INDIANS GOT UP ON THIS BIG OLD HILL
AND SURVEYED THE AREA. ALL THE INDIAN COULD SEE WAS WATER, SO
HE SAID, "LACKAWANNA," WHICH WAS THAT TRIBE'S WAY OF SAYING, "AS
I STAND HIGH ON THIS HILL, AND I LOOK AROUND, ALL I CAN SEE IS
WATER." AND SO THAT IS HOW LACKAWANNA, NEW YORK, GOT ITS NAME.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, A RESIDENT OF THE BUFFALO AREA, SAID THAT THIS IS
WHAT THE PEOPLE TOLD HIM WHEN HE MOVED THERE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): TALL TALE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
LAKE ERIE
REMEMBER YESTERDAY HOW I TOLD YOU HOW LACKAWANNA GOT ITS NAME
FROM AN INDIAN STANDING ON A HILL. WELL, THE NEXT DAY, THAT
INDIAN BROUGHT THE CHIEF UP TO THE SAME HILL. WHEN THE CHIEF
GOT UP THERE HE SAID, "YOU WERE RIGHT, ALL YOU CAN SEE FROM UP
HERE IS WATER. BOY, IS THIS EVER EERIE!" SO THAT'S HOW THAT
PARTICULAR BODY OF WATER GOT ITS NAME--LAKE ERIE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID HE ALSO HEARD THIS IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): TALL TALE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 05-14-1965
SHAGGY DOG STORY
MAN WITH BOXER IN BAR, BRAGGING ABOUT HIS FIGHTING DOG.
OTHER MAN WITH SHAGGY DOG COMES IN. SHAGGY DOG BITES
BOXER'S HEAD OFF. SECOND MAN SAYS A FRIEND OF HIS FROM
AFRICA SENT HIM THE DOG AND BEFORE HE TRIMMED THAT LONG
HAIR OFF ITS NECK IT LOOKED LIKE HELL.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): LION
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-05-1971
BEDTIME STORY
THIS INFORMANT USED TO USE THIS STORY FOR HIS CHILDREN,
WHEN THEY WOULD ASK FOR A BEDTIME STORY.
"THIS IS THE SHORTEST BEDTIME STORY EVER TOLD: 'GOOD
NIGHT!'"
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
PROVERB
WHEN THE WELL RUNS DRY, WE KNOW THE WORTH OF WATER.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
PROVERB
WHIPPING BOY.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
PROVERB
WORK FASCINATES ME: I CAN SIT AND WATCH IT FOR HOURS.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STOVEPIPE AND A CRAZY DUTCHMAN?
ONE'S A SILLY HOLLANDER AND THE OTHER'S A HOLLOW CYLINDER.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): WORD PLAY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHY DO FIREMEN WEAR RED SUSPENDERS?
ANSWER: TO HOLD UP THEIR PANTS.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): PANTS (A) ; SUSPENDERS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHAT TIME IS IT WHEN THE CLOCK SAYS THIRTEEN O'CLOCK?
ANSWER: TIME TO GET THE CLOCK FIXED.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): CLOCK (Q) ; TIME (A)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
RIDDLE
QUESTION: DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CALL A COUPLE WHO PRACTICES
THE RHYTHM METHOD?
ANSWER: PARENTS
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): PARENTS (A) ; RHYTHM (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
Toast
Here's to our dates and our favorite girls...Let's hope they don't meet tonight!
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): Dates ; DATING ; DRINKING ; Girls ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
Here's to our friends and our drinks...We'll carry our friends as long as we can hold our drinks.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): DRINKING ; FRIENDS ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
FORMULA SPEECH
WHEN A PERSON TALKS ABOUT SOMETHING IRREVELENT OR IMMATERIAL, OFTEN
IT IS REMARKED, "DID YOU HEAR THAT THE PRICE OF RUBBER TREES WENT UP
IN INDIA?"
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; CANISIUS COLLEGE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
This game is played in a circle of people,
each time substituting a new name into the phrase.
The named person must respond immediately--if not,
they must leave the circle.
(all) "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?"
(leader) "Jennifer stole the cookie from the cookie jar"
(Jennifer) "Who me?"
(leader) "Yes you."
(Jennifer) "Couldn't be"
(leader) "Then who?"
(Jennifer picks a name) "David stole the cookie from the
cookie jar."
David must respond and he and Jennifer go back and forth.
The last person remaining is the winner.
Where learned: Girl Scout Camp ; New York State
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Music
The article studies three historical traditions of the banjo, the folk, minstrel popular, and classical.
Traditions of the banjo are characterized by:
a) The ways in which knowledge of the banjo was transmitted.
b) Closeness of the performer or craftsman to his audience or clientele
c) Self-perceived relation between the craftsman or musician to other crafstmen or musicians.
Exact origins of banjo unknown. Possible from West Africa with slaves.
Earliest banjo was made from a gourd.
Frets introduced in the 1860's and 70's
Peak of development (quality) in 1920's
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: ; The Physical Development of the Banjo ; New York Folklore Quarterly
Keyword(s): Audience ; Banjo ; Classical ; Craftsman ; Folk ; Fret ; GOURD ; HISTORY ; Instrument ; Minstrel ; MUSIC ; Origin ; Performer ; Slaves
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wood Gourd ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Musical instrument |
Language
In the summer of 1816 there were frosts during each of the summer months in Hyde Park Vt. and much of the surrounding area. These frosts during the summer months discouraged many of the local farmers who abandoned their farms and moved westward. During the summer of 1816 a poem was written which is often recalled by Vermonters and printed in Vermont newspapers when the summers are unusually cool. The poem discourages people from leaving the area. the poem says:
"Moses saud we are to inhabit all the world, warmer climates lead to more vices, one doesn't change wives because of a wrinkle or farms because of a cold summer.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
Where learned: New York Folklore Quarterly ; Fitch Against Immigration
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Chill ; FARMING ; Frost ; HARVEST ; Hyde Park ; Language ; Moses ; poem ; Region ; SEASON ; Summer ; Summer ; Vermont ; WINTER ; Wives ; Wrinkle
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time |
Poem
Feeling that the Indians had been seriously mistreated Longfellow wrote in 1854, that he had found a plan for a poem on the American Indians that was fitting to their beautiful traditions. The poem did not totally portray the indians totally accurately.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
Where learned: New York Folklore Quarterly ; The Making of Hiawatha
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; INDIAN ; Language ; LONGFELLOW ; poem ; Traditions
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
JAMAICAN SUPERSTITION
IF A WOMAN IS PREGNANT AND EXPECTING WITHIN A NUMBER OF DAYS OR
WEEKS, A FULL MOON WILL CAUSE THE CHILD TO COME QUICKER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM A LADY-FRIEND FROM JAMAICA.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-01-1964