Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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MENSTRUATION SUPERSTITION
YOU SHOULD NEVER CAN WHEN A WOMAN IS HAVING HER
PERIOD BECAUSE IT WILL SPOIL.
Submitter comment:
POPULAR BELIEF IN GLOUCESTER, OHIO, WHEN SHE
WAS YOUNG.
Where learned: OHIO ; GLOUCESTER
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Food BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
BIRTH: TREATMENT OF EXPECTANT MOTHERS
FOR EVERY BABY YOU HAVE YOU WILL LOSE A TOOTH.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
Keyword(s): CHILDBIRTH ; LOSS OF TEETH ; PREGNANCY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
ARABIAN SAYING: (TRANS.)
I TAUGHT HIM HOW TO HUNT, AND HE
LEARNED WELL; NOW HE IS HUNTING ME.
Submitter comment:
EXPLAINED AS A WARNING TO BE CAUTIOUS OF TEACHING TOO
MUCH OF YOUR OWN SKILL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- V200 |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
A FOOL
IT IS EASIER FOR A FOOL TO DENY THAN FOR ARISTOTLE TO PROVE.
Submitter comment: SPANISH: MAS PUEDE UN NEEIO NEGAR QUE ARISTOLELES PROBAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 03-31-1970
THE HAUNTED STREET
ONCE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH A MAN WAS HIT BY A CAR AND
KILLED. WHENEVER ANYONE PASSED OVER THE SPOT WHERE HE WAS KILLED,
SOMETHING WOULD KNOCK ON THE CAR.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY FROM AN IRISH GIRL SHE WORKS WITH
NAMED MARY COYNE. MARY CLAIMED THAT SHE HAD HEARD THIS STORY BACK
IN IRELAND ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO AND SHE CLAIMED THAT IT WAS A TRUE
STORY. I HAVE INCLUDED IT, ALTHOUGH IT IS WIDESPREAD IN THE U.S.,
BECAUSE OF HER CLAIM THAT SHE HEARD IT IN IRELAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
James Callow Keyword(s): KNOCK-KNOCK STREET
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 01-10-1964 ; 00-00-1957
ARABIAN MAXIM
TIME IS LIKE A SWORD - YOU CUT WITH IT OR IT WILL
CUT YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
TWO CUPS - ONE POUND,
THE WORLD AROUND.
Submitter comment: COLLECTOR DOES NOT KNOW MEANING. --J.T.CALLOW
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb |
Date learned: 09-22-1968
ST. MARY'S INSTITUTE
DEAR MABELLE,
SOME HAVE ONE FRIEND,
SOME HAVE TWO,
I HAVE SEVERAL AND ONE IS "YOU."
R #1
YOUR FRIEND,
NERINA PFISTER
FROM THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK KEPT BY MABELLE FRUEND AROUND
1910-11 IN ADELL AND MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.
GIVEN TO THE ARCHIVE BY HER DAUGHTER, MRS. MARY ANDRECOVICH.
Where learned: NEW HOLSTEIN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
PROVERB: THE LAZY AT THEIR BEST
WHEN THE SUN NEARS ITS WESTERN HORIZON IS WHEN THE LAZY ARE AT
THEIR BEST.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS AS A VERY OLD SWEDISH PROVERB ABOUT LAZY
MEN.
Where learned: MINNESOTA ; ROUTE 1 ; STURGEON LAKE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-28-1970
CAR FOR SALE
A THUNDERBIRD WAS ON SALE FOR $500--IT WAS AFTER THE FOUR-PASSEN-
GERS CAME OUT, SO AFTER 1958. A WOMAN HAD GONE TO CALIFORNIA AND
HER HUSBAND CAME HOME AFTER DRIVING HER TO THE AIRPORT. HE
ENTERED THE GARAGE WHICH OPENED WITH REMOTE CONTROL. HE DIED OF
A HEART ATTACK AND WAS LEFT IN THERE FOR EITHER THREE DAYS OR
WEEKS--I CAN'T REMEMBER. WHEN HIS WIFE CAME BACK SHE WAS IN THE
HOSPITAL BEING TREATED FOR SHOCK, I GUESS. ONE OF HER NURSES (WHO
IS THE DAUGHTER OF ONE OF MY DAD'S EMPLOYEES) WAS TOLD ABOUT THE
CAR. YOU REALLY COULDN'T SMELL IT UNLESS YOU WERE TOLD ABOUT IT;
BUT THEY STILL HAD TROUBLE SELLING IT. THE NURSE COULDN'T BUY IT
BECAUSE SHE WAS BLIND AND HAS SUGAR DIABETES. THIS HAPPENED TWO
OR THREE YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 05-10-1965
SUPERSTITION
NEVER GIVE ANYONE A PURSE WITHOUT PUTTING A PENNY IN IT, OR IT WILL
BE BAD LUCK
Submitter comment: INFORMANT BELIEVES THIS AND PRACTICES IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-01-1971
DEAR ROBERT,
YOU ASKED ME TO WRITE
WHAT SHALL IT BE
THREE LITTLE WORDS
PLEASE REMEMBER ME
(SIGNED) SUZANNE PECK
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
YOU'LL NEED TO LICK THAT CALF OVER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAID THAT HE HAD HEARD THIS EXPRESSION ALL HIS
LIFE WHILE GROWING UP IN PRESTONSBURG, KENTUCKY. IN PARTICULAR
HE REMEMBERED HIS MOTHER, REBECCA BURCHETT, TELLING HIM THAT IF
HE DIDN'T DO THE JOB RIGHT, THAT HE WOLD HAVE TO LICK THE CALF
OVER. IT MEANT THAT IF YOU DIDN'T DO THE JOB RIGHT THE FIRST
TIME, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE OVER AGAIN TILL IT WAS DONE
RIGHT. THIS WAS IN PRESTONSBURG, KENTUCKY, BUT HE HAS ALSO
HEARD IT IN LEBANON, TENNESSEE USED IN THE SAME WAY.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; PRESTONSBURG
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TO SPILL YOUR COFFEE
AS A CHILD, I LEARNED TO DRINK COFFEE WITH MY
ELDERS. IT IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE IN GREECE, IT IS A SIGN
OF MATURITY. I WAS GIVEN A CUP OF EXPRESSO, WHEN TRYING
TO PLACE IT GENTLY ON MY LAP, I ACCIDENTALLY SPILLED SOME.
I BEGAN TO CRY, FOR I NOW THOUGHT THAT I WOULD NO
LONGER BE ABLE TO DRINK COFFEE WITH MY PARENTS. MY
MOTHER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT TO SPILL COFFEE IS A
SIGN OF GOOD FORTUNE. IT MEANS THAT MONEY WOULD COME MY
WAY. SURE ENOUGH, I RECEIVED A CHECK FROM MY GRANDMOTHER
FOR A JOB THAT I HAD DONE FOR HER. TO THIS DAY I STILL
BELIEVE THIS.
Submitter comment: MY MOTHER HAS MANY SUCH STORIES AND BELIEFS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights ; WHERE I LEARNED THIS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1955 ; 00-00-1974
CAR FOR SALE
A PERSON BOUGHT THAT CAR AND EVERY TIME HE CLOSED THE WINDOWS THE
STENCH INSIDE THE CAR WOULD BE SO STRONG YOU COULDN'T GET IN THE
CAR--LIKE ON A WARM DAY. THIS STILL HAPPENED YEARS AFTERWARDS.
Submitter comment:
I, THE COLLECTOR, TOLD THEM ABOUT THE CAR WHICH THE OWNER COULD NOT
SELL BECAUSE A PERSON WHO HAD DIED IN IT WAS LEFT IN IT FOR SOME
TIME AND THE ODOR REMAINED. IT PROMPTED THE FOLLOWING:
HEARD THIS IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
WHO BECOMES A VAMPIRE
WEREWOLVES KILLED BY MAGICAL MEANS WILL IN 5 DAYS RETURN AS A VAMPIRE
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ENGLAND ; WORCESTER
Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead ; Vampire
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Fifths BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
POTATO PLANTING
ALWAYS PLANT POTATOES ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY FOR BEST POTATOES.
IN OHIO IF YOU DIDN'T GET THEM IN ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY, THEY
DON'T GROW. THEY'RE A VERY SUPERSTITIOUS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.
Submitter comment:
BELIEF IN POPULAR TRADITION IN BOTH GLOUCESTER AND HOLLISTER,
OHIO, WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
WHO BECOMES A VAMPIRE
A PERSON WILL BE A VAMPIRE IF HE IS BORN ON HALLOWEEN
OR CONCEIVED ON WOLFPURGIS NIGHT, THE NIGHT BEFORE MAY 1.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ENGLAND ; WORCESTER
Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead ; Vampire
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 30 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
ARABIAN MAXIM
THE SON OF A DUCK IS A SWIMMER.
Submitter comment:
EXPLAINED AS BEING SIMILAR TO MANY OTHERS
WHICH COMMENT ON HEREDITARY TRAITS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
AUTOGRAPH BOOK RHYME
I WISH YOU SUCCESS
I WISH YOU ALMIGHTY
I WISH YOUR PAJAMAS
NEXT TO MY NIGHTIE
NOW DON'T GET EXCITED
NOW DON'T GET RED
I MEAN ON THE CLOTHESLINE
NOT IN BED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love |