Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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CROWHEART BUTTE
THERE IS A BUTTE IN WYOMING CALLED CROWHEART BUTTE
WHICH HAS A HISTORICAL STORY ATTACHED TO ITS NAME, BUT
THE LOCAL PEOPLE PREFER THIS ONE. TWO INDIAN CHIEFS,
ONE OF THEM A CROW, WERE FEUDING, AND, RATHER
THAN RISK LOSING SO MANY BRAVES IN OPEN BATTLE,
DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE SETTLED ON TOP OF CROWHEART
BUTTE AND BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM ONLY. THEY
MET ON THE TOP THAT DAY (NO ONE HAS EXPLAINED HOW
THEY GOT UP THE STEEP SIDES) AND FOUGHT TO THE DEATH.
THE CROW CHIEF WAS KILLED, SO, ACCORDING TO TRADITION,
THE OTHER CHIEF CUT OUT HIS HEART AND ATE IT
WHILE THE BODY WAS STILL WARM TO SIGNIFY VICTORY.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM ; SINGLE COMBAT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
PANTHERS IN KANSAS CITY
THEY HAVE PANTHERS IN MISSOURI AND ONE TIME
THEY FOUND A PAW PRINT IN DOWNTOWN KANSAS
CITY. A MAN WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET
AND SAW THIS BIG BLACK CAT. HE DROVE BACK
TO SEE IT, AND THE THING FOLLOWED HIM.
THE NEXT MORNING, THEY FOUND A BIG PAW PRINT
IN SOME NEW CEMENT IN FRONT OF THE FEDERAL
BUILDING.
Where learned: CARMICHAEL TOWERS ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
DEVIL'S CAVE
ONE OF THE SPANISH EXPLORERS CAME UP FROM
MEXICO AND CAME UP ON SOME INDIANS. IT
Where learned: CARMICHAEL TOWERS ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 08-08-1968
LEECH LAKE
THIS WAS LEECH LAKE IN MINNESOTA, AND IT'S
BOTTOMLESS, AND THERE WAS A DROWNING.
THERE WAS TWO BOYS AND THEIR FATHER IN A
MOTOR LAUNCH, AND THE BOAT OVERTURNED AND
ALL THREE SUPPOSEDLY DROWNED. AND NONE
WERE FOUND. AND LIKE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER A
CAP, IDENTICAL TO THE ONE OWNED BY ONE OF
THE BOYS WAS WASHED UP ON THE SHORE OF THE
HUDSON BAY. THE LAKE IS ABOUT FIVE AND
A HALF MILES WIDE AND SIXTEEN LONG, AND
THEY SUSPECT THAT THE HOLE FOR THE LINK
BETWEEN LAKES IS SOMEWHERE ON THE SIDE.
Where learned: CARMICHAEL TOWERS ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THE DEVIL AND THE MISER
A RICH, GREEDY, OLD MISER AGREED TO SELL
HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL IF THE DEVIL WOULD
FILL HIS BOOT WITH GOLD. HE PUT A HOLE
IN THE FLOOR BY THE FIRE PLACE. SO THE
NEXT MORNING HIS WHOLE BASEMENT WAS FULL
OF GOLD. THE MAN DIED EARLY AND WENT
TO HELL.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; VANDERBILT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
CHEEKWOOD IS THE OLD FAMILY HOME OF THE CHEEK
FAMILY, WHO MADE COFFEE. WHEN TEDDY ROOSEVELT
CAME TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, HE STAYED AT
THE MAXWELL HOUSE HOTEL, WHERE THE CHEEKS HAD
THEIR COFFEE BEING SERVED. HE HAD SOME AND
SAID IT WAS "GOOD TO THE LAST DROP." CHEEKS,
BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, CALLED THEIR COFFEE
"MAXWELL HOUSE."
Where learned: CLASSROOM ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee |
THERE WAS THIS DEAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
WHO HAD THIS DOG WHO KEPT ANNOYING HER AS SHE WAS
GETTING READY TO GIVE A DINNER PARTY. SO TO QUIET
HIM SOME, SHE GAVE HIM SOME OF THE CASSEROLE FOR
THAT NIGHT'S PARTY. THE GUESTS ARRIVED AND THE
DINNER ALMOST FINISHED BEING EATEN, WHEN THE
DEAN'S MAID CAME IN AND WHISPERED TO HER THAT
THE DOG HAD DIED.
WELL, THE DEAN TOLD HER GUESTS AND RUSHED THEM
DOWN TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE THEIR STOMACHS
PUMPED.
THE DOG, SHE LATER FOUND OUT, HAD BEEN RUN OVER.
Where learned: TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman |
Date learned: 04-20-1969
BELIEF: SNAKES
BELIEF THAT THE EASTERN COACHWHIP SNAKE STANDS
ON ITS HEAD AND BEATS YOU TO DEATH. FALSE.
Where learned: NATURE STUDY CLASS ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
IF YOU SEE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF BUZZARDS THIS MEANS SOMETHING.
ONE FOR A SORROW, 2 FOR JOY, 3 FOR A LETTER AND 4 FOR A BOY.
DON'T KNOW WHAT COMES BETWEEN THERE AND 8, (BUT) 8 IS A SIGN
OF DEATH.
Where learned: HAMPSHIRE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number To specific numbers |
Date learned: 07-25-1968
WHEN MY MOTHER, LAURA BASSETT BOOKER, WAS A CHILD IN
CONWAY, ARKANSAS, HER PARENTS EMPLOYED AS A GENERAL
HANDYMAN AND YARD WORKER, AN OLD NEGRO MAN, WHO WAS A
"SILVER WITCH" OR "SILVERDOUSER." IF SILVER MONEY WAS
HIDDEN IN THE GROUND, HE COULD FIND IT BY USING A
FORKED BRANCH WITH A CLEFT END INTO WHICH A SMALL PIECE
OF SILVER, SUCH AS A DIME, WOULD BE INSERTED.
SKEPTICAL OF HIS POWERS, MY MOTHER AND HER BROTHER CLINE
DECIDED TO TEST HIM BY HIDING MONEY IN A TREE. THE
"SILVER WITCH" WAS LED BY HIS DIVINING ROD TO BENEATH
THE TREE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE MONEY. WHEN THE
CHILDREN REVEALED THEIR TRICK, THE OLD MAN BECAME VERY
ANGRY AND REFUSED TO TRY TO FIND ANY MORE MONEY FOR THEM.
Where learned: DORM ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; Arkansas ; CONWAY
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 05-12-1969
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY,
COME AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; PRIMM SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 08-06-1968
NEVER WALK UNDER A LADDER THAT IS STANDING AGAINST
A BUILDING.
Where learned: ROCHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
DEAD CHILD LEGEND {PREMATURE BURIAL}
IN JACKSON {MICHIGAN}, AT ONE OF OUR CEMETERIES, THERE
IS A SMALL TOMBSTONE MARKED LITTLE MARY, AND THE BIRTH
AND DEATH DATES. IT PASSED AMONG THE HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS THE STORY OF MARY'S SAD DEATH.
IT SEEMS THAT WHEN SHE WAS BURIED, SHE WAS NOT REALLY
DEAD, DUE TO THE FACT THAT SHE WAS IN A DISEASE-INDUCED
COMA. SINCE THIS WAS BEFORE THIS DISEASE WAS KNOWN, THEY
BURIED HER, THINKING HER DEAD.
THIS MUST HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE OF SOME KIND, BECAUSE
THEY SHORTLY DUG HER UP AGAIN.
THIS TIME SHE WAS REALLY DEAD, BUT SHE HAD EVIDENTLY
COME OUT OF THE COMA AND TRIED TO SCRATCH HER WAY OUT
OF THE COFFIN, BECAUSE THERE WERE SCRATCH MARKS ON THE
WOOD AND THE SHROUD WAS ALL ASKEW. MARY WAS TURNED
OVER, FACE DOWN IN THE COFFIN AND DEAD FROM SUFFOCATION
OR SHOCK, NO ONE KNOWS WHICH.
THIS STORY IS MOST OFTEN TOLD TO SOME UNSUSPECTING SOUL
WHO FINDS HIMSELF TAKEN TO A GRAVEYARD AND TOLD THE STORY
WHILE LOOKING AT LITTLE MARY'S TOMBSTONE. OFTEN TIMES
OTHER GUYS ARE HIDDEN NEARBY TO SCREAM JUST AS THE
FIRST GROUP IS LEAVING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; JACKSON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A FEW YEARS BACK, A BOY AND HIS GIRL WERE ICE SKATING
ON THE OLENTANGY RIVER THAT GOES THROUGH OHIO STATE
UNIVERSITY. THE BOY SLIPPED THROUGH THIN ICE AND
DROWNED, APPARENTLY NOT FINDING THE HOLE HE SLIPPED
THROUGH. SOME SAY HE COMES BACK EVERY WINTER TO TRY
TO FIND THAT HOLE TO CRAWL OUT OF, AND IF YOU SLIP
THROUGH THIN ICE, HE WILL MAKE YOU TAKE HIS PLACE.
IT IS ALSO SAID THAT HIS GIRLFRIEND LEAVES A LUNCH
DOWN BY THE RIVER THAT HE SOMEHOW RETRIEVES.
Where learned: OHIO, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN A SMALL TOWN IN NEW YORK STATE, A YOUNG ENGINEER
WAS TRYING TO PURCHASE AN OLD TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE.
THE OWNER TOLD HIM THAT THE PLANE HAD BEEN BURNT
DOWN TO THE SKELETON OF THE PLANE YEARS BEFORE.
THE PLANE BURNT QUICK BECAUSE IT WAS A FABRIC-
COVERED PLANE. THE ENGINEER STARTED THE PLANE UP WITH
THE HELP OF THE OWNER AND THEN HE SAT ALONE IN THE
COCKPIT READING THE GAUGES. SUDDENLY, A MAN WITH AN
OLD BROWN FLIGHT JACKET AND LEATHER HELMET TAPPED
HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID, "GET OUT QUICK, PLANE'S
ON FIRE!" THE ENGINEER JUMPED OUT AND RAN FROM THE
PLANE. WHEN HE TURNED AROUND NOTHING WAS LEFT BUT THE
SMOLDERING SKELETON.
WHEN THE OWNER ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN HE
RETURNED, THE ENGINEER TOLD THE WHOLE STORY AND
DESCRIBED THE MAN WHO WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. THE
OWNER REPLIED, "THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY BROTHER." THE
ENGINEER THEN ASKED WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. THE OWNER
THEN SAID, "HE DIED WHEN THE PLANE BURNT THE FIRST
TIME YEARS BEFORE!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): REPEATED TRAGEDY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THEY PLACE AN AX UNDER THE TABLE, AND EVERY
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY MUST HAVE ONE FOOT ON IT.
Submitter comment:
JO'S BOYFRIEND IS SLAVIK (SLAVIC) AND (THEY PRACTICE THIS CUSTOM) IN
THEIR HOME.
Data entry tech comment:
ITEM REWORDED TO FIT FORMAT.
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ROOM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Slavic ; Table Setting ; tradition
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas |
Date learned: 10-02-1969
EATING PEANUTS IN THE PITS OF A RACETRACK CAUSES BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; MURFREESBORO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 06-11-1972
VILLAGE OF BERTRAND LEGEND
ANOTHER LOCAL LEGEND HAS TO DO WITH THE VILLAGE OF
BERTRAND {MICHIGAN} JUST OVER THE STATE LINE IN
MICHIGAN. IT WAS A THRIVING CITY, ON A PAR WITH SOUTH
BEND IN THE MID-19TH CENTURY. IT IS REPORTED THAT
ONE OF OUR PRIESTS SOUGHT SHELTER THERE ONE NIGHT, AND
WAS TURNED AWAY BY THE CITIZENS. HE IS SUPPOSED TO
HAVE PUT A CURSE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD. TODAY, WHERE
ONCE A FLOURISHING TOWN, THERE IS NOTHING BUT OPEN
FIELDS. THE CHAPEL THERE WAS ALSO BROKEN INTO, AND
DESECRATED (THIS IS A FACT). THE ALTAR WAS LATER
BROUGHT DOWN TO NOTRE DAME AND PLACED IN THE LOG CHAPEL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; INDIANA, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): DEATH OF TOWN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
IF ALL THE BOYS LIVED ACROSS THE SEA,
WHAT A GOOD SWIMMER YOU WOULD BE.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS WRITTEN IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF
COLETTE BY A SCHOOLMATE.
Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Chimney corner wisdom, advice, humorous fortune |
Date learned: 10-08-1967
WHEN YOU GO FISHING, TAKE A LINE.
WHEN YOU GO KISSING, TAKE YOUR TIME.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS WRITTEN IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF
COLETTE BY A SCHOOLMATE.
Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Chimney corner wisdom, advice, humorous fortune |
Date learned: 10-08-1967