Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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Superstition
Black Cat:
If a black cat crosses your path to the left you'll have bad luck. If he crosses to the right you'll have good luck.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B440, P880] crossed out / Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH CAROLINA
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Black ; CAT ; Feline ; LEFT ; LUCK ; OMEN ; RIGHT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU CROSS AN OWL WITH A GOAT?
YOU GET A HOOTENANNY.
Where learned: CARMICHAEL TOWERS ; VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
WHAT IS THE BLACK STUFF BETWEEN AN ELEPHANT'S TOES?
SLOW NATIVES
Where learned: CARMICHAEL TOWERS ; VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
WHY DO ELEPHANTS WEAR SPRINGS?
TO SCREW MONKEYS
Where learned: CARMICHAEL TOWERS ; VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
IT WAS CUSTOMARY AND ACCEPTABLE IN NORTH CAROLINA
FOR A WHITE MAN TO POSSESS NEGRO QUADRUN WIVES (1/4
WIVES) BEFORE HE MARRIED A WHITE WOMAN. UPON MARRIAGE
TO A WHITE WOMAN, HE USUALLY GAVE UP THESE WIVES, SET THEM
UP IN A SMALL HOUSE, FREED THEM, AND GAVE THEM ENOUGH
TO LIVE ON FOR SOME TIME. SOME MEN, HOWEVER, KEPT A
FEW AFTER MARRIAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; NORTH CAROLINA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
PURPOSE OF CONSUMPTION
WHEN I WAS LITTLE, MY PARENTS TOLD ME THAT THE REASON EVERYBODY
EAT EGGS AND DRINK MILK IS TO PLEASE THE CHICKEN AND THE COW. WE
LIVED NOT FAR FROM THE COUNTRY STORE WHERE THERE WERE CHICKENS
AND A COW, SO I WOULD EAT ALL MY BREAKFAST. IF NOT I WOULD DUCK
DOWN IN THE CAR SO THE ANIMALS WOULD NOT SEE ME. "THE CHICKEN
WOULD CRY IF HE KNEW."
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
SAMPLERS AS ART
SAMPLERS ORIGINALLY WERE DONE BY YOUNG GIRLS AGED 6-16, WHO WERE
LEARNING GENERAL NEEDLEWORK. THE SAMPLER WAS A SAMPLE OF THEIR
WORK AND WAS DONE AND DESIGNED AS THEY PROGRESSED. MOST OF THESE
TYPES OF SAMPLERS, DATED FROM 1500 THROUGH 1800, HAVE THE ALPHABET
BECAUSE THEY WERE LEARNING TO READ AT THE SAME TIME. SKILL WITH
THE NEEDLE WAS MORE HIGHLY PRIZED THAN LITERACY AMONG WOMEN. SOME
OF THE TYPICAL SAMPLERS HAD THIS VERSE ON THEM:
"WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND IN MY PRIME,
THIS IS HOW I SPENT MY TIME."
Submitter comment:
THE PERSON'S NAME AND DATES WERE PUT UNDER IT. AS A HOBBY, I HAVE
COPIED SOME SUCH SAMPLERS, AS THEY WOULD HAVE DONE THEM, BY THE
THREAD-COUNT OF THE LINEN AS THEY WORKED, NOT BY A PRE-DRAWN
DESIGN. I SELL MY COPIES AND TEACH OTHERS HOW TO DESIGN SAMPLERS
AND TRANSFER PATTERNS.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- M327 M327.4 |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
CRAFTS-COLOR AND DESIGN
MY MOTHER HAS BEEN DOING NEEDLEWORK AND VARIOUS CRAFTS, AS TAUGHT
TO HER BY HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER, ALMOST ALL HER LIFE. UNDER
THE NAME OF "HERITAGE ARTS" SHE PAINTS COATS-OF-ARMS AND
RESEARCHES FAMILY HISTORY TO AUTHENTICATE EACH COAT-OF-ARMS.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO SHE DID A COAT-OF-ARMS ON A QUILT FOR THE LANGLE
FAMILY. OTHER UNIQUE CREATIONS OF HERS ARE CREWEL EMBROIDERED
COATS-OF-ARMS ON VELVET, MADE INTO A PILLOW OR TO COVER A KNEELING
BENCH. SHE ALSO RESEARCHES, DESIGNS, AND TRANSFERS PATTERNS TO BE
DONE IN CROSS-TICH.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Color Design |
Date learned: 06-00-1972
TOY
TWIRLING BUTTON: DOUBLE A FOUR-FEET STRING WITH A LARGE BUTTON
WITH EYES TIED IN IT. PUT THE END LOOP OF THE STING AROUND A FINGER
ON EACH HAND AND TWIRL THE BUTTON AND STRING AROUND MANY TIMES.
NOW THE BUTTON AND STRING SHOULD TWIRL BY THEMSELVES IF YOU PULL
YOUR HANDS LIKE A YOYO WHICH USES ONE HAND.
Submitter comment: THIS TOY WAS ALSO MADE FOR DEBBIE CHILDRESS IN BELFAST, TENN.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Toy |
Date learned: 00001950S
TOYS
TO MAKE A CHEAP GLUE THAT WILL NOT HURT ANYTHING THAT IT HAPPENS
TO BE USED ON, MIX FLOUR AND WATER TO THE PROPER CONSISTANCY. ADD
WATER SO IT WON'T HARDEN.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Toy |
Date learned: 00001950S
TOYS FOR LITTLE KIDS
EARRINGS: TAKE A ROASTED PEANUT IN THE SHELL, AND BARELY OPEN ONE
END, JUST ENOUGH TO PUT IT ON A GIRL'S EAR FOR AN EARRING.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Toy |
Date learned: 00001950S
CRAFT-FINISHED PRODUCT
JOGGLING BOARD: IS A LONG (ABOUT 20 FT) BOARD PLACED ON TWO
ROCKERS THAT ALLOW IT TO JOGGLE OR ROCK WHEN A PERSON SITS ON IT
OR PUSHES IT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE ONE AT MY HOME IN EDGEFIELD,
S.C., IS THE ONLY I'VE EVER SEEN. IT IS ABOUT 70 YEARS OLD, AND
HAND MADE FROM HEART PINE. THE MAIN BOARD IS ABOUT 2 FEET WIDE
AND 1 INCH THICK--ITS SIZE MAKING IT UNIQUE. THE JOGGLING BOARD
WAS MADE TO BE USED ON THE LARGE PORCHES OF THE COLONIAL TYPE
HOME.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Finished Product |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
FESTIVAL ON FIXED DATE
IN EDGEFIELD COUNTY, S.C., EVERY YEAR THE NEGROES CELEBRATE THE
FOURTH OF JULY WITH A CARNIVAL AND AN ALL DAY PINIC. THIS HAS
BEEN DONE FOR YEARS AND IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE NEGROES THAT WHITE
EMPLOYERS LET THEM OFF FOR THE DAY, EVEN IF IT'S THE ONLY
VACATION THE NEGRO WILL GET ALL YEAR. THE CELEBRATION IS KNOWN
AS "THE FOURTH" AND BY NO OTHER NAME.
Submitter comment:
MOST OF THE NEGROES ARE UNAWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOURTH
OF JULY AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. THE TERM IS ONLY USED TO DENOTE
THE LOCATION OF THE CELEBRATION.
Data entry tech comment: SPELLING ERRORS WERE CORRECTED
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
WORD SPELLING
MISSISSIPPI: M I DOUBLE-S I
DOUBLE-S I
HUMP BACK, HUMP BACK I
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS POPULAR WHEN I WAS A FOURTH GRADER.
VARIATION OF THIS ON PAGE 27 OF "JUMP ROPE RHYMES".
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
SPELLING VERSE
CHICAGO: CHICKEN IN THE CAR,
THE CAR WON'T GO.
Submitter comment:
MY HOMETOWN DIALECT DOES NOT PRONOUNCE THE "R" ON CAR, MAKING
THIS PHRASE MORE LIKE CHICAGO THAN IT LOOKS.
VARIATION OF THIS ON PAGE 27 OF "JUMP ROPE RHYMES".
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE TO IDENTIFY CORAL SNAKE
YELLOW ON RED, DO NOT DREAD.
BLACK ON YELLOW, KILLA FELLA.
Submitter comment: AS TOLD BY MY SEVENTH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
VERSE ON SAMPLER
"OUR LIVES ARE ALBUMS WRITTEN THROUGH,
WITH GOOD OR ILL, WITH FALSE OR TRUE;
AND AS THE BLESSED ANGELS TURN,
THE PAGES OF OUR YEARS,
GOD GRANT THEY READ THE GOOD WITH SMILES,
AND BLOT THE ILL WITH TEARS."
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSE WAS ON A SAMPLER I COPIED ON LINEN BY THE ORIGINAL
THREAD-COUNT METHOD OF CROSS-STITCH EMBROIDERY. THE ORIGINAL
SAMPLER WAS DATED 1912. THIS VERSE CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON PAGE 72
OF BRUNVAND "THE STUDY OF AMERICAN FOLKLORE", AS A SENTIMENTAL
VERSE IN AN AUTOGRAPH ALBUM.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Weaving material For costuming in dance or drama, see C484. Flax Hemp Jute |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
JUMP ROPE RHYME
EENY, MEENY, MINEY, MO,
CATCH (A NIGGA) BY THE TOE.
(OLD HITLER)
(A RABBIT)
IF HE HOLLERS, LET HIM PAY
FIFTEEN DOLLARS EVERY DAY.
OR
IF HE HOLLERS, LET HIM GO. (OR, DON'T LET GO)
EENY, MEENY, MINEY, MO.
OPTIONAL: O U T SPELLS OUT GOES YOU.
YOU OLD DIRTY DISH-RAG YOU. (DEBBIE CHILDRESS, TENN.)
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSE WAS USED TO COUNT OFF TO SEE WHICH ONES WOULD TURN THE
ROPE; AND WAS A COUNTING OUT RHYME FOR OTHER GAMES.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
JUMP ROPE RHYME
CINDERELLA DRESSES IN YELLOW,
WENT DOWNTOWN TO SEE HER FELLA.
ON THE WAY HER GIRDLE BUSTED.
HOW MANY MEN WERE DISGUSTED.
ONE--TWO--THREE---------
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
JUMP ROPE RHYME
BLUE BELLS, COCKERSHELLS
EASY, IVEY, OVER.
Submitter comment: VARIATION ON PAGE 18 OF "JUMP ROPE RHYME".
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR