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Agins' passion was writing, collecting, and recording American folk songs, especially of the West.
During the 1940s and 1950s he entertained disabled youth, veterans, and children in hospitals acting as an Ambassador of
Goodwill Industries. In addition, he entertained prisoners in New Mexico, guests at dude ranches, and taught classes
about folk singing throughout the American West. Agins was also the United States representative in 1976 at the
Smithsonian Institution’s Montreal Expo and also served as an expert on early American folk songs in Washington D.C.
During the 1970s and 1980s he participated in the Festival of the American West and the Western Writers Conferences held in
Logan, Utah.
Register completed by Daniel Davis, February 2005.
Fd 1
1:01:01. Agins performing around the campfire at Desert Willow Ranch, Tucson, Arizona, 1949, "Desert Willow Ranch, Tucson AZ. 1949" photograph By Western Ways, Tucson Arizona.
Fd 2
1:02:01. Agins performing on KLZ Denver with radio personality Pete Smythe in a tribute to Sam's life, 1950s.
Photograph by C. A. Jackson Photographic Services, Denver, Colorado.
Fd 3
1:03:01. Agins performing at a children's hospital in Denver, Colorado, ca. 1940s.
Fd 4
1:04:01. Performer (does not appear to be Agins) entertaining around a campfire, the "El Conquistador Hotel Breakfast Ride, Tucson, Arizona," ca. 1940s.
Fd 5
1:05:01. Agins spinning a lasso around himself and a little girl, ca. 1950s.
Fd 6
1:06:01. Agins spinning a lasso around himself and several children, ca. 1950s.
Fd 7
1:07:01. Agins demonstrating a lasso on horseback, ca. 1950s.
Fd 8
1:08:01. Agins performing around a campfire, unidentified local, ca. 1960s, color print.
Fd 9
1:09:01. Agins performing around a campfire, unidentified local, ca. 1960s, color print, see 1:08:01.
Fd 10
1:10:01. Agins with unknown woman during a performance, possibly a recording session, ca. 1970s.
1:10:02. Formal studio portrait of Agins with his guitar, ca. 1970s.
1:10:03. Agins during a performance, possibly a recording session, with his fiddle, ca. 1970s.
1:10:04. Agins performing at the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum. Cody, Wyoming, 1980.
Fd 11
1:11:01. Color copy photographs of an original portrait of Agins by artist John Henry Waddell, see 1:15:03.
1:11:02. Color copy photographs of an original portrait of Agins by artist John Henry Waddell, see 1:15:03.
1:11:03. Agins, John Henry Waddell, and Lindsay Waddell with completed portrait, see 1:15:04.
1:11:04. Agins posing while John Henry Waddell paints, negative available.
1:11:05. Agins posing while John Henry Waddell paints, negative available.
Fds 12-22: Photographs removed from Smithsonian Institution album, in original order.
Fd 12
1:12:01. Formal studio publicity portrait of Agins with his guitar, ca. 1970s.
1:12:02. Copy print of original photograph, the Agins family, "from L to R, Leona Agins, Harry Agins with Sam, Yetta Agins (standing) Bette Agins" ca. 1922.
1:12:03. Agins as a young man, holding a string of fish, "Sammy" ca. 1940.
Fd 13
1:13:01. Formal studio publicity portrait of Agins with his guitar, ca. 1960s. Photograph by Gaines of Tucson, Arizona.
1:13:02. Tracing from photograph 1:12:01.
Fd 14
1:14:01. Agins performing around a campfire with guitar and mandolin, ca. 1970s. Photograph by Bob Woodall of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
1:14:02. Agins performing around a campfire with guitar and mandolin, ca. 1970s. Photography by Bob Woodall of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
1:14:03. Agins performing around a campfire with guitar and mandolin, ca. 1970s. Photography by Bob Woodall of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Fd 15
1:15:01. Proof sheet on 35mm negatives, Agins during an unidentified performance, ca. 1970s. Photographs by Gruenbaum.
1:15:02. Agins during performance, ca. 1970s. Photograph by Bob Krueger, Aspen, Colorado.
1:15:03. Photograph of an original portrait of Agins by Waddell, see 1:11:01-02, color.
1:15:04. Agins, John Henry Waddell, and Lindsay Waddell with completed portrait, see also 1:11:03, "Form L to R, John Henry Waddell , Sam Agins, Lindsay Waddell, John's son, Sam traded John a violin for Lindsay for the portrait."
1:15:05-14. Agins, John Henry Waddell, and Lindsay Waddell with completed portrait, see also 1:11:03, negative available.
1:15:15. Proof sheet, fiddler Vasar Clements and others, negative available.
1:15:16. 35mm negatives of proof sheet, see 1:15:15.
Fd 16
1:16:01. Agins playing a duet on the fiddle, ca. 1970s [two copies.]
1:16:01. Agins playing a duet on the fiddle, ca. 1970s [two copies], "Sam, after 20 years of playing the fiddle, has got to be one of the hottest fiddle players there is. Here Tom joins Sam in some duets."
Fd 17
1:17:01. Agins in a motorized wheelchair, ca. 1980s.
Fd 18
1:18:01. Agins in his wheelchair, "Sam is one of a kind. Another man like him you'll never meet."
Fd 19
1:19:01. Agins talking with a young woman on an unidentified campus, ca. 1970s [two copies], "If a pretty lady isn't careful--Sam is sure to lasso her for a little chat. Diane, who is an education major, thought she was going to class--that was before she met Sam."
1:19:01. Agins talking with a young woman on an unidentified campus, ca. 1970s [two copies.]
Fd 20
1:20:01. Agins and other performers on stage at the 1979 San Diego Folk Festival. "Sam is a cowboy from way-back-when. Here these gentlemen (Left to Right, Sam, Bob, Neil, and Al) share their favorite cowboy songs with the audience, during the 1979 San Diego State Festival."
Fd 21
1:21:01. Photocopy of a photo of Agins with his banjo.
1:21:02. Agins seated with his feet on a desk, "Singin' Sam at the house of a friend circa 1980s."
1:21:03. Photo of Agins.
1:21:04. Three 35mm negatives, left to right "our house - Sedona Az. early 70s, Sam, Sam and Judd, Mario Balza."
Fd 22
1:22:01. Agins performing at the Arizona Heritage Fest, ca. 1980s.
Fd 23
1:23:01. Snapshot of Texas Jim Silver with his guitar.
1:23:02. Snapshot of Texas Jim Silver with a record.
1:23:03. Snapshot of Texas Jim Silver with his guitar.
Fd 24
1:24:01. Clayton Barnes demonstrating his horse shoeing machine at the Elkhorn Ranch, Montana, 1960. Photographs taken for The Western Horseman by Clayton Barnes.
1:24:02. Clayton Barnes horse shoeing machine, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman."
1:24:03. A group of men trying out the machine on a horse, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman."
1:24:04. Clayton Barnes horse shoeing machine, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman."
1:24:05. Men working on the horse shoeing machine, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman."
1:24:06. Clayton Barnes demonstrating the machine which raises the horse horizontal, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman."
1:24:07. "Clayton Barnes and Bob Miller demonstrating his horse shoeing machine, and an electric sander to remove a horse shoe, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman."
1:24:08. Clayton Barnes shoeing the horse, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman."
1:24:09. Clayton Barnes shoeing the horse, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman."
1:24:010. "Clayton Barnes demonstrating his horse shoeing machine, and an electric sander to remove a horse shoe, Sep 1960, The Western Horseman."
Fd 25
1:25:01-21. 35mm negatives with proof sheet for book, Faces [people making silly faces]. Includes enlargements for 1:25:04, 1:25:16, and 1:25:21 [two copies.]
Fd 26
1:26:01-2. Proof sheet for book, Faces [people making silly faces.]
1:26:03-27. 35mm negatives with proof sheet for book, Faces [people making silly faces.]
1:26:28-36a. Proof sheet for book, Faces [people making silly faces.]
1:26:37. Envelope reading "Captions, 36a- 'Hi! Dad.', 29a- 'Can't believe I ate that whole persimmon!', 3a- 'Look Ma, I got cavities!'"
Fd 27 Folder includes enlargements from 35mm negatives. [Note: These negatives had been cut into strips and stapled in a copy of the photo essay.]
1:27:01-30. 35mm negatives with proof sheets taken for Round Legs (1989.)
1:27:01-4. Proof sheet strip of a series of photos of a woman walking with a wheelchair in the foreground.
1:27:05-09. Proof sheet strip of a series of photos of a wheelchair on a hill.
1:27:05. Enlargement of a wheelchair on a hill.
1:27:10-21. Proof sheet strip of a series of photos of a wheelchair on ice, some have an ice skater also in the picture.
1:27:11. Enlargement of a photo of a wheel chair on ice.
1:27:25-30. Proof sheet strip of a series of photos of a wheelchair in various settings.
1:27:25. Enlargement of a photo of a wheel chair at the bottom of the stairs, "Three legs,...so what!"
Fd 28 Folder includes enlargements from 35mm negatives. [Note: These negatives had been cut into strips and stapled in a copy of the photo essay.]
1:28:01-22. 35mm negatives with proof sheets taken for Round Legs (1989.)
1:28:01-5. Proof sheet strip of a series of photos of a wheelchair in various settings.
1:28:01. Enlargement of a wheelchair next to a fire hydrant.
1:28:04. Enlargement of a wheelchair at a bar.
1:28:05. Enlargement of a wheelchair at a bar.
1:28:06-7. Proof sheet of a wheelchair getting a speeding ticket.
1:28:08-12. Proof sheet strip of a series of photos of a wheelchair in various settings.
1:28:09. Enlargement of a wheelchair getting towed.
1:28:11. Enlargement of a wheelchair outside of a bathroom stall with a handicapped symbol.
1:28:13. Enlargement of a wheelchair in front of a hand writing analysis table.
1:28:13-16. Proof sheet strip of a series of photos of a wheelchair in various settings.
1:28:17-18. Proof sheet strip of a series of photos of a wheelchair on top of a mountain.
1:28:19-22. Proof sheet strip of a series of wheelchairs in a row.
1:28:20. Enlargement of a series of wheelchairs in a row.
1:28:23. Proof sheet of a wheelchair surrounded by birds.
1:28:24. Proof sheet of a wheelchair with a crab on it.
1:28:25-39. 35mm negatives with proof sheets taken for Round Legs (1989.)
1:28:27. Enlargement of a wheelchair at a bar.
1:28:31. Enlargement of a wheelchair at the top of a mountain.
1:28:34. Enlargement of a wheelchair with a three legged dog sitting in it.
1:28:37. Enlargement of a series of wheelchairs.
Fd 29 Photographs for Round Legs with no negatives.
1:29:01. A wheelchair with a guitar in front of a log cabin.
1:29:02. A wheelchair with a harp in front of a river.
1:29:03. A wheelchair with a harp in front of a river.
1:29:04. A wheelchair with birds.
1:29:05. Proof sheet of various photos.
1:29:06. A wheel chair with a crab on it.
Fd 30 Photographs from Rambler's Notebook.
1:30:01. A scenic roadside view of the sunset, negative available.
1:30:02. A women sitting on a rock next to water, negative available.
1:30:03. Agins sitting in a booth in front of a window with his truck in the background, negative available [Two copies.]
1:30:04. Proof sheet of Agins sitting in a booth in front of a window with his truck in the background, negative available [Two copies.]
1:30:05. Agins with a horse, photograph entitled, "The Horsetrader," used in poster with Agins' poem, "Eight Years Old, Comin' Nine," see 3:02.
1:30:06. Publicity photo of Agins.
1:30:07. Agins playing a duet on the fiddle, ca. 1970s [two copies], see 1:16:01.
1:30:08. Unknown man next to 'Singin' Sam' vehicle, negative available.
Fd 31
1:31:01. Snapshot, the Dillon Hotel, 1940s.
1:31:02. Postcard announcing a 1990 exhibit entitled "Survivors: Underemployed workers in Third World Streets" by photographer Rolf Kjolseth at the University of Colorado, Boulder. On front is an image of a woman and carring her child labeled, "Overworked and Underemployed"; verso is signed by the photographer to Agins.
1:31:03. Brochure with color photograph on folk legend Don Pablo (1898-1974.)
Fd 32
1:32:01. Pancho Villa and his men.
1:32:02. Pancho Villa's corpse, with a group of men surrounding it.
1:32:03. Pancho Villa's corpse, "Sadaver de Francisico Villa and Hotel Hidalgo Parral Chihva.
1:32:04. "Rattlesnake killing rabbit" in verso "Lucy Brown, Billings, Montana."
1:32:05. Copy photograph of a brochure advertising Harter's Liver Pills.
1:32:06. Copy photograph of a brochure advertising Harter's Liver Pills.
1:32:07. Unidentified cowboy performing with a lasso.
1:32:08. "Old Occidental Hotel Where the Virginian got his man Buffalo, Wyoming."
Fd 33 Postcards
1:33:01. The Free State Saloon, Silverton, Colorado, ca. 1960s.
1:33:02. St. John's Hospital, Jackson, Wyoming, ca. 1940s.
1:33:03. Pioneer reenactment parade, Jackson, Wyoming, ca. 1940s. Cowboy Bar in background.
1:33:04. Vista of Red River, New Mexico.
1:33:05. Catalina Mountains from front patio of the Rancho Del Rio, Tucson, Arizona.
1:33:06. Ranch house and north patio, Rancho Del Rio, Tucson, Arizona.
1:33:07. "Pony Express--1947 Model" [woman on a horse], Rancho Del Rio, Tucson, Arizona.
1:33:08. Jesse W. James, with crossed pistols.
1:33:09. Great Northern Express Car, after being dynamited by Franhauser and MacDonald in train holdup near Rexburg, Montana.
Fd 34 Postcards
1:34:01. Jesse James in 1948 and at the age of 17.
1:34:02. Gunmen Cole and Bob Younger.
1:34:03. Corpse of Charley Pitts.
1:34:04. Myra Belle Shirley, a.k.a. Belle Starr.
1:34:05. Headstone of Belle Starr.
1:34:06. Corpse of Clell Miller.
1:34:07. Schribner White Horse Stage, Walcott, Wyoming to Saratoga, Wyoming.
1:34:08. "Comanche," only horse to survive Custer's Last Stand.
1:34:09. Round up, Saratoga, Wyoming.
1:34:10. Round up scene.
Fd 35 Postcards
1:35:01. Rankin Stage Line, Bragg, Wyoming to Rawlins, Wyoming.
1:35:02. Round up scene.
1:35:03. Calamity Jane in a dress.
1:35:04. Calamity Jane in fringed pants.
1:35:05. Covered wagon days in Wyoming.
1:35:06. Buffalo Bill show.
1:35:07. Jesse W. James at 104.
1:35:08. Captain W.C. "Bloody Bill" Anderson at 84.
1:35:09. Jesse and Frank James with their mother.
1:35:10. Hunting scene on old Wyoming ranch.
Fd 36 Postcards
1:36:01. Rawlins, Wyoming--Front St. south of railroad tracks.
1:36:02. Bull train, Saratoga, Wyoming.
1:36:03. Round up wagon, Saratoga Valley, Wyoming.
1:36:04. Old stage line encampment, Wyoming.
1:36:05. Wagon train arriving in Rawlins, Wyoming.
1:36:06. Indian babies in papooses, copyrighted 1898 by Lee Moorehouse.
1:36:07. Old blacksmith shop.
1:36:08. Mule team trains leaving Rawlins, Wyoming for Ft. Washakie-Lander.
1:36:09. Front street in Rawlins, Wyoming.
1:36:10. "Boney Earnest"--one time buffalo hunter, Alcova, Wyoming.
Box 2.
Fd 1 Postcards
2:01:01. Hanging--Rawlins, Wyoming man unknown.
2:01:02. Elderly Indian woman.
2:01:03. Sitting Bull, Bismarck, Dakota, 1885.
2:01:04. Sautee ferry boat.
2:01:05. Settler's home, Oahe, Dakota.
2:01:06. Indian tepee.
2:01:07. Wagon on the prairie.
2:01:08. Cheyenne village on the Yellowstone [from a stereograph.]
2:01:09. A group of people with a dog in a car, appears to be decorated for a parade.
2:01:10. Broken Arm Chief--Sioux.
Fd 2 Postcards
2:02:01. Indian chief.
2:02:02. Curing buffalo hides--Cheyenne village [from stereograph.]
2:02:03. Mule train, James Carr's teams.
2:02:04. Scaffolds--Indian dead bodies, Yankton Agency, Dakota Territory [from stereograph.]
2:02:05. Mountain man Jim Baker.
2:02:06. Little Eagle.
2:02:07. Indian encampment [from stereograph.]
2:02:08. Water team, Sautee, Nebraska.
Fd 3 Photos from the American West Heritage Center
2:03:01. Photo of the oxen team, 'Yankee and Doodle' with unknown man, "100% Ox team" negative available.
2:03:02. Publicity photo of Singin' Sam Agins, "early '70s."
2:03:03. Letter to Mr. Sherratt, VP for university Relations regarding the oxen team, 'Yankee and Doodle' from Russell G. Mawby President of W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
2:03:04. Photo of the oxen team, 'Yankee and Doodle' with unknown man, negative available.
2:03:05. Biography of Peter Breck, from the Jay Bernstein Public Relations Inc. March 1975.
2:03:06-13. Publicity photos of Peter Breck [Eight copies.]
2:03:14. Negative of 3:03:01,4.
Box 3. Oversize, exhibition prints of photographs used in Agins' Round Legs (1989) and posters entitled, "The Horsetrader," used in poster with Agins' poem, "Eight Years Old, Comin' Nine."
3:01. Agins demonstrating a lasso.
3:02. Photograph entitled, "The Horsetrader," used in poster with Agins' poem, "Eight Years Old, Comin' Nine."
3:03. Poster entitled, "The Horsetrader," used in poster with Agins' poem, "Eight Years Old, Comin' Nine."as above [Three copies.]
3:04-18 Exhibition prints of photographs used in Agins' Round Legs (1989.)