FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection
| Date of Items: | 1890-present | Register Prepared by: | Randy Williams and Susan Gross, April 2004 |
| Register Updated by: | Randy Williams, 23 December 2009 |
| Excel database transfered to MYSQL and uploaded (replacing PHP data): | Colin Jackson, Fall 2010 |
| MYSQL database updated: | Randy Williams, January 2012 |
| Linear Feet: | 20 |
Historical Note & Provenance
Folk Coll 11 is Utah State University's cowboy poetry collection. The collection, originally created by a generation donation by the L. J. and Mary Skaggs Foundation, includes books gathered during a fieldwork project in the early 1980s to document cowboy poetry in the U.S. west (see Folk Coll 11f). From this important fieldwork project came the impetus for the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering held in January 1985 in Elko, Nevada. Since that time, each January, the Fife Folklore Archives staff take the collection and Access database (that details each book, poem, author, first line and key words), to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering for offsite use. Through University purchases and generation donations from poets and collectors, this collection continues to grow.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of 20 linear feet of books on cowboy poetry, including press and self published works. The collection can be accessed through USU Libraries online catalog.
As well, poem titles and keywords found in each book in the collection are included in the database below. To use, type in the search term. Tip: Try and use an uncommon
word from the poem to ensure less "hits." For instance, if you enter "boots" you will get many hits; but if you enter "bones" you will most liley get fewer "hits" or poems and find the item you seek faster.
To return to the search page, click "home" at the bottom of the page.
Search:
Poetry table.
First Previous Next Last| ID | Book Title | Composer | Index | Pages | Author | Poem Title | First Lines | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22905 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 92 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | Where Old Trails Meet the New | There's a spot down the road, where the old trails meet the new. Where the grass is always green, and the sky is always blue. Where the old ways meet the new, | ||
| 22906 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 95 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | The Old Time Cowman- His Ways | Prose: A cowman is a breed apart. Yet how can you tell one of them from assorted cowboys, gunzels and dudes that copy their dress and their way of life? This has been discussed quite a bit lately at the cowboy poetry gatherings. | ||
| 22907 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 97 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | The Old Time Cowman | The old time cowman, he's a breed all his own. Ever since biblical times, his kind has been known. His skin sort'a looks like, its made of leather. Because he's always been, exposed to the weather. | ||
| 22908 | Cow Tracks on the Land | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | FC 11 B-66 | 99 | Dean Alfange | A Cowman's Creed | I do not choose to be a common man. it is my right to be uncommon, if I can. I seek opportunity, not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. | |
| 22909 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 100 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | Neighbors | I've got a couple of neighbors, live up the road from me. Diffrence between them, this story makes it plain to see. One came to ask a favor, a couple of years ago. And what he said to me, made his personality show. | ||
| 22910 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 102 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | Honor and a Cowmans Word | Now in this great Southwestern cattle land, there was something there the people all understand. When a man looked at you, and he gave you his word. | ||
| 22911 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 104 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | How Many Cows Do You Have? | These folks come here from a distant town And don't really know their way around. But there's some things I'd like to bet, They understand about ettiquette. | ||
| 22912 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 105 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | Cowboys and Cowmen | There's cowboys and cowmen, and owners, too. There's gunsels and dues and wild buckaroo. How do you sort'em out, why its kinda hard to say. | ||
| 22913 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 106 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | Buckaroo | Well, the cowboy and the buckaroo, can be one and the same. Cloths and the riggin', makin' the difference in the name. Look at the buckaroos, with their packers laced up tight. | ||
| 22914 | Cow Tracks on the Land | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | FC 11 B-66 | 107 | Richard Smith | Trailin' Cows | I've followed them cattle Through everything from heat to snow. Sometimes they travel easy And sometimes they won't go. | |
| 22915 | Cow Tracks on the Land | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | FC 11 B-66 | 110 | Charlie Hunt | Badlands Music | In the badlands of North Dakota The moon was round and bright. The day had been a long one An' welcome was the night | |
| 22916 | Cow Tracks on the Land | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | FC 11 B-66 | 112 | Jane Tankersley | Song of the Past | Long to go on home, just go back home. That's what my heart, is a'grievin' for. But I can't go home, just go to roam. For I ain't got no home, no more. | |
| 22917 | Cow Tracks on the Land | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | FC 11 B-66 | 113 | Leon Flick | Dead in Spring | Why is it that they fight the wind, the bitter cold and snow. Then just as sprig starts turnin' green the up and just let go. | |
| 22918 | Cow Tracks on the Land | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | FC 11 B-66 | 114 | Betty Lynne | She's Not Gettin' on 'em Any More | After years facing all breeds of weather Her face appears carved of leather, And her hair is bleached and gray, But she can recall a younger day. | |
| 22919 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 115 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | To My Old Cat | Dear old friend, this is gooodby. Please be patient with me, if I cry. Your dear old face, is blurring through my tears. But my God, we've been together for twenty-six years. | ||
| 22920 | Cow Tracks on the Land | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | FC 11 B-66 | 116 | Larry Crawford | Old Bay | I get a lump in my throat when i think about it, and then I usually start to curse, cause my old bay horse can't come to grain, and I can tell he's getting worse | |
| 22921 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 117 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | My Pardner | Late one fall, when I waas a kid, a long, long time ago. Mom's dog Bob, had a litter of pups, and wouldn't you know. For hristmas that year, I got the pick of them all. I chose the runt of the litter, with a crippled front paw. | ||
| 22922 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 119 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | To a Buckskin Mare, Named Getalong Gal | I walked out, saw you lying there, at the foot of the hill. My old heart stopped beating, my whole world stood still. Please not you, old faithful, dearly beloved friend. | ||
| 22923 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 121 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | My Father's Spurs | As you get older, sense of history and family grow stronger. You realize time, is not just today, but a whole lot longer. Rach back in your mind, for something you heard as a kid. | ||
| 22924 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 123 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | Old Spot and Flaxie | I own lots of good horses now, my pastures are plumb full. And I look across the draws, the scene is really beautiful. Their ears are small and, their heads keen and refined. Their chests are muscled good, | ||
| 22925 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 125 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | Horses in My Life | Sometimes I get to thiknin', about the horses that I've had. There were a dozen good ones, for every one that was bad. I go back in my mind and, each one has a place. | ||
| 22926 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 126 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | Wilson's Little Ben | I got him as a yearling, the black stud I dreamed about. He head was keen a nd fine, his chest and hips were stout. His leg refined and, his ears were nice and small. | ||
| 22927 | Cow Tracks on the Land | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | FC 11 B-66 | 127 | Walt Wilhelm | Bronk Stomping Lady | Let me tlell you about a wrangler, Little Lona was her name. Down in Owens Valley, is where this lady won her fame She started with a black stud hoss, two calves and a pig | |
| 22928 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 129 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | Cowman and His God | Prose: To me, religion is a very personal thing and I don't go much to manmade churhces. But that is my choice. I see God every day in the most beautiful church of all, His land. | ||
| 22929 | Cow Tracks on the Land | FC 11 B-66 | 130 | Lona Tankersley Burkhart | Cowboys Prayer | Dear God, You made Your heaven, up above, so I'm told. With pearly gates, heavenly harps, and streets of god. And after this life, in that heaven we'll dwell. |