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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 50 | Carlos Ashley | Ambition | I'm a plain one-mule share-cropper; From way down on Gander Slough, Where I've been a-dry-land farmin with my Paw. | farm, pa, father, education, lawyer, law, legal, college, school, city attorney | |
| 27 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 51 | Carlos Ashley | The Sheriff's Widow | I can see her by the window; When the evening sun is low -- Just a shadow in the twilight; Rocking slowly to and fro. | aging, service, law enforcement, faithfulness | |
| 28 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 53 | Carlos Ashley | Sauer Kraut | With heavy heart he kneeled him down; And humbly breathed this prayer: "O Lord, Thou knowest why it is; I've lost most all my hair." | sauerkraut, food, vegetarian, humor, hunger | |
| 29 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 55 | Carlos Ashley | Pete Wood'ard | Pete Wood'ard was the scavenger; In our town, years ago -- Before we built the sewer; And the place began to grow. | privy, privy wagon, outhouse, town, odor, Patrolman of the Privy, service | |
| 30 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 56 | Carlos Ashley | Your Eyes Are Brown | Your eyes are brown; My eyes are blue. | sight, senses, prejudice, race, racial | |
| 31 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 57 | Carlos Ashley | Nylon Avenue | There is a town not far from here; I often travel through, Quite famous for a boulevard, Called Nylon Avenue. | Rabbit Run, status, wealth, snob, friendship | |
| 32 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 58 | Carlos Ashley | What Is a Flower? | What is a flower? Just colored clay. | ||
| 33 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 59 | Carlos Ashley | The Old Town Clock | The old town clock in the Courthouse tower, He writes the years and he strikes the hour. | life | |
| 34 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 60 | Carlos Ashley | The Ticket | If to frailties of mortals as a critic I'm unkind. | heaven, afterlife, kindness, neighbors, service | |
| 35 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 60 | Carlos Ashley | Human Nature | You can study human nature from Creation up to now. | winning, losing, support, friendship | |
| 36 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 61 | Carlos Ashley | Bonnie Bird | I've handled lots of hosses; That could run a little bit, And forty years I've watched 'em--fast and slow. | horse, quarter horse, quarter horse, race, racing, race horse, Angelo, derby, track, horse race | |
| 37 | That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads | FC 11 A-03 | 63 | Carlos Ashley | The Gossip | Oh, that charming girl, the gossip -- How her soul grows more sublime; As she spreads that palate-poison; On her neighbors all the time. | talk | |
| 38 | Sonovagun Stew | FC 11 A-04 | Francis Edward Abernethy | |||||
| 39 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 1 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | My Grandfather | I've always respected my Grandfather; And always respected his word; This comes from the Father; Of stories that I've heard. | fencing the range, hard work, independence, Indians, past | |
| 40 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 2 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | An Old Wrangler | A Winchester for a saddle gun, A colt on my side, I reckon this old wrangler, Has nothing to hide | independence, honorable, honesty | |
| 41 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 3 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | A Saddle | There are all kinds; Western; English; And side. | material culture, gear | |
| 42 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 4 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | Blacksmith | A worker in black metal; A hammer in one hand; The bellow in the other; Beatin' the anvil for a new brand. | occupation, occupational lore, branding iron | |
| 43 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 5 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | A Ghost Town | There's nothing left; Old buildings and a tumble week; Broken down houses that were once a home; Old machines that don't work and no one needs. | past | |
| 44 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 6 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | A Cowboy | A cowboy is proud to be what he is; And wouldn't change if he had to. | pride, occupation | |
| 45 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 6 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | This Cowboy is a Steak and Potatoes Man | I am a steak and potatoes man; So I want you to understand; No matter where I travel in this land. | food | |
| 46 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 7 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | Pioneers of the West | The open plains; There for the takin'; Travel to the unknown; A new life in the makin'. | history, past, settler, heritage | |
| 47 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 8 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | A More Ruthless Hand | Heartaches were a many; For plenty; In the lawless west. | past | |
| 48 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 8 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | A Cowgirl | A cowboy has a hard reputation to live up to; He works hard night or day as a cowboy he is. | beauty | |
| 49 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 9 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | The Gallatin Valley | To a valley in Montana; I must boast; For the people here are nice; The view from the range by far is the most. | landscape | |
| 50 | A Montana Cowboy's Book | FC 11 A-05 | 10 | Don "Cheese" Akerlow | Men of the Past | The lay in the ground; On a hill, just outside of town; Hung for a theft of the thrill; Now they are buried, at Boot Hill. | cemetery, dead |