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 LastID | Book Title | Composer | Index | Pages | Author | Poem Title | First Lines | Keywords |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2052 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 96 | Arthur Chapman | In Mesa-Land | In Mesa-Land the sand dunes stretch afar. | silence, peace, sand, mesa | |
2053 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 97 | Arthur Chapman | The Forest Fire | The smoke-clouds roll like an angry flood. | fire, forest fire, nature, time | |
2054 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 99 | Arthur Chapman | Trail Song | The lead horse bends to the task, full strong. | mountain crest, climbing, rest | |
2055 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 100 | Arthur Chapman | The Fire-Fighters | "Where's Smith and Hennessy, Edwards, Stowe...?" | firefighters, fire fighting | |
2056 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 101 | Arthur Chapman | The Geysers of the Yellowstone | What Tantalus is chained below, to sigh thus through the years. | Yellowstone, geysers | |
2057 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 102 | Arthur Chapman | The Dude Wrangler | Bring me some good red likker -- the kind that smokes in the glass. | dude, greenhorn, Yellowstone Pass, liquor | |
2058 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 104 | Arthur Chapman | The Old Yaller Slicker | The old yaller slicker's the cowpuncher's friend. | yellow slicker, slicker, gear, clothing, style, rain | |
2059 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 105 | Arthur Chapman | October on the Sheep Range | There ain't no leaves to turn to gold, there ain't a tree in sight. | autumn, October, sheep | |
2060 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 106 | Arthur Chapman | The Hermit | He watches where the wild deer drink. | hermit | |
2061 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 107 | Arthur Chapman | Watering the Trail Herd | The sand dunes stand, 'mid desert sheen. | water, watering hole, dry, desert | |
2062 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 108 | Arthur Chapman | The Cliff Dwelling | On the cold, gray wall of the canyon deep. | cliff dwelling, petroglyphs, art, past | |
2063 | Cactus Center Poems | FC 11 C-06 | 110 | Arthur Chapman | The Camel Ride of Arroyo Al | With an old, goat-whiskered burro, that had seen a better day. | prospector, Death Valley, burro, camels | |
2064 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 67 | Arthur Chapman | The Diamond Drill Man | He's cut as clean as a new-made coin. | strength, personality, gold, | |
2065 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 69 | Arthur Chapman | Tex | Tex was all we called him, in them days-- | rope, drink, gambling, shoot, dance, governor, East | |
2066 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 71 | Arthur Chapman | The Traders | Cowboys is the durndest boys to swap. | change things, deal, saddle, bridle, wives, trade | |
2067 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 72 | Arthur Chapman | The Frontier Fort | Its walls of sod have crumbled. | past, redskin, bravery, memories, Indians | |
2068 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 73 | Arthur Chapman | The Border Riders | The devil has opened his furnace door. | outlaw trail, dry, thirst, water, alkali, bullets | |
2069 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 75 | Arthur Chapman | The Range Pirates | Me and my hoss --that's all the firm. | cattle land,outfits, rustler, steal, sagebrush seas, rustling | |
2070 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 76 | Arthur Chapman | The Bunkhouse | The bunkhouse on the cattle ranch. | shelter, warmth, storytelling, papered walls, chat, smoke, card game cards | |
2071 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 78 | Arthur Chapman | The High-Heeled Boots | He stands upon the city street, keen-eyed, and brown of face. | cattle punching, wide sky, sagebrush, wolf, knight, change, grain | |
2072 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 80 | Arthur Chapman | The Homesteader | There ain't no smiling vistas out where I've drove my stakes. | isolation, Lone Tree Draw, care, hard work, Mary Ann | |
2073 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 81 | Arthur Chapman | The Kiddies' Play-Hour | The p'rade ground swimming' in sunshine, the colors. | children, nurses, officer's wife, soldiers, love, fort | |
2074 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 83 | Arthur Chapman | The Indian Police | Give us the wind in our faces. | unfenced space, dander, plains, open range, trailing, battle, Indians | |
2075 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 84 | Arthur Chapman | In Lonesome Land | In Lonesome Land few friends is all you need. | friendship, truth, honesty, | |
2076 | Out Where the West Begins | FC 11 C-07 | 85 | Arthur Chapman | The Invalid | Sick in the cow-camp --moonin' round. | pain, ache, help, rain, dumpness, cheerfulness |