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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25167 | Corral Dust | FC 11 K-33 | 91 | E.J. Kirchoff | Vamoos, Ya Polecats | The bar room was crowded. The likker flowed free. The place was a-buzz Like the hive of a bee. The cowboys were in For a night from the range. And the miners were rapidly Spending their change. The piano player | ||
| 25168 | Corral Dust | FC 11 K-33 | 94 | E.J. Kirchoff | Change | Old Bill said, I recall 'way back, Some years or so, The only way that I had fun Was if I'm on the go. I'd ride for miles to a dance, And then I'd sure step high All night until the roosters crowed And daylight filled the sky. | ||
| 25169 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 4 | Bill Lowman | Gold Rush | At Sunday dinner he bowed his head, in a short while the prayers were said. Pass the steak and the potatoes too, Roastin' ears from the garden brand new. With a swaller he knew something went bad, t'waz the only gold fillin' he ever had | ||
| 25170 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 6 | Bill Lowman | The Great American Cattleman | For cattlemen to stay with one breed it seems they no longer care, it's got the purebred breeders a pullin' out their hair. Our speaker at the Annual said in words spelled out so clear, the Hereford breed will survive, I'll tell you without fear. | ||
| 25171 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 8 | Bill Lowman | Cattle Records | Now-a-days fer keepin' records it seems they think they need, ta identify each cow with a year brand or ear tag to read. Number on the left indicates the year they were born, the others are fer keepin' individual records sworn. | ||
| 25172 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 10 | Bill Lowman | Recyclin' | When ma an' I started out livin' down along the creek. Her garden never produced soil didn't have much kick. That two-hole privy then sat against the hill out back. Busy raisin' boys and cattle in that old rundown shack. | ||
| 25173 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 12 | Bill Lowman | Improper Attire | Names I can't mention cause it happened to a friend. He makes damn sure it don't happen again. At this time he was a newly wed, courtin' his bride just ready fer bed. Then he heard a sound outside the front door, quickly made his way 'cross the livin' room floor. | ||
| 25174 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 14 | Bill Lowman | Cowboy's Dream | She hired on in April to laundry and help the cooks, with her soft blonde hair a flowin' she was truly long on looks. A sweet quiet young gal an innocent sort of lass. | ||
| 25175 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 16 | Bill Lowman | Progress | When it comes to the workin' chute, oh what a modern mess. Iron scapin' and bangin' all in the name of progress. It's the only way to go don't be such an old fool. Be careful, son, duck your head or your temple that handles will cool. | ||
| 25176 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 18 | Bill Lowman | Ma's Christmas Tree | It's all a part of Christmas fetchin' Ma's tree in the cold. I could have took ol' Wrangler, but he's getting kinda old. So I caught up little Badger Grat and pulled down my old scotch hat. When things ain't right around him. | ||
| 25177 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 20 | Bill Lowman | Namin' the Cows | That thirty head we bought last fall, after calvin' we'll have names for 'em all. Old Roany we found last year all alone. Stuck back in her throat was a vertebrate bone. | ||
| 25178 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 22 | Bill Lowman | The Great Wanagan Creek Flood | It was June fifteenth in Nineteen eighty-four. Alfalfa on the bottoms was comin' in kinda poor. It clouded up fast then turned plumb black. We dropped off them cows and hustled on back. | ||
| 25179 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 24 | Bill Lowman | Ranch Wife | He bought her a bouquet and card with a sayin' sorta clever. On their fourteenth anniversary this was the first time ever. Calvin' time he shake her out, couple hours after midnight. Honey, hold the rope and latch with a free hand grab the light. | ||
| 25180 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 26 | Bill Lowman | The Cowboy and the Tourist | Fightin' the elements, we never tire and breakin' our horses, to our heart's desire. Years before us our parents were ranchers too were raised at this business, all we know how to do. | ||
| 25181 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 28 | Bill Lowman | Leafy Spurge | In the spring it'll emerge and jumps with a surge, Euphorbia esula, we call Leafy Spurge. It's a native to Europe and the eastern hemisphere, In eighteen twenty-seven it arrived over here. When matured the pods burst and scatter their seeds. | ||
| 25182 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 30 | Bill Lowman | Buffalo Run | I took a few calves to the sale. Posted: A buffalo selling today. Gosh! If he don't go too high, the kids would think it's okay. Just in the nick of time. I got my hand in the air. The owner said it wasn't enough, but close, so he didn't care. | ||
| 25183 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 32 | Bill Lowman | Rookie Buyer | Went broke at ranchin' got this chance to be a buyer. Be striaght and honest don't get the reputation as a liar. A dollar under Omaha, I've got orders today to set. If they drop lower than that take all you can get. | ||
| 25184 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 34 | Bill Lowman | New Pair of Boots | Was workin' on this ranch down on the Little Mo. Back in the day of teams the pace was rather slow. At daybreak, after breakfast I stepped off the porch to go. | ||
| 25185 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 36 | Bill Lowman | Old Timers | The things we're clingin' to today and callin' them old timer's ways. Remember they were once young too and usin' ideas that were new. Next came in the cottenseed cake now from all different kinds they make. | ||
| 25186 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 38 | Bill Lowman | Deer Huntin' in the Badlands | North Dakota, in November, ya'll have to remember might look like a real battlefield. But they're out havin' fun, all packin' a gun after the biggest buck it'll yield. They set back the season, one week with the reason for snow to snuf out their fires. | ||
| 25187 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 40 | Bill Lowman | Motorcycle Cowboy | I'd just swung in the saddle from shuttin' the corral gate latch. I hear a roar like cuttin' wood or noise from the oil patch. I rode up on a ridge and couldn't believe what I see. A neighbor kid under a motorcycle his ankle as a big as a tree. | ||
| 25188 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 42 | Bill Lowman | The Cowboy's Stork | For newly wed couples this may be an intrusion. But the stork bringing babies is just an illusion. What mothers go through to gibe birth here-with, will testify the stork is nothing but a myth. To America this tradition was romantically hurled | ||
| 25189 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 44 | Bill Lowman | Plight of the Coyote | A room of fancy ladies and gents with drinks in hand. Were lenghty in discussion preserving the coyote of our land.This beautiful creature of Nature, his howl penetrates the night. They vowed to defend in honor this ol' scavenger's plight. | ||
| 25190 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | FC 11 L-16 | 46 | Bill Lowman | Winter Feeding | This cold winter day on their feeding routine. Things were goin' smooth not to expect such a scene. Had the cow cake loaded in some old grease pails. Over the top they put on the bales. | ||
| 25191 | Riders of the Leafy Spurge | Bill Lowman | FC 11 L-16 | 50 | Harold J. Lowman | Jack | He was just a pup when I picked him up, over by the neighbor's door. I took him home, where he was to roam seventeen years and more. He was black and white and real smart. The next you knew he's hit your heart. |