Special Collections and Archives

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	Index	Pages	Author	Poem Title	First Lines
25517	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	47	E.J. Kirchoff	Hope She Knows	Just settin' here atop the hill a-lookin' down below into a little valley where a bed of roses grow beside a little cottage nestled in a grove of trees. The fragrant smell of wood smoke carries on the evenin' breeze.
25518	The Song of the Hunter	FC 11 L-40	24	Robert L. Laumeyer	The Best of Life	Ah, for the romance The essence of life. THat catalyst that mkes us, Into husband and wife. For life is not meant To be lived alone. We are to be bound with love To establish a home.
25519	The Song of the Hunter	FC 11 L-40	24	Robert L. Laumeyer	Epilogue	Dream your dreams Pay your dues, The best of life Is lived by twos. (end)
25520	The Song of the Hunter	FC 11 L-40	24	Robert L. Laumeyer	The Price	Ah, the inquiring mind In its insatiable quest; Will have moments of pleasure, But it will never have rest. (end)
25521	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	49	E.J. Kirchoff	The Loan	One time Old Bill thought he's expand. For that he's have to borrow. The banker said, "The way you run your ranch is room for sorrow. Why, man, your operations here are backward, obsolete. Those extra horses that you have take grass that cows could eat.
25522	The Song of the Hunter	FC 11 L-40	25	Robert L. Laumeyer	The Agnostic's Creed	Your world was old Long before my being. Your plan is vast Far beyond my seeing. I can polish your stones. I can plant your seeds; But I cannot comprehend The mangitude of your deeds.
25523	The Song of the Hunter	FC 11 L-40	25	Robert L. Laumeyer	Mother	When I was young, you were old I loved you then as precious gold. When I was little, you were big; You were the tree, I but the twig. When I was foolish, wise were you, Questions I asked, answers you knew
25524	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	51	E.J. Kirchoff	Improvements	There's some that like the power they feel in a speeding car. And some a rocket ship that travels like a falling star. And now they have a capsule that can speed through outer space and carry as a pay load members of the human race.
25525	The Song of the Hunter	FC 11 L-40	26	Robert L. Laumeyer	Our Grade	When this day is over We'll cliam a nights repose. Then somewhere up above A giant grade book will close. When our life is over The final mark is made. Then someone up above Will give the final grade.
25526	The Song of the Hunter	FC 11 L-40	26	Robert L. Laumeyer	Promises Kept	Some day in that heavenly space Where we hope our prayers are heard. A booming voice will inquire,, "Did you keep your word?" (end)
25527	The Song of the Hunter	FC 11 L-40	26	Robert L. Laumeyer	To the First Born	Peacefully you sleep When we ocme to adore, Oh wha tycould you teach Those that calim to know more? Awake! Little Child, So late of the womb. Tell us whence you came And sent by whom
25528	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	53	E.J. Kirchoff	Can't Beat a Country Mornin'	Old horse, there's somethin' 'bout it gets beneath a feller's hide to see fat cows a-grazin', calves contented at their side. Or restin' full and peaceful in the shade along the crick with calves that's nearly hidden in the grass that's tall and thick.
25529	The Song of the Hunter	FC 11 L-40		Robert L. Laumeyer	To the Parent	Only one book is written When one life is complete. To pretend to know the library, Is bugt a foolish man's conceit. (end)
25530	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	54	E.J. Kirchoff	Big Fish	We're there in Wilbur's stable grabbin' some like fellers will. Old Smokey Jones and Wilbur. Me, a stranger and Old Bill. This stranger's long on tellin' all the things that he has done. To do what all he claims he'd be at least a hundred one.
25531	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	58	E.J. Kirchoff	Never Had a Drop	"I'm wild some when I was young," said Old Bill with a grin. "And I'll admit that I would tip the bottle now and then. "And then I fell for Isabelle, the preacher's only daughter. Then I gave up the Devil's cup because she said I oughter.
25532	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	61	E.J. Kirchoff	Weren't Half As Good	We're gatherin' the cattle up around the Darby Peaks. Have driven to a meadow that's cut up with serveral creeks. Beyond, the gate is opened to the holding trap ahead. But one old cow decides she's goin' somewhere else enstead.
25533	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	64	E.J. Kirchoff	Bull Fighter	Old Bill set out some apple trees. Some cherries, prunesand peach, Was buildin' of a fence around so cattle couldn't reach. Or else they'd strip the leaves and kill he had the corner posts all in and tamped with special care.
25534	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	68	E.J. Kirchoff	Empty Cot in the Bunkhouse	There's an empty cot in the bunkhouse tonight. There's a horse nickers down by the corral. He is waiting in vain for the loving hand and a voice that he knew so well. There's an old yellow dog so sad and forlorn whining low on the bunkhouse floor.
25535	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	70	E.J. Kirchoff	A Plumb Bad Horse	"This feller had a pony that he tho't was sure a beaut. The only thing I figgered he's be good for was to shoot. "For baitin' of kioties only thing he's be of worth. He said, 'Now that's unthinkable.
25536	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	75	E.J. Kirchoff	A Story of Romance	One night I'm headin' in to town. My pony loped along.The night was warm, and feeling good,I opened up in song. I ended with a yodel that would make a ki--ot blush. Ahead I heard some hoofbeats cross a bridge there with a rush.
25537	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	78	E.J. Kirchoff	Christmas Calf	Little feller, you sure picked a rugged time to come. It's a wonder that you ain't plum frozen stiff and numb. For this howlin' blizzard sure is kickin' up a storm. But we'll put you in the barn where it is snug and warm
25538	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	81	E.J. Kirchoff	Pete	It was early in September on a warm and sunny day. In Pendleton the Round Up there would soon be underway. We're tryin' out some horses just to see if they were rough. And some, I hope to tell you now, were really plenty tough.
25539	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	83	E.J. Kirchoff	A Warm Summer Night	A big silver moon in the evening sky is round and so full where it shines there on high to brighten the valley with silvery light on a peacefully quiet and warm summer night.
25540	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	85	E.J. Kirchoff	Neighbors	We're gatherin' the cattle but we've finished for the day. Just loafin' 'round the fire with our supper stowed away. The time of day for hashin' over work that has been done.
25541	Trail Dust	FC 11 K-32	89	E.J. Kirchoff	Ain't So	He rattled in one evenin' with his gear stowed in behind the front seat of a Model T. The kind you had to wind. A touring car. It had a top, but it was badly frayed. He said he sure would like to rope himself a job that paid.