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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
IDBook TitleComposerIndexPagesAuthorPoem TitleFirst LinesKeywords
351 I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night FC 11 C-23 35 Ellie Corrigan Amos Speakin' o' drunks, ya gotta hear about. bath tub, lethal weapon, wound, blood, injury, bandage on the mirror
352 I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night FC 11 C-23 37 Ellie Corrigan Yesterday "What are you doin' tonight?" they ask. children, parent love, family, memories, grandchild
353 I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night FC 11 C-23 38 Ellie Corrigan Rowdy and the Rafter Heart We have a sure enough buckaroo on the Rafter Heart. experience, love for horses, whiskey, silver teeth, hard worker, reliable, cowboy
354 I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night FC 11 C-23 40 Ellie Corrigan It's Tough When It's Like That When you think you've got it handled. bronc, roping, whiskey
355 I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night FC 11 C-23 41 Ellie Corrigan The Whopper A couple a fellers deserted their job. fishing, fat lady, playing a trick, anger, furious, rage, river
356 I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night FC 11 C-23 49 Ellie Corrigan Sleigh Bells and Panic It's Christmas time in Jackson. cold, snow, Santa Claus, trick, child, curiosity
357 I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night FC 11 C-23 47 Ellie Corrigan Chicken Feed An old outsider stood by a big stump. hen, town girl, nest, wound, cluck, chickens
358 I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night FC 11 C-23 45 Ellie Corrigan Fresh Meat It's a long old time from winter to spring. hunting trick, snow, elk, sky, crash
359 I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night FC 11 C-23 43 Ellie Corrigan America, The Toddler She was off across the ocean, on the other side of hell. outlaw, slaves, homeland, puritans, pilgrims, England, ancestors, Colonies, freedom, battle
360 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 9 Idabell Corbett Cramer Echoes In my sleeping bag I nestle. nature, sound
361 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 11 Idabell Corbett Cramer Greetings from Wyoming Greetings from Wyoming where skies are wide and blue. nature, animals, plants, beauty, seasons
362 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 13 Idabell Corbett Cramer A One Room Country School I can hear the school bell ringing. memories, eight grades, friendship, school
363 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 15 Idabell Corbett Cramer Popo Agie From its lofty frozen birthplace. Sinks Canyon, river, water, tamed river
364 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 16 Idabell Corbett Cramer An Echo of the Past Ancient Man once roaming freely. simplicity, shelter, modern times
365 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 16 Idabell Corbett Cramer A Toast to the Man in the Little Green House To the little green house just under the hill. house warming
366 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 17 Idabell Corbett Cramer Time Brings Change The old cowhand sat at a table. memories, age, retirement, profit, business
367 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 19 Idabell Corbett Cramer The Cowhand He sits his pony with grace and ease. friendship
368 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 21 Idabell Corbett Cramer My Grandmother's Attic In my grandmother's attic I like to play. remnants, old times, new generation
369 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 23 Idabell Corbett Cramer Sego Lily Sego Lily, Sego Lily. memories, reflections
370 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 24 Idabell Corbett Cramer Doggerel Two coyotes sat on a windy hill. debate, lamb, ewe
371 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 24 Idabell Corbett Cramer A Cowboy Without a Hat A cowboy without a hat is like a tail without a cat. hat, clothing
372 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 25 Idabell Corbett Cramer Range Tragedy You were riding after cattle. wire, injury, friendship
373 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 39 Idabell Corbett Cramer Roads Roads like ribbons have been laid. travel
374 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 37 Idabell Corbett Cramer An Oft Told Tale in Rhyme The year was 1915 more than sixty years ago when Calvert said. Wamsutter, Adams Ranch, drive horses, journey, Dailey's Lake, Bison Basin, Ellis Ranch, Sweetwater, Twin Creek, Derby Dome, Christmas
375 Echoes of the West FC 11 C-24 36 Idabell Corbett Cramer Wild Flowers The wild rose grows by the ditch bank. nature, landscape, beauty