FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection
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.
Book Title
Composer
Call #
Pages
Author
Poem Title
First Lines
Keywords
Pony Nelson and Other Western Ballads
FC 11 R-09
25
Clyde Robertson
Coal-Heaver
Old Tim slaved for many a year.
More Hilarious Happenings and Other Cowboy Poetry
FC 11 M-63
109
E.W. "Roy" Miller
A Talk With God
"What have you done with your life"? He asked me? "Have you used the talents I have given to thee"? I looked to the Heavens, and I thought for awhile; "Well, I think I have",
joy, fears, heart, shame, love, livestock, portray
The Broncho Book
FC 11 C-13
56
Captain Jack Crawford
Greeting
When your rainbow of hope, be it near or afar.
help, New Year's
Songs of the Saddlemen
FC 11 B-06
95
S. Omar Barker
Go Down to the Crossin'
Go down to the crossin' and holler to the Boss!
river, high water, dogie, Kansas trail, ol' Ramrod, crossing the river, strip off the duds, naked, herd, herd crossing the river, snuff, snort, mill, milling in the river, Shorty, drown, safe alive, drift-log, Texas, little dogie, cold water, pile of stones, grave, death, trail boss, Trail Boss's bones, epitaph, drowning
Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip
FOLK COLL 11 N-18
17
Rod Nelson
The grass is (finally) greener on this side of the fence
Things have really picked up here at Sims. Every hill is as green as a pool table. Early seeded crops have sprouted and are out of the ground. We had .67 inch of rain in April and in May we have had an additional 1.76 inches so far.
rain, window, lawn
The Sunset Trail and Other Verse
FC 11 C-25
18
Bob Case
Silent Charlie
Sumtimes in life we find a man; What knows a thing or two.
Father and Son
FC 11 S-14
5
Colen H. Sweeten, Jr.
Worn Out Shoes
They skuff through a field of new-mown hay,
All This Way for the Short Ride
FC 11 Z-02
31
Paul Zarzyski
Samurai Cowboy
Hung over from pitchers of Margaritas.
Out Where the West Begins
FC 11 C-07
87
Arthur Chapman
The Mother Lode
In vain have the hunters of gold.
search for gold, death, prospector, golden key, ambition, greed, human race
The Best of Robert Service
FOLK COLL 11 S-77
138
Robert Service
The Battle of the Bulge
This year an ocean trip I took, and as I am a Scot And like to get my money's worth I never missed a meal.
health, weight, fat
When Pigs Fly
FOLK COLL 11 M-76
8
Les Morrow
Garden Hose
A garden hose is a wonderful tool, One of our all-time great inventions. You see them on lawns and gardens; attached to faucets and hydrants and shown at garden club conventions.
gross, disease, water, hose, drink
Cowboys, Plowboys, and Country Folk
FC 11 R-39
1
Roger Ringer
Cowboys, Plowboys, and Country Folk
Travel, if you will, to the ends of the earth, All kinds of people you will meet. Each one has a story to tell And most will if you wait long enough.
An Ol' Cowboy Still Remembers?and Other Cowboy Poems
FC 11 E-12
30
Glen Enloe
When Billy the Kid Met Jesse James
Threre's a rumored story that Jesse and Billy met.
Cowboy: A Roundup of Verse
FC 11 C-17
8
J.T. Crozier
My Old Cowboy Hat
The folks are both gone now, their house will be sold.
age, youth, memories, boyhood
Ballads of the Plains
FC 11 S-39
17
Emily Eva Mullenger Sloan
Charlie and "Avalanche"
"Black Charlie's" purse was getting slim.
Songs of the American West
Richard E. Lingenfelter, Richard A. Dwyer and David Cohen
FC 11 L-10
53
Charley Rhoades
The Pioneer Stage Driver
I'm going to tell a story, and I'll tell it in my song.
Pioneer line, Bally Green, Wells & Fargo, Silver City, greenbacks
Missouri Cowboy Poetry
Leroy Watts
FC 11 M-46
211
Donna Penley
Th' Real Bull
Th' bull pawed th' ground an' spouted out steam
On the Edge of Common Sense
FC 11 B-12
8
Baxter Black
Scrap Iron - not a poem
Poems of Banjo Paterson
n/a
FOLK COLL 11 P-40
96
Banjo Paterson
The Open Steeple-chase
I had ridden over hurdles up the country once or twice, By the side of Snowy River with a horse they called "The Ace". And we brought him down to Sydney, and our rider, Jimmy Rice, Got a fall and broke his shoulder, so they nabbed me in a trice - Me, that never wore the colours, for the Open Steeplechase.
race, horse, ribbon
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.
Christmas on the range and other Christmas Poems
FC 11 H-46
57
Yvonne Hollenbeck
Bringing home the tree
It's been a long, long time ago, but I can still remember how we'd had a lot of snow and was well into December.
Sawdust & Shavin's
FC 11 S-11
9
Shep Smith
Highblow
When Ole Dan works with our Leader
Musings from Cowboy Country
FOLK COLL 11 R-46
50
George Rhoades
Grandpa
I was eight, Grandpa was ninety-eight That summer on the farm; My job to see he didn't wander off, Get lost or come to any harm
death, memory, storytelling
Farm Ballads
FC 11 C-02
82
Will Carleton
The Editor's Guests
The editor sat in his sanctum, his countenance furrowed with care.
editor, newspaper
Horseshoes, Cowsocks & Duckfeet
FC 11 B-47
201
Baxter Black
Fifty Ways to Fool Yer Banker