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
Sharing the Journey
FC 11 R-30
21
Norman Edward Rourke
Night Hunters
On silent wings and padded feet.
prey, search, night, alert, ears, food, brood
Riders of the Stars
FC 11 K-05
63
Henry Herbert Knibbs
The Old-Timer
Morning on the Malibu, mist across the ranges.
horse, tough, old age, riding, endurance, punching
Passing Through
FC 11 N-03
103
Howard L. Norskog
The Paintbrush and the Sagebrush Are in Bloom
I just received a letter, from my homeland, In this city where I've been, for near four years
Riding the Range With Floyd
FC 11 O-09
15
Floyd Oyhus
The Stub-Horned Steer
It was getting late in the springtime, I'll never forget the year. When this small brockle-faced heifer, Gave birth to this stub-horned steer.
A Collection of The Cowboy Poems of Tex West
FC 11 D-24
33
Alvin G. Davis
Horse Breeding
If you have ever been a horse breeder Regardless of the name of the breed You probably had a most wanted color For each and every little steed
Texas Poems By A Texan
FC 11 S-62
62
D.A. Stewart
Drifting Back To Texas
I'm drifting back to Texas Where the longhorned cattle roam Back where the air is pure and clear It's the place I call home. I long to hear the cowboys sing And the lonely coyotes call I'm going back to Texas For the round-up work this fall.
Western Poems
FC 11 K-01
38
Olephia "Leafy" King
The Drifting Stranger
As the sun sank low o'er the Monitor Hills.
drifter, cowhand, sketching, drawing, pictures, artist, art
Cowboy Poetry: Rhymes, Reasons, and Pack Saddle Proverbs by Chris Isaacs
Janice Coggins
FC 11 I-02
84
Chis Isaacs
The Stand-In
'Twas a sultry summer evening.
It's Just Grass and Water: Poems
FC 11 M-07
34
Wallace McRae
Regina Geddes: The Shooting of Winnie Brown
Damn you Regina Geddes!
Cowboy Poetry: Classic Rhymes by S. Omar Barker (1894-1985)
Jodie and Bob Phillips
FC 11 B-44
160
S. Omar Barker
The Winner
I've got a black eye and a nose; That's broke in three places or more!
Sensin' Somethin'
FC 11 D-19
38
John C. Dofflemyer
Proper poets
Nature and love seem to collide with proper poets or under hide,
Spur Jingles and Saddle Songs
FC 11 G-06
36
Lysius Gough
A Ladies' Man
Born to be a ladies' man.
gentleman, charming, gentleness
More Hilarious Happenings and Other Cowboy Poetry
FC 11 M-63
98
E.W. "Roy" Miller
"Told Off"
Now, you've heard of facial tissue, and heck yes, I have too! But I've always called it Kleenex, at least I usually do! But down there by the bunk house,
tissue, shack, kleenex, grease, complexioned
Cowboy Poetry: A Gathering
Hal Cannon
FC 11 C-14
85
Waddie Mitchell
The Book
Not so awful long ago.
After the Chisholm
FC 11 R-45
36
George Rhoades
Last Texas Cowtown On The Chisholm
Scrub oak, cottonwood and brush Cover the places where the herds Pushed up from the Texas ranges, Funneled hundreds of miles From the Rio Grande down south,
Spanish Fort, saloons, deserte, wildlife
The Medicine Keepers
FC 11 A-10
55
J.B. Allen
Wagon Pards
Ol' Jack rode by and caught me; With that grubbin' hoe agin - I'd a give a purty penny; Not to face that on'ry grin.
A Rhyme for No Reason
FC 11 U-02
24
Bob Urry
The Old Cowboy
I've rode hundreds of miles sitting up in a saddle.
Where Shadows Are Born
FC 11 B-73
41
Henry Real Bird
Otter Woman
So much you can read and feel wrote this for a feelin' you might now. Times have changed but I've not changed love you more then I did before guessin' and hopin'
hopeless, clouds, beautiful woman, flame
A Cow's Tail For a Compass; Cowboy Poetry and Short Stories
FC 11 F-17
135
Leon Flick
The Pulling Contest
This ole team's the heart of me. Their hearts are proud and full. They work as one together. No strangers to hard pulls. Each new weight's a challenge. Each new pull's a test.
Sleepin' in the Bunkhouse
FC 11 G-32
49
Kenneth D. Gardner
Wet Setter
Can you remember how cold you'd get when you'd rode in the rain an' you'd got wet?
Dry Crik Review (Double Environmental Issue): fall/winter 1992/93, 2 copies
John C. Dofflemyer
FC 11 D-20
36
Katie Lee
Once of Tranquil Seas
The new moon floats in turquoise skies--awash in the eye of evening--performing this miracle.
Cowboy Lyrics
FC 11 C-03
27
Robert V. Carr
A Cowboy in the City
Hain't much diff'rence, as I see, 'Tween the city man an' me.
city folk, country folk
The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses
FC 11 P-16
199
Banjo Paterson
The "Bottle-Oh" Man
Poems, Facts and Fiction
FC 11 O-03
23
Harold Otto
The Weldon Darlingtons
I met a man a long time ago near sixty years, I guess.
Thoughts in Rhyme
FC 11 M-09
35
E.W. "Roy" Miller
Thanksgiving
There is a day that's set aside, to give our thanks and praise.