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
Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets
C.J. Hadley
FC 11 H-59
152
J.B. Allen
Metamorphosis
He slipped on his slicker and stepped off the porch to a world made of water and wind the hail beatin' tunes on his battered old hat
wagon, life, light, cowpony
Songs of the Workaday World
FC 11 B-54
28
Berton Braley
The Thinker
Back of the beating hammer by which the steel is wrought, back of the workshop's clamor the seeker may find the Thought, the thought that is ever master of iron and steam and steel, that rises above disaster and tramples it under heel!
The Bronco Busters Song Album
The Bronco Busters
FC 11 B-32
12
"Texas Ruby" Owens and "Zeke" Clements
Don't Forget Me Little Darling
Don't forget me little darling.
Missouri Cowboy Poetry
Leroy Watts
FC 11 M-46
212
Donna Penley
Tin Lizzie
Th' cowboy'd been on the range for a spell - decided he'd head into town.
Get Down and Come In: Poetry by Jim Ross
FC 11 R-20
46
Jim Ross
Farewell to Burt
You've witnessed blizzards and rattlesnakes,
Cowboy Poetry from Utah
Carol A. Edison
FC 11 E-06
82
Lucile Bradley Bush
Swappin' Yarns at Roundup
A bunch of us boys was swappin' yarns to amuse ourselves one night.
storytelling, daughter, danger, cow, dog, saved, child, doctor, injury, wound, riding
Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip
FOLK COLL 11 N-18
1
Rod Nelson
Freeze branding business offers opportunities to 'dine out'
It's the freeze branding season again at Sims. I started freeze branding my Dad's replacement heifers with number brands almost 40 years ago. A few people started asking me to brand their cattle so I make a few little freeze branding tours each winter. It has always been more of a social than a business.
branding, favor, freeze
Bygone Days of the Old West
FC 11 L-01
232
Fred Lambert
Old Pal "Betsy"
"Old Pal Betsy, we've been pards/ For nigh on forty years,
guns
Signature of the Sun: Southwest Verse, 1900-1950
Mabel Major and T.M. Pearce
FC 11 M-02
214
Rosa Zagnoni Marinoni
At Sunrise
They pushed him straight against the wall.
Reflections of the West: Cowboy painters and poets
C.J. Hadley
FC 11 H-59
126
Rod Miller
Morning Glory
Stars punch holes in the dark and the moon curls on the sky like a hoof paring from a soft-footed horse
impatient, work, shoes clang
The Humbler Poets: A Collection of Newspaper and Periodical Verse, 1870-1885
Slason Thompson
FC 11 T-04
163
Louisa F. Story
Sometimes
Sometimes--not often--when the days are long
Songs of the American West
Richard E. Lingenfelter, Richard A. Dwyer and David Cohen
FC 11 L-10
186
William Willes
Deseret
Deseret, Deseret, 'tis the home of the free.
Saints, oppression, strife, savage, Jehovah, quorum, priesthood, Babylon
Cow-Gals Love Their Cowboys
Jodie and Bob Phillips
FC 11 B-50
29
S. Omar Barker
Rawhide
The old-time cowboy ridin' underneath the western sky, he boarded at the wagon, and his wages wasn't hig.
Saddle Pals
FC 11 S-56
26
In the Jail House Now
In had a friend named Ramblin' Bob, he used to gamble, steal and rob.
Saddle For A Throne
FC 11 O-13
290
Will Ogilvie
The Garden Of Night
The Night is a far spreading garden and all through the hours glisten and glitter and sparkle her wonderful flowers. First the great moon-rose full blooming the great bed of stars
flowers, towers, thief, lighthouse, season, cliff, poisonous
Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers
FC 11 F-16
226
Rolf M. Flake
Tell the Banker--"No"
When I worked for the Bank A few years ago I went out to appraise a ranch-- Belonged to a man we'll call Joe. He lived clear back off the road At the end of the trail So far back in the hills He didn't even get mail.
The Pony Express: An Epic of the Old West
FC 11 M-22
204
Charles Rendell Mabey
The Pioneer
Sturdy man, product of the homely sod
Cow Trails and Cowboy Tales
FC 11 A-18
15
Gary Anderson
Hired Hand
One place I worked at, Calving cows out one spring, Had this hired hand there, And man could he sing. Some songs were so sad, They brought tears to your eyes.
Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads
John A. Lomax
FC 11 L-12
32
Poor Lonesome Cowboy
I ain't got no father.
Graining the Mare: The Poetry of Ranch Women
Teresa Jordan
FC 11 J-10
76
Joan Hoffman
I Remember Being Beautiful
My lovely, lineless face was my birth right.
Poetry of Ranch Women
Dry Crik Review (Elko Commemorative Double Issue): winter/spring 1994, 2 copies
John C. Dofflemyer
FC 11 D-20
62
Sue Wallis
Sadie's Secret
Used to be a standing bet among the neighbors on this creek Since Harlow never wasted any time to find a mate. He'd go to town and scout around and come back pretty quick To let us know the bells would ring and set the date.
Heaven on Horseback
Austin and Alta Fife
FC 11 F-13
58
Round-Up Lullaby
Slow down, dogies, quit your roving around.
A Feedbag of Cowboy Poetry II: Send Us Another Load
FC 11 C-27
27
Bob Christensen
The Chameleon
He has a fair sized feedlot; And he runs a few on grass.
New Cowboy Poetry: A Contemporary Gathering
Hal Cannon
FC 11 C-30
110
Gene Randels
To a Cowboy's Grandson
A late spring blizzard; Delivered me.
Voices from the Heartland: A Book of Original Poetry
FC 11 S-47
32
George J. Stucker
Ride to Land's End
The boy's skinny frame looked like a bird in flight?