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
Cowboy Poetry: Horse Tracks Through The Sage
FC 11 H-47
118
Sunny Hancock & Lona Burkhart
The Deer Hunters & The Difference
Story.
Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp
John A. Lomax
FC 11 L-13
168
The Gila Monster Route
The lingering sunset across the plains.
Sittin' and A-Grinnin': A Collection of Works
Layle Bagley & Linda Merrill
FC 11 B-11
167
Ellie Corrigan
Gunpowder and Calico
Gunpowder and Calico; Of pioneer cloth were torn.
That Spotted Sow & Other Hill Country Ballads
FC 11 A-03
14
Carlos Ashley
The Widder
It gits kinda lonesome out on the divide; With never a woman around, So about twice a year I saddle Ole Bell; And ride down the canyon to town.
women, marriage, proposal, widow, home cooking, pastor, preacher, bachelor
Extra 'n' Ordinary
FC 11 G-37
36
Peggy Godfrey
Sometimes telling you something Is like rolling beebees down a mountain If I don't take myself too seriously I'll admit to the pleasure Of watching each one Roll off into never-never-land.
Cowboy Poetry: Classic Rhymes by S. Omar Barker (1894-1985)
Jodie and Bob Phillips
FC 11 B-44
151
S. Omar Barker
Old West Welcome
Upon the old-time ranches there was always table space; For any cowboy stranger droppin' in.
Rawhide Rhymes
FC 11 B-05
133
S. Omar Barker
Unforgivable Offense
Here lie the bones of a roustabout.
butcher knife, cook, ol' Peg, good natured, grub, food, bile, work, criticize, Squint, father figure, obedience, Bar G, mountain camp, scamp, rascal, good boy, helpful, cutting wood, chopping wood, bucksaw, sawing wood, coosie, snooze, nap, sawing off the cook's leg, humor, black humor, irony, joke, saying, wisdom, wood cut too long, get enough food, be on good terms with the cook
Cowboy Lyrics
FC 11 C-03
24
Robert V. Carr
When Dutchy Plays the Mouth Harp
When Dutchy plays the mouth harp, ev'ry puncher gathers 'round.
music, stomping, mouth harp
The White Clouds Revue, No. 2: Special Cowboy Poetics Issue
FC 11 W-26
8
Charles M. Russell
Sleeping Relic
Wind Songs
FC 11 R-43
41
Norman Edward Rourke
The Old Vet
He slowly stood on unsure legs, As the flag marched by, And raised his aged shaking hand, In salute with a tear in his eye
Cowboy Poetry
FC 11 S-20
40
Colen H. Sweeten Jr.
Fantasy
Two small boys, while I tagged along,
Frontier Ballads
FC 11 H-06
35
Joseph Mills Hanson
A Khaki Kick
Back there in Washington, people may stare.
general, army, soldiers, Nelson A. Miles, character, cavalry
Rimes O' Round-Up
FC 11 F-08
45
Chester Anders Fee
The Crazy Sheep Herder
Th' sheep has jumped an' start to run.
sheepherder, sheep, coyote, dog
Signature of the Sun: Southwest Verse, 1900-1950
Mabel Major and T.M. Pearce
FC 11 M-02
126
Vera Holding
Tornado
A low-hung funnel of greyish smoke.
What I Learned On the Way to Life: Insights and Concepts learned along the way..
FC 11 J-15
58
Hans "Jake" Jeppson
My Christmas List
Christmas came early this year.
Outdoors, Faith, Fun and Other Poems
FC 11 B-02
5
Elliott S. Barker
Trail Riders of the Wilderness
Trail Riders of the Wilderness; Are men and woman quite apart.
JB The Circle
Duward Campbell and Chuck Milner
FC 11 A-17
54
J.B. Allen
Neighborin
"I shore hate to miss a workin," says McSweeny on the phone,
Old-Time Cowboy Songs
Hal Cannon
FC 11 C-34
62
Jules Verne Allen
'Longside of the Santa Fe Trail
Say, pard, have you sighted a schooner; Way out on the Santa Fe Trail?
Night Herding Song
FC 11 H-10
13
Gerald Hausman
Wild Geese Again
The last geese leaving.
autumn, child, baby, cry, quitting
Cowgirl Poetry: One Hundred Years of Ridin' and Rhymin'
Virginia Bennett
FC 11 B-69
167
Peggy Godfrey
Real Wealth
My neighbors don't live close to me But we've each got our niche Government says this area's poor Our secret is: we're rich.
Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West
C.J. Hadley
FC 11 H-60
28
Larry McWhorter
Black Draught
"Good Lord, what a dink" I thought as the boss said, "Put that black colt in your string." I'd rode lots of buds
hide, team, beer, broken heart, dream
Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip
FOLK COLL 11 N-18
55
Rod Nelson
Presidential candidates should live in ND for a year
It's not hard to notice that another election year is here. It wasn't hard to notice it was coming, as frontrunners were in the news a year ago. I always wonder how anyone can be considered a frontrunner long before they are really scrutinized by the public.
candidate, politician, evaluate, vote
Ranch Reveries
FC 11 H-21
27
Oscar Herem
Medicine Man's Recipe for a Happy Birthday
We tried to send you smoke signal, but somehow didn't work too well.
Indian, birthday cake
Best Loved Poems of the American West
John J. and Barbara T. Gregg
FC 11 G-09
311
Jack H. Lee
Death Valley
Twas silent below on the desert.
Funeral Range, rattlesnake, Panamint peaks, lizard, skeleton, quest for gold, desert
Rawhide Rhymes
FC 11 B-05
107
S. Omar Barker
The Deputy's Star
When you've rode to town for sparkin', but the sheriff calls you in.
observe, seriousness, anger, dander, speak out, opinion about the law, ruckus, row, uproar, disturbance, jail, squawking, thoughtfulness, girlfriend, marriage, responsibility, stick together, cussing, shiny star, strength, danger, authority, woman, law, controversy, response, pride, acceptance, honor, duty