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
Cowboyology: The Science Of
FC 11 B-03
34
Dan Bradshaw
Cowboyology
When it comes ta learnin'; It's measured by degrees.
Smoke from Wapinitia Campfires
FC 11 D-05
19
Mary R. Duling
Cooking Stones
Here on my window ledge a pile of round stones.
stone, rock, cooking, wife, mother, food, tools
Cowboy Poetry: Classic Rhymes by S. Omar Barker (1894-1985)
Jodie and Bob Phillips
FC 11 B-44
177
S. Omar Barker
Jughead
The Boss has bought some ponies, and you've drawed one in your string.
Saddle For A Throne
FC 11 O-13
213
Will Ogilvie
The Township Lights
With laughter and love-spells and witch-eyes of blue a girl in the township is waiting for you. There is nothing that thrills like a handclasp of hers, so bridle your best horse and buckle your spurs;
smile, sky, die, creed, disporve, love
Poetic Works of Henry Lawson
David McKee Wright
FC 11 L-24
90
Henry Lawson
For'ard
It is stuffy where the second-classers sleep.
Ever and Always I Shall Love the Land
FC 11 G-01
66
Clell Goebel Gannon
The Magpie
Sprite of the air, true symbol of the West.
symbol, buttes, rivers, West, birds
Ride For the Brand
FC 11 S-53
148
Red Steagall
One Empty Cot in the Bunkhouse
There's one empty cot in the bunkhouse.
Where Prairie Flowers Bloom And Other Poems
FC 11 H-33
44
Yvonne Hollenbeck
Meal Time
In this world of mass confusion.
changes, country, food, brunch, lunch, dinner, supper, ranch
Wyoming's Rancher Poet: Timothy Mahoney
Tim Nicholas
FC 11 M-01
43
Timothy Mahoney
"God Bless Wyoming"
I'll go Wyoming I'll go West on this Diamond Jubilee!
Poet Lariat
FC 11 S-22
29
Gene Skaug
The Good Ones
They've packed me over the mountain
Cowboy Lore
FC 11 A-01
72
Jules Verne Allen
The Trail to Mexico
I made up my mind in an early day.
A.J. Stinson, Buddie, Rio Grande
Cowboy Meditations
FC 11 L-02
32
Wade Lane
The Brook
God dropped snow from out His spacious Heavens; Like downy feathers, fallin' from the sky.
Cowboy Meditations
FC 11 L-02
25
Wade Lane
Trail's End
Oh! restful contemplation!
City Cattle: Humorous Western Political Satire
FC 11 J-06
20
Derwin J. Jeffries
King Sam
Old Uncle Sam.
Government, control
Waiting for the Pear to Fall
FOLK COLL 11 D-29
35
Richard M Dunalp
Agricultural Etiquette
There's a question that I'm often asked, By good folks who just don't know better. Though they don't mean to violate the spirit of the law, They're certainly guilty of breaking the letter.
question, polite, ettiquette
More Cow Country
FC 11 E-05
119
Tom Ellinwood
The Hidden Menu
Those barren hills look hostile to.
food, desert
JB The Circle
Duward Campbell and Chuck Milner
FC 11 A-17
60
J.B. Allen
A Common Bond
There's a gremlin follers me around and gethers up my tools
Original Cowboy Poetry
FC 11 S-25
3
Colen H. Sweeten Jr.
Afterglow in Elko
We had just wound down the third go-round,
Cowboy Poetry: Classic Rhymes by S. Omar Barker (1894-1985)
Jodie and Bob Phillips
FC 11 B-44
46
S. Omar Barker
Judge Bean's Jury
If times was bad or times was good, Ol' Judge Roy Bean done what he could.
Cowboys, Plowboys, and Country Folk
FC 11 R-39
45
Roger Ringer
Ann Marie's County Fair Project
He didn't look like much just laying there hide, hair, and bone that only a mother could love. Wouldn't appear much like a champion layin' in the grass kind of lazy.
"Cowboy'en Is Our Specialty"
FC 11 C-58
12
Wade Collins and Seven Mazzone
Milk Cows
Milk cows were put on this earth, to wreck a man's quiet and silent life. They keep you from goin places and enjoyen your life, kinda like another wife.
The Lowly cowchip: and other pungent poetry
FC 11 W-31
30
Merrily Wright
A dentist's request
Dear Merrily, You might think this request is strange but I thought yo could help living there on the range.
Meadow Muffins: Cowboy Rhymes and Other B.S.
FC 11 P-29
27
Mike Puhallo
Sings of?Are You Sure This is February
My pickup truck is still caked with mud.
Rhyme Doesn't Pay -- But Neither Does Cowboying
FC 11 B-46
37
Ed B. Brown
Ranchettes
Now city people, as a rule.
Wyoming's Rancher Poet: Timothy Mahoney
Tim Nicholas
FC 11 M-01
24
Timothy Mahoney
Our Motto
From Golden Years, to Days Ahead.