Guide to the W.P.A. history of grazing collection,
1680-1941

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Table of Contents
  Overview of the Collection
   
  Content Description
   
Use of the Collection
   
Administrative Information
   
Detailed Description of the Collection

  Subjects

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Willison, George F. (George Findlay), 1896-1972
Title: W.P.A. history of grazing collection
Dates: 1680-1941 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 17 boxes (7 linear ft. )
Collection Number: USU_COLL MSS 008
Summary: Correspondence and historical articles (drafts and completed) accumulated during the creation of the "Utah Chapter" of the Work Projects Administration's (WPA) History of grazing, in cooperation with the Grazing Service of the Department of the Interior. Project was intended as a historical companion volume to serial set #10005, "The western range," and included seventeen state histories focusing on western grazing, from the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 to 1941. Also includes correspondence concerning, and drafts of, the compiled work, edited by George F. Willison.
Repository: Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives
Manuscript Collection

Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-3000
Phone: 435 797-1663
Fax: 435 797-2880
Email: scweb@usu.edu

Languages: Collection materials are in English. 
Sponsor: Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Content Description

The files of the WPA History of Grazing were accessioned by the Special Collections Department in February 1967 and October 1974 when a second portion, including virtually all of Chapter III,"The Westward Movement," was discovered in files otherwise devoted to Agricultural Experiment Station papers accessioned by University Archives.

Final processing has followed the pattern which we can assume to have been the Willison arrangement in December 1941. Individual state and general project materials have been filed separately. The different sections of the manuscript drafts are filed in the order that they were listed in the proposed outline as established in the circular of June 6, 1940. Though Willison had proposed to develop fourteen chapters for the final book, since the states submitted their individual histories based on the June 6, 1940 outline, he was compelled to put together the first drafts on a seven-chapter outline.*

The original order, numbering system, and section headings as outlined by the June 6, 1940 circular have been processed in the transfer from original folders. The collection is complete as it was transferred to the University with the exception of photographs from Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Washington, Okla-homa, Oregon, and Nevada which have been transferred from the Manuscript Collection to the Department's general photograph filewhere they comprise numbers A-0430 to A-0532.

*A close reading of the chapter contents show that the expansion from seven to fourteen chapters was to be accomplished largely by subdivision of Chapter IV, "Boom Days on the Western Range, 1866-1886." All of the states, but especially Texas, submitted a major portion of their texts on this twenty-year period. The Texas history was to be almost exclusively used for Chapter IV, "The Mustang, Longhorn, and Merino," and Chapter VIII, "The Long Trail."

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  Restrictions

Open to public research.

Restrictions on Use :  Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Permission to publish material from the W.P.A. history of grazing collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation :  

W.P.A. history of grazing collection, 1680-1941 (COLL MSS 008). Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Department.

Administrative Information

Arrangement :

Arrangement: Chronological within state.

Acquisition Information :  

Produced by W.P.A. Federal Writer's Project, given to Utah Agricultural Experiment Station in 1941; transfered to USU Special Collections and Archives in 1967.

Related Materials :  

Colorado and Washington grazing interview transcripts (COLL MSS 016)

Utah grazing notes (COLL MSS 009)

Detailed Description of the Collection

Box
Folder
1 1 Arizona: Correspondence
1 2 Arizona: Non-project material
1 3 Arizona: History of grazing (part 1)
1 4 Arizona: History of grazing (part 2)
1 5 Arizona and the Southwest: Maps of cattle trails
1 6 California: Correspondence and non-state15 items material
1 7 California: Maps, grazing and Section IV,3 items "Advent of Railroads"
1 8 California (Northern): Master Bibliography typescript and 1st carbon
1 9 Colorado: Correspondence
1 10 Colorado: Non-project material
1 11 Idaho: Correspondence
1 12 Idaho: Non-project materials
1 13 Kansas: Correspondence
1 14 Kansas: Grazing Chapters: Cattle trails, Flint Hills, Territorial, and Post War Era
1 15 Montana: Correspondence and non-state materials
1 16 Montana: Trail Maps
1 17 Montana: Special Range Report
2 1 Nebraska: Correspondence and Cattle brand data
2 2 Nevada: Correspondence
2 3 Nevada: Non-project material
2 4 New Mexico: Correspondence
2 5 New Mexico: Non-project materials
2 6 North Dakota: Correspondence
2 7 North Dakota: History of grazing, Section IV (original)
2 8 North Dakota: History of grazing, Section IV (lst carbon)
2 9 North Dakota: History of grazing, Section 5 & 6 (original)
2 10 North Dakota: History of grazing, Section 5 & 6 (carbon)
2 11 North Dakota: History of grazing, Sections VII, VIII, Summary
2 12 Oklahoma: Correspondence
2 13 Oregon: Correspondence
2 14 Oregon: Non-state materials
3 1 Oregon: History of grazing, Sections I to III
3 2 Oregon:History of grazing, Section IV
3 3 Oregon:History of grazing, Section V
3 4 Oregon:History of grazing, Section VI
3 5 South Dakota: Correspondence
3 6 Texas: Correspondence
3 7 Texas: Non-state material
3 8 Texas: History of grazing: Growing Crisis on the Range, 1886-1917, pp. 5-27 pp. 268-375
3 9 Texas: History of grazing:The New Era pp. 1-119
3 10 Texas: Abstract of laws relating to grazing, 1831-1939, 66 pp
3 11 Texas: Cattle brands
3 12 Texas: History of grazing, partial chapters III, IV
4 1 Utah: Correspondence
4 2 Utah: Highlights on grazing history of Forest Services Intermountain Region
4 3 Utah: Non-project materials
4 4 Utah: History of grazing, Section I (2 copies, original)
4 5 Utah: History of grazing, Section I (carbon)
4 6 Utah: History of grazing, Section II (original)
4 7 Utah: History of grazing, Section II (carbon)
4 8 Utah: History of grazing, Section III (original) pp. 1-93
4 9 Utah: History of grazing, Section IV (carbon) in complete, pp. 1-93
4 10 Utah: History of grazing, Section III (incomplete carbon) pp. 1-93
4 11 Utah: History of grazing, Section IV (carbon) 153 pp
4 12 Utah: History of grazing, Section IV (original, carbon, imcomplete)
4 13 Utah: History of grazing, Section V (carbon) pp. 1-75
4 14 Utah: History of grazing, Section VI (carbon) pp. 1-187
4 15 Utah: History of grazing, Section VII (carbon)
5 1 Washington: Correspondence
5 2 Washington: History of grazing, partial final chapter and bibliography
5 3 Wyoming: Correspondence
5 4 Wyoming: Non-state materials
5 5 Wyoming: "The Wyoming Frontier" published by employees of Region 10, Grazing Service
5 6 History of grazing circular (2 copies)
5 7 The Taylor Grazing Act in operation
5 8 The Federal Range Code
5 9 National Forests and Field Offices of U. S. Forest Service
5 10 Range Research in the United States
5 11 History of grazing: Bibliographical material and notes
5 12 History of Grazing: Correspondence
5 13 History of grazing: Correspondence, suggested outlines, etc
5 14 History of grazing: Miscellany
6 1 History of grazing: Bibliographies, National
6 2 History of grazing: Bibliographies, State
6 3 Division of grazing: Emergency snow clearing, District 7 and 8
6 4 History of grazing: General information
6 5 The Range Today: A 1-2 Extent and type of range
6 6 The Range Today: A 1-2 Extent and type of range (cont.)
6 7 The Range Today: A 1-2 Extent and type of range (cont.)
6 8 The Range Today: A 1-2 Extent and type of range (cont.)
6 9 The Range Today: A 3 Economic importance
6 10 The Range Today: B. Summary view of present practices, historical developments
6 11 The Range Today: B. 2(c) Crisis on the Range about 1932
7 1 II Early Background A. 1 Wildlife
7 2 II Early Background A. 2 Indians, Use of Range, etc
7 3 II Early Background A. 3 Natural Stability of the Range
7 4 II The Range in Colonial Times, The Mustang (pt. 1)
7 5 II The Range in Colonial Times, The Mustang (pt. 2)
7 6 II B. The Range in Colonial Times, Old Spanish Southwest: Exploration, trails, etc
7 7 II B. The Range in Colonial Times, Old Spanish Southwest, Early Settlement (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona)
7 8 II B. The Range in Colonial Times, Old Spanish Southwest: Missions (Texas, New Mexico etc.)
7 9 II B. The Range in Colonial Times, Old Spanish Southwest: Ranchos (California)
7 10 II B. The Range in Colonial Times, Old Spanish Southwest: Vaquero, etc
7 11 II B. The Range in Colonial times, Old Spanish Southwest: Dominant Personalities
7 12 II B. The Range in Colonial Times. Old Spanish Southwest: Anglo-American Ranchers
8 1 II B. The Range in Colonial Times, Old Spanish Southwest (lst Draft)
8 2 II B. The Range in Colonial Times, Old Spanish Southwest (2nd Draft)
8 3 II B. The Range in Colonial Times, Old Spanish Southwest (3rd Draft)
8 4 II C. Indian Territory, Through the Civil War
8 5 II C. Indian Territory, After the Civil War
9 1 III Westward Movement, A. Early Exploration
9 2 III Westward Movement, B. Early Trails
9 3 III Westward Movement, C. First herds, ranches, markets, etc
9 4 III Westward Movement, D. Conflict with Indians, etc
9 5 III Westward Movement, E. Effects of Civil War
9 6 IV Boom Days, A. L. Accumulation of stock
9 7 IV Boom Days, A. 2. Growth of market in expanding industrial cities, etc
9 8 IV Boom Days, A. 3. Advent of Railroads
9 9 IV Boom Days, B. 1-2. Size and practices of large ranches (pt. 1)
10 1 IV Boom Days, B. 1-2. Size and practices of large ranches (pt. 2)
10 2 IV Bovm Days, B. 1-2. Size and practices of the average smaller ranch (pt. 1)
10 3 IV Boom Days, B. 1-2. Size and practices of the average smaller ranch (pt. 2)
10 4 IV Boom Days, B. 3-4. Ownership and profits of boom-day ranches
10 5 IV Boom Days, C. 1. Organization and operation of ranches
10 6 IV Boom Days, C. 2. Round-ups
10 7 IV Boom Days, C. 2(e). Brands
10 8 IV Boom Days, C. 3. Rustlers
11 1 Boom Days, D. 1. Organization of Great Cattle Drives
11 2 Boom Days, D. 3(a). Early trails to Baxter Springs, etc. (part 1)
11 3 Boom Days, D. 3(a). Early trails to Baxter Springs, etc. (part 2)
11 4 Boom Days, D. 3(b). Abilene Trail
11 5 Boom Days, D. 3(c). Chisholm Trail
11 6 Boom Days, D. 3(d). Dodge City Trail
11 7 Boom Days, D. 3(e). Goodnight Trail
11 8 Boom Days, D. 3(g). Trails to Northern Plains (part 1)
11 9 Boom Days, D. 3(g). Trails to Northern Plains (part 2)
11 10 Boom Days, D. 3(h). Trails in Pacific Northwest
11 11 Boom Days, D. 3(i). Trails in Pacific Southwest
11 12 Boom Days, D. Texas Fever, Quarantine
12 1 Boom Days, D. 4(a). Cow towns - Abilene
12 2 Boom Days, D. 4(b). Cow towns - Dodge City
12 3 Boom Days, D. 4(c). Cow towms - General
12 4 Boom Days, E. 1. The Cowboy - origins, nationality, etc. (part 1)
12 5 Boom Days, E. 1. The Cowboy - origins, nationality, etc. (part 2)
12 6 Boom Days, E. l. The Cowboy - origins, nationality, etc. (part 3)
12 7 Boom Days, E. 3. Cowboy's Accoutrements, shooting irons, etc
12 8 Boom Days, E. 4. Cowboy Lingo
12 9 Boom Days, E. 5. Cowboy songs and stories
12 10 Boom Days, E. 6. "Moonshine" about the cowboy
12 11 Boom Days, F. Personalities - Miscellaneous (part 1)
12 12 Boom Days, F. Personalities - Miscellaneous (part 2)
13 1 IV Boom Days, F. Personalities - Iliff
13 2 IV Boom Days, F. Personalities - King
13 3 IV Boom Days, F. Personalities - Miller and Lux
13 4 IV Boom Days, F. Personalities - Chisum
13 5 V Crisis on the Range, A. Fall in prices after 1885
13 6 V Crisis on the Range, A. Losses from weather (part 1)
13 7 V Crisis on the Range, A. Losses from weather (part 2)
13 8 V Crisis on the Range, A. Losses from weather (part 3)
13 9 V Crisis on the Range, A. Barbed wire (part 1)
13 10 V Crisis on the Range, B. Barbed wire (part 2)
13 11 V Crisis on the Range, C. Introduction of sheep (part 1)
13 12 V Crisis on the Range, C. Introduction of sheep (part 2)
13 13 V Crisis on the Range, C. Introduction of sheep (part 3)
13 14 V Crisis on the Range, C. Introduction of sheep (part 4)
14 1 V Crisis on the Range, C. 3. Sheep grazing practices (part l)
14 2 V Crisis on the Range, C. 3. Sheep grazing practices (part 2)
14 3 V Crisis on the Range, C. 3. Sheep grazing practices (part 3)
14 4 V Crisis on the Range, C. 4. Pioneer Sheepman
14 5 V Crisis on the Range, C. 5. The Sheepherder
14 6 V Crisis on the Range, D. Homesteaders (part 1)
14 7 V Crisis on the Range, D. Homesteaders (part 2)
14 8 V Crisis on the Range, D. 1. Effect in state as of federal land policies
14 9 V Crisis on the Range, D. 2. State laws affecting farmers, homesteaders, ranchers, etc
14 10 V Crisis on the Range, D. 3. Progressive reduction of open range
14 11 V Crisis on the Range, E. 1. Open Range vs. Big Pasture (part 1)
14 12 V Crisis on the Range, E. 1. Open Range vs. Big Pasture (part 2)
14 13 V Crisis on the Range, E. 2. Cowmen vs. Nesters
14 14 V Crisis on the Range, E. 3. Cowmen vs. Sheepmen
15 1 V Crisis on the Range, F. Overgrazing (part 1)
15 2 V Crisis on the Range, F. Overgrazing (part 2)
15 3 V Crisis on the Range, G. World War Boom
15 4 VI Toward Conservation, A. Introduction of blooded stock (part 1)
15 5 VI Toward Conservation, A. Introduction of blooded stock (part 2)
15 6 VI Toward Conservation, A. Introduction of blooded stock (part 3)
15 7 VI Toward Conservation, B. Changes in handling stock -- feeding (part 1)
15 8 VI Toward Conservation, B. Changes in handling stock -- feeding (part 2)
15 9 VI Toward Conservation, B. Changes in handling stock -- breeding (part 1)
15 10 VI Toward Conservation, B. Changes in handling stock -- breeding (part 2)
15 11 VI Toward Conservation, B. Changes in handling stock -- transportation to market
15 12 VI Toward Conservation, B. Changes in handling stock -- local packing center, etc
16 1 VI Toward Conservation, C. The Modern Range (part l)
16 2 VI Toward Conservation, C. The Modern Range (part 2)
16 3 VI Toward Conservation, C. The Modern Range - 1. Size of herds
16 4 VI Toward Conservation, C. The Modern Range - 2. Typical rancher, cowhand, etc
16 5 VI Toward Conservation, D. Stockmen's Associations (part 1)
16 6 VI Toward Conservation, D. Stockmen's Associations (part 2)
16 7 VI Toward Conservation, D. Stockmen's Associations (part 3)
16 8 VI Toward Conservation, D. Stockmen's Assoications (part 4)
16 9 VI Toward Conservation, E. l(a). Forestry Service (part l)
16 10 VI Toward Conservation, E. l(a). Forestry Service (part 2)
16 11 VI Toward Conservation, E. l(a). Forestry Service (part 3)
16 12 VI Toward Conservation, E. l(b). Indian Service
16 13 VI Toward Conservation, E. l(c). National Parks
16 14 VI Toward Conservation, E. l(d). Reclamation (part l)
16 15 VI Toward Conservation, E. l(d). Reclamation (part 2)
17 1 VI Toward Conservation, E. 2(a). State livestock
17 2 VI Toward Conservation, E. 2(b). State livestock laws
17 3 VI Toward Conservation, E. 3. Crusaders for conservation
17 4 VII The New Era on the Range: Grazing Service statement on range conditions (1939)
17 5 VII The New Era on the Range: Chapter outline
17 6 VII The New Era on the Range: Grazing Service statement - Final draft
17 7 VII The New Era on the Range: a) Taylor Grazing Act (part 1)
17 8 VII The New Era on the Range: a) Taylor Grazing Act (part 2)
17 9 VII The New Era on the Range: b) Grazing Service
17 10 VII The New Era on the Range: c) Operation of the Grazing Act
17 11 VII The New Era on the Range: d) Public reaction to Grazing Act
17 12 VII The New Era on the Range: e) Federal and state land use programs
17 13 VII The New Era on the Range - Completed chapter
17 14 VII The New Era on the Range - Completed chapter
17 15 VII The New Era on the Range - Completed chapter
17 16 VII The New Era on the Range - Conclusion

Subjects

    • Corporate Names :
    • United States. Grazing Service.  ( contributor)
    • United States. Work Projects Administration (Utah)  ( contributor)
    • Writers' Program (Utah)  ( contributor)
    • Subject Terms :
    • Cattle trade--West (U.S.)--History.
    • Grazing--West (U.S.)--History.
    • Public lands--West (U.S.)--History.
    • Range management--West (U.S.)--History.
    • Rangelands--West (U.S.)--History.
    • Sheep industry--West (U.S.)--History.
    • Western range.

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    Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
    ©2008