The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956 Page: 107
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Southwestern Historical Quarterly and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Texas State Historical Association.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Texas Collection
perhaps a year or more. In one section of New Mexico, a newspaper
tabulation indicated that last year, one-half of all the significant
pioneers in its territory died within twelve months. We have missed
by weeks the recording of the remarkable stories of men like John
Dunn, early freighter of Taos, and Will Robinson of Albuquerque,
famous early-day newspaper editor.
I am positive that some of the names I have, whose reminiscences
we want to record, are known to you personally who are listening
to me this moment.
I must confess that it has taken many months for me to feel the full
impact of the possibilities in the tape recorder. Right in Albuquerque,
for example, is the former boss of the Diamond A outfit which ran
50,00o head of cattle in the 'go's. Just imagine, if you can, that man
with his wonderful memory of those early days, writing a book of 400
pages, and doing it all within the period of ten days. His recollections
reek with the stories of the Indians, of "Black Jack Ketchum" and his
gang, of "Bronco Bill." He knew personally every member of these
famous bandit gangs. And he writes this book in ten days. It is far
more than merely writing, for into it goes his voice, his inflection, and
his emotions.
Just imagine Mrs. Richard Wetherill, who also lives in Albuquerque,
writing a book of similar length about her amazing experiences explor-
ing the United States in the 8o's and go's, traveling 15,ooo miles behind
a team of mules or horses, and then becoming one of the greatest
living authorities on the Navajo Indians, with whom she lived for
many years, and whose language she speaks fluently.
Of course, I realize that getting the tape recordings is only the first
step. They have to be transcribed. That in itself is a monumental
task. They have to be checked with available written materials such
as contemporary newspapers, letters, court documents, memoirs, and
other historical data.
We have already made a start on this. Through arrangements with
the University of New Mexico, The Pioneers Foundation is making
available to the history department for such study and correlation,
copies of all its tape recordings.
Already, at the University, a trained historian is working full-time
at this task.
When the tape recordings are all completed, transcribed, and so
correlated, they will form without any doubt one of the most compre-
hensive, accurate, and thrilling histories of the Southwest that has ever
been written.
Now, however, all this work is about to terminate abruptly. The
Secretary has his own business which requires his attention. If we
can get immediate statewide support for The Pioneers Foundation,
he will be enabled to hire someone else to operate it, and devote his
entire time to the completion of the tape recordings. He has to makeo107
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956, periodical, 1956; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101162/m1/125/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.