Photographs of Fritz Truan, 1940
1 folder
Location: 0164
Accession #: R.204
Biography
Frederick Gregg “Fritz” Truan was born on November 12, 1916, in Ceile, California, but spent most of his years in Long Beach. As a teenager, Truan began in the rodeo business by entering the small weekly contests around Los Angeles in the 1930s. By 1935, he was traveling with an older cowboy, Johnny Slater, to compete in rodeos full time beyond California. When he was just 23, he won his first World’s Champion Saddle Bronc Rider award in 1939. He was the youngest world’s champion to ever be crowned at that time. He won it again in 1940, while also winning the title of World’s Champion All-Around Cowboy. He was also well-known for his competitions in steer wrestling and bareback bronc riding. The 1939 Madison Square Garden bronc ride on Hell’s Angel was Truan’s first championship win. He successfully rode Hell’s Angel four times in three years. In 1961, Truan was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma. In August of 1995 Truan was honored in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Scope & Content Note
This collection contains two photographs of Fritz Truan. Both photos are mounted on matte board. One is black and white, while the other is color. The both photographs are by DeVere Helfrich.
Note to Researcher:
There are other artifacts related to Fritz Truan’s rodeo career and his Marine Corps service in the artifacts collections, namely his Purple Heart medal, Victory Medal, Cowboy Turtles Association pin, rodeo trophies, belt buckles, a pair of chaps, and other items.
Subject Terms
Personal Names:
Helfrich, DeVere
Truan, Fritz
Subject Headings:
Photographs
Rodeo
Processing Information
This collection was officially received on March 21, 1967, as a gift from Truan’s sister, Vera M. Herder. Other items in the collection were received in August 1980.
Copyright
The Photographs of Fritz Truan is the property of the Donald C. & Elizabeth M. Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Literary right, including copyright, belongs to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, with the exception of copyrighted artwork images and published literary works, which are the property of the respective copyright holders. It is the responsibility of the researcher, and his/her publisher, to obtain publishing permission from individuals pictured, relevant copyright holders, and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Copyright
The collection is open for research. It is advisable for researchers to discuss their proposed research with staff prior to visiting the Center.
Preferred Citation
Photographs of Fritz Truan , Box ##, Folder ##, Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Container List
All Series
| Series 1: Photographs of Fritz Truan | ||
| Box/Folder # | Accession # | Description |
| 01/04 | R.204.43 | Written on back: “Fritz Truan, #204.” DeVere Helfrich, photographer. Hand-tinted photograph on matte board, 11 x 14 in. |
| R.204.44 | “Fritz Truan, 1940 World’s Champ, red Bluff ‘41.” Written on back: “Fritz Truan, #204.” DeVere Helfrich, photographer. Photograph on canvas board, b&w, 11 x 14 in. | |
