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Porter

Willard H. Porter Rodeo Collection

Willard H. Porter Rodeo Collection, 1903-1986
1.0 cubic feet (2 document boxes)
Location: 0233; Rodeo Programs 0351-0358
Collection #: 047
Accession #: 2001.049

Introduction

The subject files, photographic materials, Rodeo Hall of Fame and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Championship Awards invitations and London rodeo research were Willard Porter’s office files while employed at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The collection contains rodeo photographic postcards, rodeo programs, subject files and research on the 1924 and 1934 London rodeos. In addition to the rodeo photographic postcards, 62 passport photos from the 1924 and 1934 London rodeo are part of the Porter collection.

Biography

Willard A. Porter, rodeo journalist and former rodeo director of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame between 1979 and 1986, was born in 1920 in New Jersey. He served as editor of the “Quarter Horse Journal” from 1949 to 1953 and was editor and publisher of “Hoofs and Horns” during the mid 1950s. Porter wrote a weekly rodeo column in the “Sunday Oklahoman” newspaper between 1930 and 1991. In 1982 his book “Who’s Who in Rodeo,” an informational work on the Rodeo Hall of Fame inductees, was published. Porter died at his home in Port Salerno, Florida on April 24, 1992.

Scope & Content Note

Comprising Porter’s research files when he was rodeo director, the collection includes subject files, photographic materials, invitation, and 1924 and 1934 London England rodeo research materials. The collection is arranged into 5 series.

Series 1: Research (1958-1984, n.d.) 
This series contains information on the 1924 and 1934 London Rodeo. The material was originally collected as research for Willard H. Porter’s 1984 published article in Quarter Horse News. The folder contains postcard photographs and 11 1/4 cm X 7 cm photographs from Herman Linder, an article from The Western Horseman written by Randy Witte, a letter from Agnes Linder, and copies of archived material.

Series 2: Passport Photographs, London Rodeo (1924-1934) 
This series contains 62 4cm X 6cm passport photographs of the rodeo participants given in 1977 by Mrs. George Hellborn. The container list is arranged alphabetically, but the photographs are permanently stored in their original numberical order. 53 individual photographs are identified, 8 individual passport photographs are unidentified. The detailed list of persons pictured includes the front and back numbers from the photographs in brackets after the name.

Series 3: Subject Files (1903-1986) 
This series contains the subject files, including photographic materials, organized alphabetically by state. These files originally contained rodeo programs, which are designated as Series 5: Rodeo Programs, 1905 – 1983, were removed to the Rodeo Programs collection. Persons pictured in collection photographs include, Buffalo Bill Cody, Pawnee Bill, Jackson Sundown, Ross Dollarhide, Sam Brownell, Pete Knight, Prairie Rose, and Elton Perry. Rodeos pictured include the California Rodeo at Salinas, California, the War Bonnet Round-Up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the Pendleton Round-Up in Pendleton, Oregon, the Black Hills Round Up in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, and Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The number of photographs in each folder is shown in brackets.

Series 4: Rodeo Hall of Fame Published Materials (1972-1981) 
This series contains Rodeo Hall of Fame Honoree, and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Championship Awards published materials.

Series 5: Rodeo Programs (1905-1983) 
This series contains Afton Dale’s Warbonnet Rodeo Programs from the years 1936-1938, 1943-1949, 1950-1959, 1960-1969, and 1970-1976. Specific Rodeo Programs are indexed on a separate container list and are now located in the Rodeo Program Collection, 0351-0358. The original number of collection programs and ephemeral items are indicated with brackets.

Subject Terms

Personal Names:
Anderson, Saylor
Askin, Bob
Barnes, T.
Bedford, Cecil
Benard, Paul
Bibb, Dee
Blumhagen, Bernie
Boam, Rube
Bristow, Clifford
Brownell, Sam, 1877-
Buffalo Bill, 1846 – 1917
Burke, Clarence
Carney, Paul, 1912 – 1950
Casey, Larry
Collins, Earvin
Cooper, Hugh
Cooper, L. F.
Cooper, Norman
Curtis, Arlo
Dale, Afton
Dewar, D.
Dollarhide, Ross
Dorsey, E. V., 1917-
Elliot, Creta
Finley, Larry, 1921 – 1977
Francis, Mamie (Mamie Francis Skepper Hafley)
Griffith, Dick, 1913 – 1984
Griffith, Velma
Hafley, California Frank (Charles F.Hafley), 1871 – 1940
Hall, J. M.
Hanna, Robert
Hancock, Bill, 1917 – 1997
Hastings, Fox, 1882 – 1948
Hawk, Red
Hedges, D.
Hellborn, Rose (Mrs. George Hellborn)
Henderson, Praire Rose, ca. 1870 – 1930s
Hepler, Joe
Hobgood, Aub
Holcomb, Cleone
Howdyshell, Bus
Hughes, John
Howdyshell, Bud
Huskey, Lynn
Irwin, Jim
Irwin, Ruth
Ives, Laurel
Jemsen, Claude
Jim, Poker, Chief
Johnson, Annie
Jones, Billy
Kirkpatrick, Joe
Kirnan, Bea, d. 1939
Kirnana, Tom, 1893 – 1937
Knight, Harry, 1907 – 1989
Knight, Peter
Krieg, Vaughn (Vaughn Krieg Huskey), 1904 – 1976
Lee, Cotton
Little John, E.
Linder, Herman, 1907-
Makey, E.
McCormmack, Orval
McDaniel, Chas
McIntosh, George
McLaughlin, Bob
Millard, Richard
Miller, Glen
Moore, Fat
Nesbitt, Don, 1907 – 1988
Pafford, Alread
Parker, Port
Passon, Roy
Pawnee Bill, 1860 – 1942
Peacock, Gene
Perry, Elton
Poker, Jim Chief
Porter, Willard H., 1920-
Reynolds, Tuck
Richards, Lucyle Garmes (Lucyle Roberts, 1909-
Roach, Ruth Scantlin, 1896 – 1986
Roberts, Rube, 1896-
Roberts, Hazle
Rock, Joe
Rogers, Bill
Ross, Gene
Schmidt, Cleo
Seidler, Eddie
Shelton, Dick, 1901 – 1970
Smith, Alex R.
Stillings, Floyd
Stuart, Buck
Sundown, Jackson, 1863 – 1923
Thomas, Fred
Trueman, Sonny, 1918 – 1995
Walters, J.O.
Watkins, Ward
Webster, Choate
Welch, Joe, 1906 – 1991
Wheeler, Frank
Whiteman, Hub, 1910 – 1977
Whiteman, Marie
Wilkerson, Billy
Wilkerson, Buck
Williams, Chuck
Williams, Joe
Williams, Stella
Wilson, Chuck
Witte, Randy
Woodarson, B.T.

Corporate Names:
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Animals:
Bownell
Hooey
Hope
Lulu Bell
Nigger Bill
Steamboat
Tipperary

Subject Headings:
Rodeos – Australia – Sydney
Rodeos – Canada – Alberta-Calgary
Rodeos – Great Britain – London
Rodeos – United States
Rodeos – History – 1914 – 1983
Rodeos – United States

Processing Information

Organization: The original order of the subject files was maintained. All photographic materials located within the subject files have been preserved within their respective folders. The London Rodeo research and photographic collection maintained the presumed original order.

Accession Information: While employed at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Willard Porter collected rodeo historical information, rodeo programs, Rodeo Hall of Fame, and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association published materials. Organization of the material into 5 Series was applied in a judicious manner for ease of research and information retrieval.

Processing Information: Prior to 2001, Willard Porter’s subject files, photographic materials, rodeo files and programs were in storage waiting accessioning. The Rodeo photographic postcards and programs were part of the office subject files. The London Rodeo research was collected into a separate filing system and thus, processed into a separate series. In 2001, Pam Bell organized the complete collection into 5 series, maintaining the basic file order. The rodeo programs were individually inscribed with 2001.049 and filed in the Rodeo Programs collection located at 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, & 232.

Preferred Citation

Willard H. Porter Rodeo Collection, Box ##, Folder ##, Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Container List

Series 1: Research

1958-1984
Box/Folder # Folder Title/Description
001/001 “Old-Timer’s Album,” The Western Horseman
Letter to Willard Porter from Herman Linder, April 30, 1984
Herman Linder photographs [5]
“Rodeo,” Quarter Horse News, May 25, 1984
“World’s Weirdest Rodeo,” True West, September-October 1958

Series 2: Passport Photographs

1924-1934
Box/Folder # Folder Title/Description
001/002 Rodeo passport photographs, 1924-1934 [62]
Detailed List of Persons Pictured
Bibb, Dee [43/750]
Bristow, Clifford [75/783]
Calen, Bob [66/729]
Carney, Paul, 1912-1950 [68/770]
Casey, Larry [32/786]
Cooper, Hugh [41/773]
Cooper, L. F. [64/771]
Cooper, Norman [44/1048]
Elliot, Creta [61/757]
Francis, Mamie (Mamie Francis Skepper Hafley) [48/754]
Griffith, Dick, 1913-1984 [8/742]
Griffith, Velma [36/761]
Halfley, California Jack (Charles F. Hafley), 1871-1940 [47/753]
Hall, J. M. [35/772]
Hanna, Robert [4/788]
Hastings, Fox, 1882-1948 [19]
Hobgood, Aub [17/1047]
Holcomb, Cleone [22/758]
Hughes, John [65/1049]
Huskey, Lynn [24/767]
Irwin, Jim [50/739]
Irwin, Ruth [63/760]
Kirkpatrick, Joe [6/780]
Kirnan, Bea, d. 1939 [28/756]
Kirnan, Tom, 1893-1937 [29/730]
Krieg, Vaughn (Vaughn Krieg Huskey), 1904-1976 [23/755]
Matthews, Roy [9/783]
McDaniel, Chas. [69/790]
McIntosh, Gee [53/768]
McLaughlin, Bob [18/752]
Moore, Fat [1/791]
Nesbitt, Don, 1907-1988 [57/736]
Pafford, Alread [7/770]
Passon, Roy [12(?)/784]
Richard, Lucyle Garmes (Lucyle Roberts), 1909- [49/745]
Roach, Ruth Scantlin, 1896-1986 [21/744]
Roberts, Hazle [26/759]
Roberts, Rube, 1896- [25/738]
Rock, Joe [71/785]
Shelton, Dick, 1901-1970 [11/735]
Stuart, Buck [52/740]
Thomas, Fred [72/1050]
Walters, J. O. [67/787]
Watkins, Ward [62/766]
Welch, Joe, 1906-1991 [14(?)/732]
Wheeler, Frank [3/789]
Whiteman, Hub, 1910-1977 [55/769]
Whiteman, Marie [56/762]
Williams, Chuck [2/765]
Williams, Stella [33/763]
Wilson, Chuck [20/764]
Woodarson, B. T. [42/774]
Unknown girl [38]
Unknown man
Unknown woman [40]
Unknown woman [51]
Unknown woman [54]
Unknown woman [58]
Unknown woman [59]
Unknown woman [70]
Unknown woman [77]
Unknown woman [85]

Series 3: Subject Files

1903-1986
Box/Folder # Folder Title/Description
Arizona
001/003 Cody, W. F. (Buffalo Bill), 1969, n.d. [1]
001/004 101 Ranch Wild West Show, 1952-1981
001/005 Pawnee Bill, Maj. Gordon W. Lillie, 1970 [1]
001/006 Bandwagon, 1971-1975
001/007 Dewey, Arizona, 1955
001/008 Florence, Arizona, Pinal Puncher’s Parada, 1928
001/009 Florence, Arizona, Junior Parada, n.d.
001/010 Globe, Arizona, 1976
001/011 Payson, Arizona, 1981-1984
001/012 Phoenix, Arizona, 1940-1980
001/013 Prescott, Arizona, 1920-1985 [24]
001/014 Tucson, Arizona, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, 1949-1981
California
001/015 Hayward, California, 1978
001/016 Chowcilla Western Stampede, 1973
001/017 San Francisco, California, Cow Palace Rodeo, 1978
001/018 Salinas, California, n.d. [15]
Colorado
001/019 Deertail, Colorado, 1981
001/020 Denver, Colorado, 1949-1982
Florida
001/021 Indiantown, Florida, 1975
Idaho
001/022-023 Idaho Falls, Idaho, War Bonnet Roundup, 1913-1981 [17]
001/024 Nampa, Idaho, Rodeo, 1979-1981
001/025 Pocatello, Idaho, Frontier Rodeo, 1983
Iowa
001/026 Sidney, Iowa, 1985
Kansas
001/027 Burdick, Kansas, n.d.
001/028 Garden City, Kansas, 1979
001/029 Kansas City, Kansas, American Royal, 1985-1986
001/030 Knights of Columbus Championship Rodeo, 1978
Massachusetts
001/031 Boston, Massachusetts, 1936
Montana
001/032 Billings, Montana, Bucking horse sale, 1976
Nebraska
001/033 Burwell, Nebraska, 1980
001/034 North Platte, Nebraska, Dr. Bruce Claussen, 1980
New Mexico
001/035 Las Vegas, New Mexico, Cowboy Reunion, 1981 [3]
New York
001/036-037 New York, New York, Madison Square Garden, 1929-1979
Oklahoma
001/038 Ada, Oklahoma, Ken Lance, 1979-1980
001/039 Chickasha, Oklahoma, n.d.
001/040 Cleo Springs, Oklahoma, n.d.
001/041 Hinton, Oklahoma, Rodeo, 1970-1979
Oregon
002/001 Pendleton, Oregon, Pendleton Round-Up, 1910-1981 [28]
South Dakota
002/002 Belle Fourche, South Dakota, 1969-1986 [11]
Texas
002/003 El Paso, Texas, 1935
002/004-005 Fort Worth, Texas, Rodeo, 1917-1981 [1]
002/006 Pecos, Texas, 1961-1985
002/007 Stamford, Texas, 1978
002/008 Wichita Falls, Texas, Texas Ranch Roundup, 1983
Washington
002/009 Omak, Washington, Omak Stampede, 1972-1974 [5]
002/010 Walla Walla, Washington, 1913-1983 [5]
Wyoming
002/011-013 Cheyenne, Wyoming, Cheyenne Frontier Days, 1903-1982 [5]
002/014 The Wrangler newsletter, Vol. 9, 1971

Series 4: Rodeo Hall of Fame and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Awards

n.d.
Box/Folder # Folder Title/Description
002/015 Programs and Invitations, 1973-1981

Series 5: Rodeo Programs

1905-1983
Program Title/Description
United States
Arkansas
Fort Smith, 9th Annual Arkansas-Oklahoma Rodeo, n.d. [1]
Arizona
Globe, 7th Annual Copper Dust Stampede, 1975 [1]
Phoenix, 2nd Annual Mid-Winter Rodeo, 1928 [1]
Phoenix, World’s Championship, 1937 [1]
Phoenix, World’s Championship, 1938 [1]
Phoenix, World’s Championship, 1939 [1]
Phoenix, World’s Championship, 1942 [1]
Phoenix, World’s Championship, 1954 [1]
Phoenix, Phoenix Jaycee Rodeo, 1957 [1]
Prescott, Prescott Frontier Days, 1931 [1]
Tucson, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo, 1954 [1]
California
Bakersfield, Benefit for Widows & Orphans Rodeo, 1945 [1]
Los Angeles, 2nd Annual Leo Carillo’s Rodeo, 1944 [1]
Red Bluff, Red Bluff Round Up daily program, 1948 [1]
Salinas, 20th Annual Rodeo, 1931 [1]
Visalia, Visalia Elks Charity Rodeo, 1945 [1]
Colorado
Colorado Springs, 33th Annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, 1973 [1]
Colorado Springs, 35th Annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, 1975 [1]
Colorado Springs, 36th Annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, 1976 [1]
Colorado Springs, 40th Annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, 1980 [1]
Greeley, 19th Annual Greeley Spud Rodeo, 1941 [1]
Idaho
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up daily program, 1936 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up daily program, 1937 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up daily program, 1938 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1943 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1945 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1947 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1948 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1949 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1950 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1951 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1952 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1953 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1954 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1955 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1956 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1957 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1958 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1960 [1]
Idaho Falls, Golden Anniversary War Bonnet Round Up, 1961 [1]
Idaho Falls, 51st Annual War Bonnet Round Up, 1962 [1]
Idaho Falls, 52nd Annual War Bonnet Round Up, 1963 [1]
Idaho Falls, 53rd Annual War Bonnet Round Up, 1964 [1]
Idaho Falls, 54th Annual War Bonnet Round Up, 1965 [1]
Idaho Falls, 55th War Bonnet Round Up, 1966 [5]
Idaho Falls, 56th War Bonnet Round Up, 1967 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1968 [1]
Idaho Falls, 58th Annual War Bonnet Round Up, 1969 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up daily program, 1970 [1]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1971 [2]
Idaho Falls, 61st War Bonnet Round Up, 1972 [2]
Idaho Falls, 62nd War Bonnet Round Up, 1973 [2]
Idaho Falls, 63rd War Bonnet Round Up, 1974 [2]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1975 [2]
Idaho Falls, War Bonnet Round Up, 1976 [1]
Preston, 42nd Annual Night Rodeo, 1977 [1]
Illinois
Chicago, Chicago Rodeo, 1926 [1]
Chicago, Col. W. T. Johnson World’s Championship, 1931 [1]
Iowa
Sidney, Sidney Rodeo, 1973 [1]
Kansas
Medicine Lodge, 6th Annual McLain’s Round Up, 1927 [1]
Massachusetts
Boston, 3rd Annual World’s Championship, 1933 [2]
Boston, 8th Annual World’s Championship, 1939 [2]
Missouri
Kansas City, American Royal World Championship, 1976 [1]
Nebraska
North Platte, Nebraskaland Days Rodeo, 1982 [1]
Strong City, 39th Annual Flint Hills Rodeo, 1976 [1]
New Mexico
Las Vegas, 1st Annual New Mexico Cowboys Reunion, 1915 [1]
Las Vegas, Cowboys Reunion, prize list, rules, 1917 [2]
Las Vegas, Cowboys Reunion, 1918 [1]
Las Vegas, Cowboys Reunion, 1919 [1]
Las Vegas, 16th Annual Cowboys Reunion, 1930 [3]
New York
New York, World Series Rodeo daily program, 1927 [1]
New York, 3rd Annual World’s Championship, 1928 [1]
New York, World Series Rodeo daily programs, 1929 [9]
New York, World Series Rodeo daily programs, 1930 [31]
New York, 6th Annual World Series Rodeo, daily program, 1931 [3]
New York, 9th Annual World’s Championship, 1934 [1]
New York, 12th Annual World’s Championship, 1937 [1]
New York, 13th Annual World’s Championship, prize list, 1938 [3]
New York, 14th Annual World’s Championship, prize list, exclusion list, 1939 [13]
New York, 15th Annual World’s Championship, daily program, 1940 [2]
New York, 16th Annual World’s Championship, 1941 [1]
New York, 17th Annual World’s Championship, 1942 [2]
New York, 18th Annual World’s Championship, prize list, 1943 [2]
New York, World Series Rodeo daily program, 1944 [1]
New York, 19th Annual World’s Championship, 1944 [1]
New York, 22nd Annual World’s Championship, 1947 [2]
New York, 24th Annual World’s Championship, 1949 [1]
New York, 25th Annual World’s Championship, 1950 [2]
New York, 26th Annual World’s Championship, 1951 [1]
New York, 27th Annual World’s Championship, 1952 [1]
New York, 28th Annual World’s Championship, 1953 [1]
New York, 29th Annual World’s Championship, 1954 [1]
New York, 31st Annual World’s Championship, 1956 [1]
New York, 32nd Annual World’s Championship, 1957 [1]
New York, 33rd Annual World’s Championship, 1958 [1]
New York, 34th Annual World’s Championship, 1959 [1]
New York, Madison Square Garden Championship, 1972 [2]
Oklahoma
Chickasha, Chickasha Rodeo, 1948 [1]
Oklahoma City, 1st World Championship Trick & Fancy Roping, 1966 [1]
Oklahoma City, State Fair Rodeo, 1974 [1]
Oklahoma City, National Finals Rodeo brochures, 1974 [3]
Oklahoma City, National Finals Rodeo brochures, 1975 [6]
Oklahoma City, National Finals Rodeo brochures, 1976 [4]
Oklahoma City, National Finals Rodeo brochures, 1977 [5]
Oklahoma City, National Finals Rodeo brochures, 1978 [2]
Woodward, 11th Annual Woodward Elks Rodeo, 1939 [1]
Oregon
Pendleton, Pendleton Round-Up daily program, 1933 [1]
Pendleton, Pendleton Round-Up, 1941 [1]
Pendleton, Pendleton Round-Up, 1967 [1]
Portland, Pacific International Stock & Horse Show prize list, 1939 [1]
South Dakota
Belle Fourche, 50th Annual Black Hills Round-Up, 1969 [1]
Belle Fourche, 59th Annual Black Hills Round-Up, 1978 [1]
Belle Fourche, 62nd Annual Black Hills Round-Up, 1981 [1]
Belle Fourche, 64th Black Hills Round-Up, 1983 [1]
Texas
Amarillo, Tri-State World Championship daily program, n.d. [2]
Amarillo, Leonard Stroud’s World Championship, n.d. [2]
Fort Worth, Southwestern Exposition & Fat Stock Show prize list, 1927 [1]
Fort Worth, Southwestern Exposition & Fat Stock Show, 1935 [1]
Fort Worth, Southwestern Exposition & Fat Stock Show, daily program, 1940 [2]
Fort Worth, Southwestern Exposition & Fat Stock Show, 1947 [1]
Galveston, Galveston Championship Rodeo, 1941 [2]
Harlingen, Valley Mid-Winter Fair, 1930 [1]
Houston, 50th Annual Houston Show & Rodeo, 1982 [1]
Pecos, Centennial Pecos Rodeo, 1983 [1]
San Antonio, 18th Annual San Antonio Livestock Exposition & Rodeo, 1967 [1]
Wichita Falls, Texas Ranch Roundup, 1983 [1]
Wyoming
Cheyenne, Cheyenne Frontier Days, 1905 [1]
Cheyenne, 61st Annual Cheyenne Frontier Days, 1957 [1]
Rawlins, 6th Annual Carbon County Rodeo, 1927 [1]
Unidentified Venue
Official Program of Events, 1969 [1]
Foreign
Australia
Sydney, Royal Easter Show, 1939 [1]
Canada
Calgary, Calgary Stampede, 1937 [1]
Calgary, Calgary Stampede, 1939 [2]
Calgary, Calgary Stampede, 1941 [3]
Calgary, Calgary Stampede, 1942 [4]

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