THE ENGLISH WESTERNERS' SOCIETY
JULY 2009 BOOK REVIEW
This review first appeared in the Tally Sheet (Summer 2007, Volume 53, Number 3)
A WESTERN LEGACY: THE NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM
Contributions by Steven L. Grafe, Susan Hallsten McGarry, Charles E, Rand, Richard C. Rattenbury, Donald W. Reeves. University of Oklahoma Press. Sept. 2005. 244 pages. Profusely illustrated with photographs and color paintings and sculpture. Hardcover. ISBN 0-8061-3728-2, $59.95. Paper-cover ISBN 08061-3731-2, $29.95.
Although how many members of the English Westerners Society may have been able to visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is unknown; if the opportunity is ever presented hopefully they will take advantage of it. If impossible, then by all means this is a book to have as one can vicariously relive the founding and development of the former National Cowboy Hall of Fame but also enjoy a small number of its treasures, paintings and sculpture works. The reason for this publication appearing now is it's the fiftieth anniversary of the museum.
A most interesting beginning of this work, once the reader has perhaps only glanced through the color illustrations to see if his or her favorite painting is included, is the "History of the Museum" contributed by well known author David Dary. This essay traces the beginnings of the idea, the efforts to get the idea accepted, the people involved in making the dream a reality. If one person should receive the credit for the idea of a "custodian and purveyor of the artistic and tangible legacy of the West" that person is Chester A. Reynolds. He believed there should be a national shrine established for the American cowboy, and he was able to make his dream a reality.
But the highlights of the book are the illustrations and accompanying text, a one page explanation of the artist and the work. The sections are: Art of the American West; Works of Art on Paper by American Indian Artists; American Indian Traditional Arts; History and the Joe Grandee Collection of the Frontier West; The A. Max Weitzenhoffer Collection of Fine American Firearms; American Cowboy Collection; American Rodeo Collections; The Western Performers Collection; the Donald C. & Elizabeth M. Dickinson Research Center. Each chapter is illustrated with numerous full page colour plates as well as smaller illustrations.
The work includes a list of suggested reading, index, brief biographical sketches about the contributors and a list of the Board of Directors for 2004-05. Although its first appearance may suggest a "coffee table" book it is a very enjoyable book to read and share with visitors.
Chuck Parsons
Copyright © 2009 English Westerners' Society