Cowgirls: Women of the Wild West - Hardcover

Flood, Elizabeth Clair; Manns, William

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0939549182 ISBN 13: 9780939549184

Publisher: Zon Intl Pub Co, 2000

Synopsis

This exciting journey into this slice of true Americana begins with a foreword from Americas most beloved cowgirl, Dale Evans. Illustrated with more than 450 color photographs and historic images, COWGIRLS: Women of the Wild West pays tribute to the life and legacy of the pioneer woman in the American West, who worked on ranches, performed in Wild West shows, and competed in the rodeo arena.

The cowgirl appeared on the American frontier in the mid-1800s. She worked with stock alongside the cowboy and was a determined and spirited pioneer. Rancher Lorraine Plass, at age 87, epitomizes the cowgirl spirit: As long as the colt stays under me Ill do all right. I will get the job done.

In COWGIRLS, the author and photographer present the history of the cowgirl through a combination of compelling tales, illustrations of their gear, western art, and photography. In six chapters, COWGIRLS represents the years between 1880 and 1950, which include the migration of women to the West, the rodeo stars of the early twentieth century, the cowgirl images created by Hollywood, and unusual poster art. This colorful volume includes many photographs published for the first time and highlights the evolution of innovative cowgirl fashions. An important book for Western American collectors.

About this title

About the Author:

ELIZABETH CLAIR FLOOD calls Wilson, Wyoming, home. A regular contributor to Architectural Digest and a staff writer for Cowboys & Indians, Flood is also a board member of the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. COWGIRLS, WOMEN OF THE WILD WEST, is her second collaborative effort with William Manns, with whom she co-authored Cowboys & the Trappings of the Old West. Flood also penned Cowboy High Style and Rocky Mountain Home.

Santa Fe, New Mexico based WILLIAM MANNS has an eye for the best of all that is Western. A 30-year collector of the finest Western artifacts and antiques, MANNS is an internationally recognized photographer and Western historian. In addition to the photography for COWGIRLS, he is also the author of Painted Ponies, American Carousel Art. Manns also served as the principal photographer of Packing Iron, Gunleather of the Frontier West.

Review:

Match their male cowboy counterparts these feisty women certainly didroping calves; herding cattle; branding steer; trick riding in the rodeo; even living up to the famous lyrics of Annie Get Your Gun,Anything you can do, I can do better. Its no coincidence that this timeless musical classic is all the rage on Broadway again today, for as this new literary tribute shows, the contributions of Americas cowgirls are boundless and brilliant. From the sad end of the life of Ella Watson, to the splendor of the rodeo days with Cowgirls of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show, to the Hollywood Western sirens like Josie Sedwick and Barbara Stanwyck, COWGIRLS is a visual feast, detailing the sagas of the Wests finest female pioneers with many never-before published photographs.

The writing/photography team of Elizabeth Clair Flood and William Manns, who also brought Cowboys & the Trappings of the Old West to life, researched the history of these famous ladies for five years, many times drawing on the rare collectibles of Western aficionados across the country to illustrate the colorful history of these women.

In addition to show casing famous photographs of the daring ladies, Flood and Manns even highlight the magnificent clothing and gear that evolved as rapidly as the spirit of the cowgirls themselves, many times showing original items side by side with historical photographs. Divided into six chapters, COWGIRLS covers the migration of women out west and the necessity for them to work the land and cattle, to the glory days of rodeo and cowgirl images in Hollywood and works of art.

Floods writing is crisp and witty, and Manns photographs are dazzling. Their passion for all that is Western speaks to the adventurer in all of us throughout COWGIRLS, and to the female spirit. -- COWBOY AND INDIANS

About this edition

• Publisher: Zon Intl Pub Co
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0939549182
• ISBN 13: 9780939549184
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224