Photographs of Cowboys

Print Worksheet    Download   Email
Though there are many images of cowboys in popular culture, not many exist of working cowboys in the 19th century. The photographs were taken at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Examine them closely before answering the questions below.

group-of-cowboys.jpg

Source: Group of cowboys and their horses, Sheridan, Wyo. photo by H.R. Locke on B. & M. R.R. [1890?] Denver Public Library, Western History Collection. [Call number: Z-2580].

black-cowboy.jpg

Source: Black cowboy and horse [between 1890 and 1920?] Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library. [Call Number: X-21563].

old-time-cowboys.jpg

Source: Bunch of genuine old time cowboys and bronco busters at Denver, Colorado. Solomon D. Butcher. 1905.
Nebraska State Historical Society. [Digital ID: nbhips 12615]

cowboy-and-herd.jpg

Source: Cowboy and a herd of cattle in Cherry County, Nebraska. Solomon D. Butcher. 1889. Nebraska State Historical Society [Digital ID: nbhips 14270].

cowboy-at-work.jpg

Source: Cowboy at work, TX, c. 1905. Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Erwin Smith photo. http://historyproject.ucdavis.edu/khapp.php?SlideNum=2721

--------------------

Questions:

1. What can you learn about cowboys from these photographs?

2. Cowboys didn’t walk around with digital cameras. Who do you think shot these photographs? Do they seem posed? If so, does that affect what you can learn from the images?