True West Historical Society

Official Site of True West Magazine, Since 1953

Ginny Morgan's Blog (44)

Search Blog Posts

Theft at Bent's old Fort, watch for these guns

On the 28th of September there was a break in and theft at Bent's

Old Fort National Historic Site.



Thieves ransack Colorado historic sites - By Howard Pankratz

/The Denver Post

/ a href="http://www.denverpo">http://www.denverpo st.com/news/ ci_16218767? source=email>



Two historical sites in southern Colorado have been robbed in the past

week by thieves who stole buffalo hides, historic weapons and… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on October 7, 2010 at 7:00pm — 12 Comments

The Wages of Sin

Wichita's Dixie Lee





The Civil War provided the most popular alias adopted by prostitutes in the old west, Dixie Lee, not because the ladies were Southern but because these were the two most "romantic" names which they could adopt after the war. Wichita's Dixie Lee was the most popular madam in town, despite the fact her establishment could not rival the house at 33 Water St., the brothel of Besse Earp, wife of Jim Earp, elder brother of Wyatt.



Wichita was prospering,…

Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on July 29, 2010 at 8:46am — 3 Comments

T.V.s First female hero..Annie Oakley

Long before Xena, long before Buffy, there was Annie Oakley. In 81 episodes made between 1954 to 1957, the TV series starring Gail Davis stood in stark contrast both all other contemporary Westerns, all of which starred men, while all other shows with female leads had none who were especially heroic. The show’s Annie Oakley was based only very loosely on the real life Annie Oakley, an Easterner who grew up outside of Cincinnati whose prowess with a rifle gained her a spot as the star…

Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on July 26, 2010 at 10:46pm — 9 Comments

Perfectly Amanda..story of Amanda Blake, "Miss Kitty"

While at the Autry yesterday I met the Lady that wrote the new book about Amanda Blake who played Kitty on gunsmoke for many years. The book is called Perfectly Amanda by Becky Burgoyne. It is available on Amazon.com. Amanda Blake was a fine actress who was perfectly cast as Kitty and influenced a generation of girls. Even now, at events, because I am red headed I guess...I get called Miss Kitty.

Kitty was a strong, independent businesswoman who had class and always behaved like a…

Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on July 25, 2010 at 12:05pm — 12 Comments

Very good TW issue! Thanks BBB!

Just wanted to post a note to BBB and the staff saying how much I enjoyed this last issue! Even though I had read some of the stuff about Billy elsewhere...My husband and I really enjoyed the articles in this issue. Lots of good reads in this issue! I had been considering not renewing but I do believe I will! Keep up the good work!

Added by Ginny Morgan on July 20, 2010 at 5:15pm — 3 Comments

TICHKEMATSE : A CHEYENNE AT THE SMITHSONIAN

A fascinating early employee of the Smithsonian Institution was Tichkematse (Squint Eyes), a Cheyenne Indian who worked for the institution in a variety of capacities between 1879 and 1881. Raised to a life based on buffalo hunting, Tichkematse was among a group of southern Plains warriors who were held as prisoners of war by the United States government from 1875-1878. While imprisoned, he learned to speak English and to read and write. Upon release he attended school at the…

Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on February 8, 2010 at 11:27am — 1 Comment

The life of Toby Riddle



Kaitchkona Winema - Modoc

By Julia White
The Modoc territory covered much of Northern California and South Central Oregon, and are one of the Native Nations who were almost exterminated because of the California Gold Rush.

As a youngster, Winema was called Nonooktowa, "the strange child", because she had no fear of man or beast. She was strong and athletic, and her early life was adventurous. She successfully hunted grizzly bears,…

Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on February 7, 2010 at 8:16pm — 3 Comments

Harold J. Smith..aka Jay Silverheels aka Tonto...

There have only been a handful of Indian actors who have been featured stars, this man was one of the best.

Jay Silverheels (May 26, 1912 – March 5, 1980) was a Canadian…

Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on February 6, 2010 at 11:52pm — 3 Comments

How to spot a "real saloon girl"

This is an article I found that tells it like it was...

Saloon (Western) girls' costumes
I know that everybody has in mind Marilyn Monroe in lace 'n' chiffon skirt in bright colours…
Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on February 5, 2010 at 6:21pm — 3 Comments

Happy Holidays

May the Great Spirit grant all of you a wonderful Holiday Season and Great New Year. I have enjoyed my time here and in the Spirit of the Season I wish you all Peace.

Added by Ginny Morgan on December 22, 2009 at 11:33am — 5 Comments

19th century Theater Life

Theater Life



In the 18th century and early 19th century, the acting profession was considered sinful and actors were subject to social ostracism. However, by the mid-19th century actors could be considered quite socially respectable. "Prominent persons in society, politics, and literature went out of their way to entertain leading members of the acting profession, while lesser actors seemed to have no trouble fitting into middle-class America. The memoirs of theatrical people like… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on December 18, 2009 at 9:46am — 3 Comments

Adah Isaacs Menken: 19th century free spirit

She was born Adah Bertha Theodore in New Orleans to a French Creole mother and a Free Negro father, Auguste Theodore. She danced as a child in New Orleans, Havana and Texas. Eventually she worked in San Francisco. Menken was known for her poetry and painting. In 1859 she appeared on Broadway in the play "The French Spy."



She converted to Judaism and married a Jewish musician, Alexander Isaac Menken. Their marriage was short-lived. Menken separated from and later divorced her, though… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on December 18, 2009 at 2:42am — 3 Comments

Life after Tombstone for Virgil and Allie Earp

After receiving his injuries in Tombstone, Virgil spent the next two years recovering at his parent's home in Colton, California. Despite the use of only one arm, Virgil was hired by the Southern Pacific Railroad to guard the tracks in Colton's famous "battle of the crossing." Here Virgil Earp attempted to stop the California Southern Railroad as subsidiary of Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe from installing a crossing to enter California over the SP tracks in Colton. Governor Waterman deputized a… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on December 6, 2009 at 8:59am — 4 Comments

Western manners and deportment

The American West, with its loosely organized communities of strangers, its scarcity of women and its mixing of people from all over the world, produced its own behavioral norms which, while they had their roots in Victorian America, also had their own unique character.



One of the most striking features was the Westerner's obsession with minding his own business.



Given the dubious backgrounds of many of the people who had felt compelled to leave everything behind and move… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on December 2, 2009 at 8:15am — 7 Comments

Donaldina Cameron,Saviour of Chinese Prostitutes & slaves in Old San Francisco

Donaldina Cameron was born on a sheep ranch in New Zealand. At the age of two she emigrated to California with her parents, older brother, and four older sisters. In 1874, when Donaldina was five, her mother died, worn out from the hardships of ranching life. The family's ranch eventually failed and Donaldina's father supported his family by working for other ranchers. At nineteen, Donaldina was engaged, but for reasons unknown, did not marry. In 1895, Donaldina was persuaded by an old family… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on December 1, 2009 at 10:30pm — 4 Comments

The Colorful Story of Uncle Billy Rubottom

Odessa's posts got me to thinking of local history..we all have interesting stories in our own back yard. Here is one. I drive by this man's former stagecoach stop often and think of him...



WILLIAM WILEY RUBOTTOM was born 1808 in Wayne County, Missouri, and died October 14, 1885 in Spadra (Los Angeles), CA. He married SARAH ANN Edwards in 1829 in Wayne County, MO.

UNCLE BILLY RUBOTTOM owned and operated a stage coach stop on Foothill Blvd. in Rancho Cucamonga before 1850. It is… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on November 28, 2009 at 11:28am — 1 Comment

Quanah Parker

Quanah Parker was the last Chief of the Commanches and never lost a battle to the white man. His tribe roamed over the area where Pampas stands. He was never captured by the Army, but decided to surrender and lead his tribe into the white man's culture, only when he saw that there was no alternative.



His was the last tribe in the Staked Plains to come into the reservation system.



Quanah, meaning "fragrant," was born about 1850, son of Comanche Chief Peta Nocona and Cynthia… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on November 23, 2009 at 11:21am — 4 Comments

Cynthia Ann Parker - Comanche (Adopted)

Cynthia Ann Parker - Comanche (Adopted)

By Julia White

Even though she was not born of Native blood, the life of Cynthia Ann Parker certainly earned recognition and respect because of her devotion to Native life, her husband and her children. It only seems fitting that her spirit be honored here.

Cynthia was born in Clark County, Illinois and moved with her family to the headwaters of the Navasota River in Texas as a young child. The family developed a community around the church… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on November 22, 2009 at 9:39pm — 10 Comments

CLARA BROWN:An extraordinary Western Woman

Clara was born into slavery on a plantation in Gallatin, Tennessee in the year of 1803. When she was age three, Clara and her mother were sold to a Virginia planter where she stayed until age thirty. While living in Virginia, Clara married, at age eighteen, a fellow slave named Richard, and together they sired four children: a son, Richard Jr. and three daughters: Margaret, Palina Ann, and Eliza Jane. At age thirty-five, Clara was sold again at an auction to a third owner named George Brown.… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on November 22, 2009 at 3:30pm — 2 Comments

Original lyrics of "The Yellow Rose of Texas"

Originally conceived as a folksong in early Colonial Texas history, the first recorded copy of the "Yellow Rose of Texas" was handwritten on a piece of plain paper circa 1836. Historical records indicate this copy was most probably transcribed either shortly before or just after General Sam Houston lead his brigade of Texas loyalists against the army of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.



The folksong's lyrics tell of a black American… Continue

Added by Ginny Morgan on November 16, 2009 at 10:35am — 4 Comments

Latest Blog Posts

Most Popular Blog Posts

Monthly Archives

2010

2009

1999

© 2013   Created by True West.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

Sign in to chat!