Cow-boys

1947 · 423928 — Billings Montana 1947. Hardcover. Near Fine. Small quarto measuring 7.5" x 9.5". Carved wooden boards with "Montana" and a cowboy on a horse carved on the front board. Contains 104 sepia-toned or black and white gelatin silver photographs measuring between 2" x 3" and 5.5" x 7.5" with captions. Some tidemarks on the page edges not affecting the photographs thus very good with near fine photographs.<br /> <br /> A photo album kept by Margaret Gilbert while visiting a ranch in Billings Montana beginning in 1947. The album begins with a note saying that the marquetry hardwood album cover was made by "Cowboy ‘Phil' Brady who died 6-14-47." It's followed by the handwritten title "Pictures from Billings Montana." The photos open with women at the Red Lodge in Montana showing them posed by a snow covered river. Other photos show women hiking in western clothing and posed around the Montana landscape. They attend a "Western Parade" with a paddy wagon rides waving to the crowd and men waving American flags. One color photo shows a woman "pitching alfalfa hay" others show the ranch animals including a cat named "Squeaky" and a dog named "Shep" around the grounds. Margaret photographed the Billings rodeo with images of the riders parading into the arena action shots of riders on bucking horses and cattle rustling. Later photos show another parade which featured the "Budweiser Horses." It appears from some later photos laid in that this Montana trip happened regularly and more recent photographs show an older Margaret returning to Billings.<br /> <br /> An interesting collection of images depicting a woman's involvement in Rodeo culture in Montana in the late 1940s. hardcover