|
A Woman's Place...Is on the Range 
"We have not sufficiently been made to feel the presence of women in the history of the West . . . women were always the heart of this story.
The women who in their daily lives have built this distinctive culture have quietly been at this work for a very long time.
They have always been here and it has always mattered."
Thomas McGuane
McLeod, Montana
From the Foreword to
Hard Twist: Western Ranch Women
Photographs by Barbara Van Cleve
Museum of New Mexico Press
Santa Fe, 1995
 ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
A Woman's Place...Is onthe Range —The cowboy image has dominated American culture and its lore has helped to paint a picture of what life is like in the rural and rugged West. But in reality, both men and women have worked equally hard to live successfully on the range, and yet the role women have played in shaping this distinct lifestyle is often overlooked.
A Woman’s Place …Is on the Range recognizes the centennial of the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo, and takes a close look at the role women have played since the 1800s in ranching, cattle and stock associations, rodeo and stock shows, and these influences on popular culture. By displaying historic and contemporary photographs and documents, as well as focusing on some of the contemporary ranching women in Colorado, this exhibit will show the impact women have had in the cattle and stock business, their love for the lifestyle, and how – from Wild West shows and rodeo to fashion and literature – a popular “cowgirl” culture developed.
Women in Ranching
Women have worked alongside men in ranch operations and even
independent of them. They engaged in many of the same activities because teamwork was
necessary. In addition to conducting ranch operations, they also raised children
and maintain households.
Women worked as partners with their husbands and often assumed ranch
management after husbands died. Women were often counted as unpaid farm labor in census records that
placed emphasis on heads of households.
The National Western Stock Show
Women have participated with their husbands as stock show contestants
and exhibitors. According to National Western historian, Bill Saul, women have dominated
the horse shows and equestrian events.Women’s barrel racing was introduced at the National Western in 1960. In 1973 Sarah Forbes was elected as the first woman to serve on the
board of directors. Today the Board of Directors numbers around ninety people, thirteen of
whom are women. Sue Anschultz-Rodgers is the first woman to serve as head of the
National Western Executive Committee.
Cattle and Stock Associations
Women have been members of stock and cattle associations, generally as
partners with their husbands. There is evidence that woman were also members in their own standing.
A brand registration book from the Colorado Stock Growers’
Association, 1881-1882, lists brands owned by thirteen women. Member name recording methods make it difficult to determine gender.
Many members recorded only initial and last names
Today’s Colorado Cattlemen’s Association began in 1867 as the
Colorado Stock Growers. In 2004, the organization elected Lucy Meyring
as its first woman president. There is also the Colorado CattleWomen, Inc., an all-volunteer
organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the ranch lifestyle
and the interests of its members. Membership is open to any interested
individual
Wild West Shows and Rodeo
Men’s rodeo is well documented as a spin-off of cattle drives and
ranching.
It appears that Annie Oakley initiated women’s involvement as part of
Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows. Her popular appeal and success promoted Buffalo Bill to hire other women
riders to perform stunts and trick riding demonstrations. Gradually women appeared in male-dominated rodeos as side show
performers In some towns, women competed against men in various rodeo events, but
this varied by location, public perception and individual rodeo
contests. During the 1930s the number of women rodeo athletes declined and this
remain so until after World War II when professional women’s rode
organizations were formed, namely the Girl’s Rodeo Association in
1947. Today the organization exists as the Women’s Professional Rodeo
Association. "Cowgirl" is a name that generally applies to rodeo athletes,
not working ranch women, although some may use the term.
Fashion
Ranch women wore whatever clothing was available to them at the time. This included dresses, hats, boots, vests, guns and holsters. There was no particular ranch fashionVictorian style clothing dominated the late 19th century:
long dresses, button sleeves, high collars and lace-up boots. During the 1890s the split skirt was developed. Women and men wore the same clothing available through dry good stores. Much of women’s clothing was home made Tourism and popular media such as motion film and television influenced
the development of women’s western wear. Western wear has been dominated by the male-oriented market
Popular culture
The "Cowboy" is a dominant icon in American culture and
western myth.
In popular media, including literature, poetry, music, motion pictures
and television, women have traditionally played subordinate roles.
This began to change during the 1970s and 1980s and popular perceptions
changed regarding women’s roles in society and culture.
Cowgirl literature, poetry and music exist as a genre today.
Prepared by Keith Schrum, Curator of Books & Manuscripts
OUR
PARTNERS
The Colorado Historical Society would like to thank the following sponsors
for their generous support:
|