Collins, Ida S 1958-08-22

Mrs. Collins, daughter of a pioneer sheep rancher in Lubbock County, gives a keen insight into the life of a sheep raising family and the problems of ranching on the open plains with the "woolies."

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Ida S. Collins

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: August 22 and 26, 1958 [Duplicated on cassette- 1958]

Location: Residence, East of Lubbock, Texas on Idalou Highway

Interviewer: Jean A. Paul

Length: 4 hours

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: W. G. Nairn locates sheep ranch in Lubbock County (25), First Nairn home on the South Plains was a sod-covered shanty in Lubbock County (57), Dugout home of the Nairns (108), Neighbor of Nairns, S. S. Rush, also lived in dugout (140), Sheep prices and wool value low in early days (163), Losses of sheep to severe weather and wolves (183), Professor Riggs, a hired hand, and sheep herders (216), Portable picket pens enclosed sheep at night (256), Winter losses of sheep (again) (280), Skinning dead sheep for their pelts (317)

Tape 1, Side 2: "Branding" sheep (328), Marketing wool in Amarillo (346), Sheep ranch hands (430), Combined sheep shearing activity with other sheepmen in area (460), Migrant Mexican shearers (496), Sheep manure burned as fuel when cow chips weren't available (553), Dipping sheep (584), Cattlemen in area and attitude toward sheep (635), Nairn disposes of sheep in favor of farming in 1905-1906 (710), Nairn raises hogs (754) and gets caught up in Sudan grass craze, Watermelons grown in Lubbock and fed to hogs (776), Antelope come to water at Nairn tank (807)

Tape 2, Side 1: Coyotes ravage sheep and are in turn poisoned by herders (841), Coyotes made raids on hen houses (5), Rabbits raid watermelon patches (20), Aunt Hank Smith spends a short time with Nairn family while undergoing treatment form Lubbock doctor (55)

Tape 2, Side 2: Blank

Tape 3, Side 1: Sheepmen in Lubbock County (18), S. S. Rush raises first cotton grown in Lubbock County on land leased from W. G. Nairn (28), "Boll-pullers" replace cotton pickers after the severe winter of 1928 (65), Heading maize by hand (102), Agricultural machinery (125), Combines make their appearance in 1935 (154), Early cultivation of Nairn property (175), W. G. Nairn raises draft horses (200), Plowing fields with big draft horses (256), Raising working horses for Nairn farm (300)

Tape 3, Side 2: Cow chips used as fuel (350), Irrigation spells end of diversified agriculture on the South Plains (396), Burning corn and maize for fuel (467), Nairns as well as others had an orchard and a garden (560), Menu of Nairn farmhouse (733)

Tape 4, Side 1: Butchering sheep (798), Prophecy that oil would be found on South Plains (9), First oil well in Lubbock County and the sale of oil leases (58), Church of Christ in Lubbock holds protracted meetings (141), Typical Sunday "meeting" of the church members (235), Church services in the old courthouse (250)

Tape 4, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1928-1958

Bulk Dates: 1928-1958

Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

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