Blasingame, Tom 1975-09-20
Tom Blasingame speaks of his lengthy career in ranching, placing emphasis on his years spent on the Double Circle, Matador and JA ranches.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Tom Blasingame
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: September 20, 1975
Location: Campbell Line Camp, JA Ranch
Interviewer: Byron Price
Length: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Line camp located,
Family background,
Double Circle Ranch,
Ranch life described,
Problems with wolves,
Her management,
Railroad located,
Compared to Texas and New Mexico ranches,
Herd management,
Life on trail,
Education, Red Hill School, Oklahoma,
Wages,
Arizona grass,
Popular cattle breeds,
Owners of Double Circle Ranch,
Need for handguns,
Branding,
Rustling,
California ranching (1926),
California and Arizona weather,
Feeding cattle during storm,
Rodeos,
Breaking horses,
Bell Ranch (1926),
Marketing cattle,
Return to Texas,
Matador Ranch,
Compared to Double Circle
Tape 1, Side 2:
Matador Ranch (continued),
Life on trail,
Hereford breeding ranches,
JA Ranch,
J. W. Kent, manager (1916),
Memories of Charles Goodnight,
Anecdote about meeting news reporter,
Size of ranch,
Original ranch house,
Employees,
Fencing country,
Organization,
Loyalty,
Black cowboys,
Marriage (1933),
Wife's background,
Social activities,
Ranch dances,
Goodnight buffalo,
Antelope near Matador, Texas,
Problems of prairie dogs, rabbits, and coyotes,
Effects of Depression,
Effects of World War II,
Rainfall and cattle prices (1935-1950),
Innovations in cattle industry,
Interesting cattle hands,
English employees, JA Ranch,
Memories of J. Evetts Haley,
Cowboy reunions,
Present occupation,
Illnesses on ranch,
Anecdote about eating coyote,
Chuck wagon food,
J. Evetts Haley,
Anecdote about killing game
Range Dates: 1916-1975
Bulk Dates: 1916-1950
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
