Swenson, W G and A M G 1969

From SWC Oral History Collection
Revision as of 21:21, 11 September 2015 by Heather (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Swede and Bill Swenson, former managers of the Swenson Land and Cattle Company, discuss the background of the company and its original owner, S. M. Swenson, along with its growth and recent developments. They also inventory the SMS records, and in the last tape Miss Olive McDougle reads a paper detailing the history of the SMS Ranches.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: W.G. and A.M.G. Swenson

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: July 8 and October 10, 1969

Location: Stamford, Texas

Interviewer: Charles Townsend and Fred Carpenter

Length: 6 hours


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Biographical information on W. G. "Bill" Swenson, Education at the University of Texas (Austin), Biographical information on A. M. G. "Swede" Swenson, Education at the University of Texas, S. M. Swenson, founder of Swenson Land and Cattle Company, discussed, Biographical information given, Early years in the United States, Aid to Swedish immigrants reviewed, Express his opinions concerning slavery, Real estate interests revealed, Lists managers of the Swenson properties, Purchase of the Spur Ranch recalled, Names other members of the Swenson family, Description of various ranhes of the Swenson Land and Cattle Company, Location and acreage, Water supply and weather conditions, Drought conditions mentioned, Cattle shoot effects explained.

Tape 1, Side 2: Blank

Tape 2, Side 1: Cattle shoot during the Depression recalled, Problems in clearing mesquite from the ranches, Sale of cattle described, Discuss cattle rustling, Changes in ranching reviewed, Roundups are different, Size of pastures has decreased, Farming on the ranches, Reveal changes in the role of the cowboy, Control of cattle disease explained, Transportation of cattle, Cattle breeding discussed, Oil on the Swenson ranches, List employees of the Swenson ranches, Horses used on the Swenson ranches mentioned, Explain use of the chuck wagon in modern ranching.

Tape 2, Side 2: Blank

Tape 3, Side 1: Inventory of the archives of the Swenson Land and Cattle Company.

Tape 3, Side 2: Blank

Tape 4, Side 1: Inventory of the archives of the Swenson Land and Cattle Company.

Tape 4, Side 2: Blank

Tape 5, Side 1: S. M. Swenson arrives in Texas, SMS Ranch chuck wagon, Roundup on the ranch, W. G. Swenson, manager (1943-1968), Getting cattle to the markets, Rounding up the cattle and driving them to market, Today, trucks used to transport cattle, Explanation of "horse wrangler", Roundup on the ranch today, Living conditions on the ranch, Extra help—Swedish boys, New York office of the ranch, Letter from Sam Houston to S. M. Swenson, Texas Cowboy Reunion, Visit to Reunion by Will Rogers, Joe Ericson, old foreman, Branding scene on the ranch, Cattle rustling today.

Tape 5, Side 2: Cattle rustling (continued), Cattle shoot of the 1930s, Swensons refused to sell to government, Old headquarters, Swenson family, Discussion of cutting horses, Honors received by W. G. Swenson, National Cowboy Hall of Fame, W. G. Swenson’s family biography, His schooling, Service in World War I, Swenson’s children.

Tape 6, Side 1: Letters of S. M. Swenson, Details of move of materials to Texas Tech’s Southwest Collection, Frank S. Hastings’ brochure, Discussion of several photographs, The Four SMS Ranches: Throckmorton, Flattop, Tongue River and Spur, More photographs identified: Joe O’Brien, W. G. Swenson’s sons, Monte Ritchie, George Humphries, Winston Ellmore Maps of ranches, Carl Weddene, Marlboro shots.

Tape 6, Side 2: Blank

Tape 7, Side 1: Bethel Lutheran Church, Acquisition of Spur Ranch, Marlboro’s visit to the SMS Ranch, Miss Olive McDougle’s reading of a history of the SMS Ranches, History of cattle in Texas, Arrival of S. M. Swenson, General store in Austin, Purchase of railroad land, Beginnings of SMS Ranches, Stamford townsite is born, Stamford grows, Frank Hastings, general manager.

Tape 7, Side 2: John Selman comes to the ranch, A. J. Swenson, general manager, Improvements to the ranches, W. G. Swenson, general manager, The ranches today, Mrs. Reva Bragg, secretary in the Swenson Land and Cattle Company office.

Range Dates: 1840s-1969

Bulk Dates: 1840s-1969


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.