Singin' Sam Agins photograph collection, 1875-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Agins, Sam.
Title
Singin' Sam Agins photograph collection
Dates
1875-1990 (inclusive)
1885-1980 (bulk)
Quantity
3 boxes, (3.0 linear ft. )
Collection Number
UUS_P0134
Summary
Photographs from the 1940s to the 1980s and photographic postcards with images from the 19th century. The majority are black & white silver gelatin prints, 8" x 10" or smaller, although there are a few color prints and a large number of postcards. There is a total of 105 photographs (11 in color), 126 black and white proof sheets, 59 postcards (1 in color), 76 black and white negatives, and 18 posters. The majority of the images range from 1960 to 1980 and consist of the various places and festivals where Agins performed, the people that he performed with, and photos used in the photo-essay, Round Legs. Also includes photographs of a portrait of Agins painted by John Henry Waddell. Many of the photos were taken by Frederica Agins, some by professional photographers and event photographers, and a few by Agins' fans. The postcards are reproductions of 19th century "old west" images including Buffalo Bill, Native Americans, cowboys, stagecoaches, etc. Many of the photographs have negatives.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions
Restrictions

Open to public research.

Languages
English.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Singin' Sam Agins was born in Denver, Colorado on June 14, 1919 and he died in Sun City, Arizona on March 28, 1996. He was born with a congenital paralysis of both legs and only weighed 2 lbs. at birth. Agins was limited to using crutches or a wheelchair for mobility from childhood. Despite his disability he led a very active and full life. Sam's activities included guitar playing, making poetry, and writing and collecting music. In addition he was a leather craftsman, stringed instruments mechanic, and a maker of hand-tooled silver buckle jewelry and violins. On November 19, 1957 he married Frederica Agins (born May, 1938) and they had two sons, Judd and Joseph Agins.

Agins' passion was writing, collecting, and recording American folk songs, especially of the West. During the 1940s and 1950s he entertained disabled youth, veterans, and children in hospitals acting as an Ambassador of Goodwill Industries. In addition, he entertained prisoners in New Mexico, guests at dude ranches, and taught classes about folk singing throughout the American West. Agins was also the United States representative in 1976 at the Smithsonian Institution's Montreal Expo and also served as an expert on early American folk songs in Washington D.C. During the 1970s and 1980s he participated in the Festival of the American West and the Western Writers Conferences held in Logan, Utah.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection includes photographs from the 1880s to the 1980s. The majority of the images are black-and-white silver gelatin prints, 8" x 10" or smaller although there are a few color prints and a large number of postcards. There is a total of 105 photographs (11 in color), 126 black and white proof sheets, 59 postcards (1 in color), 76 black and white negatives, and 18 posters. The majority of the images range from 1960 to 1980 and consist of the various places where Agins performed, the people that he performed with, and photos used in Round Legs. Many of the photos were taken by Frederica, some by professional photographers and event photographers, and a few by Agins' fans. The postcards are reproductions of 19th century "old west" images including Buffalo Bill, Native Americans, cowboys, stagecoaches, etc. Captions and some of the inscriptions (or parts of due to the length) are copied exactly as they appear on the photo inside of quotation marks with additional information enclosed in brackets. Many of the photographs have negatives.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Permission to publish material from the Singin' Sam Agins photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Singin' Sam Agins photograph collection, 1875-1990. (P0134). Utah State University. Special Collections & Archives Department.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Photographs removed from album, in original order.

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated by Frederica Agins in 1997. The photographs were removed from the Singin' Sam Agins papers, MSS 230. Included in that collection are copies of the publication Round Legs, a photo-essay by Agins.

Processing Note

Register completed by Daniel Davis, February 2005.

Related Materials

Singin' Sam Agins papersCOLL MS 230

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

John Henry Waddell original portrait of Agins, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 11 1970-1979
1 11
1:11:02: Color copy photographs of an original portrait of Agins by artist John Henry Waddell
see 1:15:03
undated
1 11 1970-1979
1 11 1970-1979
1 11
1:11:05: Agins posing while John Henry Waddell paints
negative available
undated

Snapshot of TexasReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 23
1:23:01: Snapshot of Texas Jim Silver with his guitar
undated
1 23
1:23:02: Snapshot of Texas Jim Silver with a record
undated
1 23
1:23:03: Snapshot of Texas Jim Silver with his guitar
undated

The Western Horseman, 1960 SeptemberReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 24
1:24:01: Clayton Barnes demonstrating his horse shoeing machine at the Elkhorn Ranch, Montana, 1960. Photographs taken for The Western Horseman by Clayton Barnes
1960
1 24
1:24:02: Clayton Barnes horse shoeing machine, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman"
1960 September
1 24
1:24:03: A group of men trying out the machine on a horse, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman"
1960 September
1 24
1:24:04: Clayton Barnes horse shoeing machine, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman"
1960 September
1 24
1:24:05: Men working on the horse shoeing machine, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman"
1960 September
1 24
1:24:06: Clayton Barnes demonstrating the machine which raises the horse horizontal, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman"
1960 September
1 24
1:24:07: "Clayton Barnes and Bob Miller demonstrating his horse shoeing machine, and an electric sander to remove a horse shoe, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman"
1960 September
1 24
1:24:08: Clayton Barnes shoeing the horse, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman"
1960 September
1 24
1:24:09: Clayton Barnes shoeing the horse, "Sep 1960, The Western Horseman"
1960 September
1 24
1:24:010: "Clayton Barnes demonstrating his horse shoeing machine, and an electric sander to remove a horse shoe, Sep 1960, The Western Horseman"
1960 September

Faces [People Making Silly Faces] , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 25 undated
1 25 undated
1 25 undated
1 25 undated
1 25 undated
1 25 undated
1 25 undated
1 25 undated
1 26 undated
1 26 undated
1 26 undated
1 26 undated
1 26 undated
1 26 undated
1 26 undated
1 26 undated
1 26 undated

Photographs from Rambler's Notebook , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 30 undated
1 30 undated
1 30 undated
1 31
1:31:01: Snapshot, the Dillon Hotel
1940-1949
1 31
1:31:02: Postcard announcing a 1990 exhibit entitled "Survivors: Underemployed workers in Third World Streets" by photographer Rolf Kjolseth at the University of Colorado, Boulder. On front is an image of a woman and carring her child labeled, "Overworked and Underemployed"; verso is signed by the photographer to Agins
1990
1 31
1:31:03: Brochure with color photograph on folk legend Don Pablo (1898-1974.)
undated
1 32
1:32:01: Pancho Villa and his men
undated
1 32
1:32:02: Pancho Villa's corpse, with a group of men surrounding it
undated
1 32
1:32:03: Pancho Villa's corpse, "Sadaver de Francisico Villa and Hotel Hidalgo Parral Chihva
undated
1 32
1:32:04: "Rattlesnake killing rabbit" in verso "Lucy Brown, Billings, Montana"
undated
1 32
1:32:05: Copy photograph of a brochure advertising Harter's Liver Pills
undated
1 32
1:32:06: Copy photograph of a brochure advertising Harter's Liver Pills
undated
1 32
1:32:07: Unidentified cowboy performing with a lasso
undated
1 32
1:32:08: "Old Occidental Hotel Where the Virginian got his man Buffalo, Wyoming"
undated

Postcards, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 33

Container(s) Description Dates
1:33:01: The Free State Saloon, Silverton, Colorado
1960-1969
1:33:02: St. John's Hospital, Jackson, Wyoming
1940-1949
1:33:03: Pioneer reenactment parade, Jackson, Wyoming. Cowboy Bar in background
undated
1:33:04: Vista of Red River, New Mexico
1940-1949
1:33:05: Catalina Mountains from front patio of the Rancho Del Rio, Tucson, Arizona
undated
1:33:06: Ranch house and north patio, Rancho Del Rio, Tucson, Arizona
undated
1:33:07: "Pony Express--1947 Model" [woman on a horse], Rancho Del Rio, Tucson, Arizona
undated
1:33:08: Jesse W. James, with crossed pistols
undated
1:33:09: Great Northern Express Car, after being dynamited by Franhauser and MacDonald in train holdup near Rexburg, Montana
undated

Postcards, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 34

Container(s) Description Dates
1:34:01: Jesse James in 1948 and at the age of 17
undated
1:34:02: Gunmen Cole and Bob Younger
undated
1:34:03: Corpse of Charley Pitts
undated
1:34:04: Myra Belle Shirley, a.k.a. Belle Starr
undated
1:34:05: Headstone of Belle Starr
undated
1:34:06: Corpse of Clell Miller
undated
1:34:07: Schribner White Horse Stage, Walcott, Wyoming to Saratoga, Wyoming
undated
1:34:08: 'Comanche,' only horse to survive Custer's Last Stand
undated
1:34:09: Round up, Saratoga, Wyoming
undated
1:34:10: Round up scene
undated

Postcards, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 35

Container(s) Description Dates
1:35:01: Rankin Stage Line, Bragg, Wyoming to Rawlins, Wyoming
undated
1:35:02: Round up scene
undated
1:35:03: Calamity Jane in a dress
undated
1:35:04: Calamity Jane in fringed pants
undated
1:35:05: Covered wagon days in Wyoming
undated
1:35:06: Buffalo Bill show
undated
1:35:07: Jesse W. James at 104
undated
1:35:08: Captain W.C. "Bloody Bill" Anderson at 84
undated
1:35:09: Jesse and Frank James with their mother
undated
1:35:10: Hunting scene on old Wyoming ranch
undated

Postcards, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 36

Container(s) Description Dates
1:36:01: Rawlins, Wyoming--Front St. south of railroad tracks
undated
1:36:02: Bull train, Saratoga, Wyoming
undated
1:36:03: Round up wagon, Saratoga Valley, Wyoming
undated
1:36:04: Old stage line encampment, Wyoming
undated
1:36:05: Wagon train arriving in Rawlins, Wyoming
undated
1:36:06: Indian babies in papooses, copyrighted 1898 by Lee Moorehouse
undated
1:36:07: Old blacksmith shop
undated
1:36:08: Mule team trains leaving Rawlins, Wyoming for Ft. Washakie-Lander
undated
1:36:09: Front street in Rawlins, Wyoming
undated
1:36:10: "Boney Earnest"--one time buffalo hunter, Alcova, Wyoming
undated

Postcards, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 1

Container(s) Description Dates
2:01:01: Hanging--Rawlins, Wyoming man unknown
undated
2:01:02: Elderly Indian woman
undated
2:01:03: Sitting Bull, Bismarck, Dakota, 1885
undated
2:01:04: Sautee ferry boat
undated
2:01:05: Settler's home, Oahe, Dakota
undated
2:01:06: Indian tepee
undated
2:01:07: Wagon on the prairie
undated
2:01:08: Cheyenne village on the Yellowstone [from a stereograph.]
undated
2:01:09: A group of people with a dog in a car, appears to be decorated for a parade
undated
2:01:10: Broken Arm Chief--Sioux
undated

Postcards, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 2

Container(s) Description Dates
2:02:01: Indian chief
undated
2:02:02: Curing buffalo hides--Cheyenne village [from stereograph.]
undated
2:02:03: Mule train, James Carr's teams
undated
2:02:04: Scaffolds--Indian dead bodies, Yankton Agency, Dakota Territory [from stereograph.]
undated
2:02:05: Mountain man Jim Baker
undated
2:02:06: Little Eagle
undated
2:02:07: Indian encampment [from stereograph]
undated
2:02:08: Water team, Sautee, Nebraska
undated

Photos from the American West Heritage Center, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 3

Container(s) Description Dates
2:03:01: Photo of the oxen team, 'Yankee and Doodle' with unknown man, "100% Ox team"
negative available.
undated
2:03:02: Publicity photo of Singin' Sam Agins"
1970-1979
2:03:03: Letter to Mr. Sherratt, VP for university Relations regarding the oxen team, 'Yankee and Doodle' from Russell G. Mawby President of W.K. Kellogg Foundation
undated
2:03:04: Photo of the oxen team, 'Yankee and Doodle' with unknown man
negative available.
undated
2:03:05: Biography of Peter Breck, from the Jay Bernstein Public Relations Inc
1975 March
2:03:06-13: Publicity photos of Peter Breck
[Eight copies.]
undated
2:03:14: Negative of 3:03:01,4
undated

Oversize, exhibition prints of photographs, undatedReturn to Top

Used in Agins' Round Legs (1989) and posters entitled, "The Horsetrader," used in poster with Agins' poem, "Eight Years Old, Comin' Nine"

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 01 undated
3 02 undated
3 03 undated
3 03 undated
3 03 undated
3 04 1989
3 05 1989
3 06 1989
3 07 1989
3 08 1989
3 09 1989
3 10 1989
3 11 1989
3 12 1989
3 13 1989
3 14 1989
3 15 1989
3 16 1989
3 17 1989
3 18 1989

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agricultural experiment stations--Utah--Photographs
  • Cowboys--United States--Photographs
  • Folk musicians--West (U.S.)--Photographs
  • People with disabilities--West (U.S.)--Photographs

Personal Names

  • Agins, Sam--Photographs.
  • Waddell, John Henry--Photographs.

Corporate Names

  • Festival of the American West--Photographs.

Geographical Names

  • Bear Lake (Utah and Idaho)--Photographs
  • Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--Photographs
  • Logan (Utah)--Photographs
  • Utah--Photographs

Titles within the Collection

  • Round legs.