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The Birth of the American Cowboy and the Western Genre


Background Information for Teachers

For background information, please see Student Handout 1-Capturing the Last Frontier as well as Student Handout 6-Biography of Owen Wister.
In addition, the following links are helpful:

Go to the Historical Marker Page of markerOwen Wister

TEACHER RESOURCES

    
Primary Sources (Images/Original Documents)
    
    
Student Handouts

Student Handout 1-Capturing the Last Frontier 
Student Handout 2-Journal Account of the Horse Abuser 
Student Handout 3-The Virginian Excerpt of the Horse Abuser 
Student Handout 4-How The Virginian Influenced Real Life 
Student Handout 5-The Wham Payroll Robbery 
Student Handout 6-Biography of Owen Wister

Student Worksheets

Student Worksheet 1-Discovering the Setting
Student Worksheet 2-Journal Account of the Horse Abuser 
Student Worksheet 3-The Virginian excerpt of the Horse Abuser 
Student Worksheet 4-Group Discussion Questions of the Horse Abuser 

Teacher Guides

Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 1-Discovering the Setting 
Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 2-Journal Account of the Horse Abuser 
Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 3-The Virginian excerpt of the Horse Abuser
Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 4-Group Discussion Questions of Horse Abuser 

Further Reading

Moser, Barry. Cowboy Stories. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2007.

This book provides a compilation of excerpts of western stories including the final showdown of the hero and villain in The Virginian.

Stokes, Frances K.W. My Father Owen Wister: Ten letters written by Owen Wister to his mother during his first trip to Wyoming in 1885. Laramie, Wyoming: , 1952.

This little booklet, published on the fiftieth anniversary of The Virginian, includes a wonderful biographical synopsis of Owen Wister written by his daughter, and, as indicated in the title, ten letters written to his mother during his first trip out west. These letters are a great personal look at events and impressions he gathered during his first trip to an area he came to love.

Wister, Owen. The Virginian. Lanham, MD: Roberts Rhinehart 100th anniversary edition, 2002.

This is the complete story of the Virginian, from his friendship with the eastern narrator, to winning the heart of schoolteacher Molly Wood, to the final showdown with his nemesis, Trampas.

Wister, Owen. The West of Owen Wister: Selected Short Stories. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press , 1972.

This is a collection of Owen Wister's short stories. Included is one entitled, "The Pilgrim on the Gila," which is a story about the historical event of the Wham Payroll Robbery in Arizona.

Web Sites

Owen Wister-Harvard Magazine, Jul-Aug 2002 http://harvardmagazine.com/2002/07/owen-wister.html

Owen Wister, Western Writer. Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry. http://www.cowboypoetry.com/wister.htm

This webpage provides an excellent source of information about Owen Wister's work. It provides excerpts of his most famous lines from The Virginian, describes how Wister sees the cowboy, and offers the lyrics to a song Owen Wister created for the stage version of The Virginian, Ten Thousand Cattle Straying. Links to additional websites and books of Wister's are also provided.

The Wham Paymaster Robbery near Pima, Arizona. Legends of America. http://www.legendsofamerica.com/az-whamrobbery.html

This travel website for the historically minded gives a nice synopsis of the events of the Wham Paymaster Robbery. Some great images enhance the website-a color photograph of the geographic area and wonderful black and white photographs, including  two of soldiers who received a medal of honor for their valiant fighting in trying to save the wagon's treasure and paymaster.

Wyoming Photographs-Medicine Bow, Owen Wister. Wyoming Tales and Trails. http://wyomingtalesandtrails.com/photos10.html

This site offers great images and corresponding captions of Medicine Bow, Wyoming.

Video

The Virginian - Complete First Season on 10 DVDs - Limited Edition Embossed Collector's Tin Plus Bonus Interview DVD. Timeless Media Group. Release Date: May 25, 2010.

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