Born in Honey Grove, Texas in 1886, Erwin Evans Smith (1886-1947) grew up loving the unique life of the American West and sought to capture it through his art. Initially interested in sculpture, he quickly took to photography while working as a teenager on cattle ranches in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. He frequently teamed up with newspaper writer, George Patullo, to feature his photographs alongside stories of the West, which were published in various print works, such as the Saturday Evening Post, National Magazine, and Cattleman magazine. He took over 2,000 photographs in his lifetime, most between 1905 and 1912 from his time on the ranches. His work is considered some of the best examples of early 1900s cowboy life, alongside famous artists Charles M. Russell and Frederic Remington. Smith passed away in Texas in 1947. Author: Nicole Yatsonsky
Rights: Reprpduction and publication of materials in this collection are subject to the policies of the UNT Special Collections department. Copyright restrictions may apply.
Access Notes: This collection is stored off-site and requires a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to use.
Acquisition Note: Source: Michael Laird Rare Books. Purchase.
Scope and Contents: Collection of works by and about American West photographer, Erwin E. Smith. His photographs and prints depict life on ranches in the American West, including shots of people at work, cowboys, horses, Native Americans, and his own family members. Types of items include photographs, postcards, a newspaper article, and two event programs--his historical grave dedication ceremony in 1976 and an exhibit at the Sherman Historical Museum in 1986. Various photographs are undated or have approximate dates, including the collection's start date of 1904.
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