Frank Reeves (1884-1975) was born in Kentucky in 1884 and was raised on his family's livestock farm in Texas, where he gained an interest in photography. After attending college locally, Reeves took a job with the Swenson Land and Cattle Company, owner of SMS Ranches throughout west Texas, where he stayed for 14 years and had some of his photographs published in the ranch catalog. One was even used in a Stetson Hat Company ad.
He's best well-known for his action shots and artistic framing, which all served to capture the most realistic snapshot of ranch life possible. Reeves had several other ranch jobs after leaving the SMS Ranch and wrote for the Dallas News during his time in California. He became a livestock reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram when he returned to Texas in 1929, where he remained working and taking photographs until his death in 1975 at age 90.
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: Albert L. Peters. Purchase.
Scope and Contents: Collection of photographs by livestock reporter and photographer, Frank Reeves. His photos depict ranch life in the early 1900s of the American West, from cowboys and cattle to daily life on the range. His press pass from the 1939 World's Fair in San Francisco is also included. The collection's inclusive and bulk dates are approximate.