Manuscripts

XSX Ranch letters

Image not available

Description: Three letters signed "Henry," who was a cowboy working at the XSX Ranch in New Mexico, writing to his mother and describing his work and daily life on the ranch. The first two letters were written in 1917 and describe his arrival on horseback in Silver City, New Mexico, and subsequent journey north to the XSX Ranch. Henry writes in detail of the landscape, including the Gila River and the canyons and pine forests he passes through; various tasks such as loading and unloading pack mules, hunting, fence riding, rounding up and driving cattle and horses; and the people he meets, including fellow cowboys, the ranch cook, and the neighboring Mexican American Montoya family. In relating his conversations with others, Henry also provides commentary on unions, World War I, Black people working as servants, and other aspects of American politics and culture. The third letter is from 1922 and continues describing ranch life and work, and also mentions several photographs, which are unfortunately not included.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1917, 1922.
Call number: mssXSX
Provenance: Purchased from McBride Rare Books, February 2020.
Restrictions: Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
Rights: The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining permission rests with the researcher.
Find out more: View in the Library catalog(Opens in new tab)

You might also be interested in

Image not available
XSX Ranch letter
Manuscripts
An autograph letter signed by "Henry" and addressed to "Dear Mother." The letter describes the roundup of cattle on the XSX Ranch near Silver City, New Mexico; Henry also details the typical chores of a cowboy including rounding up strays, practicing his roping, burning brush, and unclogging a water pipe; he also describes visiting other ranches and sharing meals of stew, beans, coffee, and bread pudding. The letter is in good condition with faint fold lines.
mssHM 84059
Image not available
Thousand Acre Ranch - Maps of ranch
Manuscripts
The collection consists of the personal and business papers of Los Angeles businessman Henry Workman Keller (1869-1958) and is comprised of approximately 7985 pieces. Many of the papers are bound together in files so that one item may contain up to 500 or more letters.It includes papers related to land in California and Mexico, agriculture (including materials on the prune and rice industries, irrigation and flood control) in Colusa County, California, and mining (including copper, lead and zinc mines) in Mexico. There are also materials related to the citrus fruit industry, the Automobile Club of Southern California, and the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Correspondents represented in the collection include: Harry Chandler, John Page Crutcher, Edward Fletcher, Llewellyn A. Luce, John G. Mott, Epes Randolph, Ygnacio Sepúlveda, Henry H. Timken, and William L. Valentine. Businesses with which Henry Workman Keller (1869-1958) was association which are represented in the collection include: the San Isidro Ranch Company, the Thousand Acre Ranch Company, and the San Manuel Mines Company and its subsidiaries.
mssKellerh
Exterior view of ranch house at Cal-Mex Ranch
Manuscripts
Black and white contact print of the exterior view of the ranch house at Cal-Mex Ranch. Written on print, "Gen. Otis's house in Mexico. - Calif. Mexican Ranch." House has sixteen columns visible, along with five chimneys. Grass and dirt path in foreground.
mssLAT 000129
Image not available
Thousand Acre Ranch - Inventories (including photographs of ranch buildings)
Manuscripts
The collection consists of the personal and business papers of Los Angeles businessman Henry Workman Keller (1869-1958) and is comprised of approximately 7985 pieces. Many of the papers are bound together in files so that one item may contain up to 500 or more letters.It includes papers related to land in California and Mexico, agriculture (including materials on the prune and rice industries, irrigation and flood control) in Colusa County, California, and mining (including copper, lead and zinc mines) in Mexico. There are also materials related to the citrus fruit industry, the Automobile Club of Southern California, and the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Correspondents represented in the collection include: Harry Chandler, John Page Crutcher, Edward Fletcher, Llewellyn A. Luce, John G. Mott, Epes Randolph, Ygnacio Sepúlveda, Henry H. Timken, and William L. Valentine. Businesses with which Henry Workman Keller (1869-1958) was association which are represented in the collection include: the San Isidro Ranch Company, the Thousand Acre Ranch Company, and the San Manuel Mines Company and its subsidiaries.
mssKellerh
Image not available
Thousand Acre Ranch - Buildings
Manuscripts
The collection consists of the personal and business papers of Los Angeles businessman Henry Workman Keller (1869-1958) and is comprised of approximately 7985 pieces. Many of the papers are bound together in files so that one item may contain up to 500 or more letters.It includes papers related to land in California and Mexico, agriculture (including materials on the prune and rice industries, irrigation and flood control) in Colusa County, California, and mining (including copper, lead and zinc mines) in Mexico. There are also materials related to the citrus fruit industry, the Automobile Club of Southern California, and the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Correspondents represented in the collection include: Harry Chandler, John Page Crutcher, Edward Fletcher, Llewellyn A. Luce, John G. Mott, Epes Randolph, Ygnacio Sepúlveda, Henry H. Timken, and William L. Valentine. Businesses with which Henry Workman Keller (1869-1958) was association which are represented in the collection include: the San Isidro Ranch Company, the Thousand Acre Ranch Company, and the San Manuel Mines Company and its subsidiaries.
mssKellerh
Image not available
Thousand Acre Ranch - Equipment
Manuscripts
The collection consists of the personal and business papers of Los Angeles businessman Henry Workman Keller (1869-1958) and is comprised of approximately 7985 pieces. Many of the papers are bound together in files so that one item may contain up to 500 or more letters.It includes papers related to land in California and Mexico, agriculture (including materials on the prune and rice industries, irrigation and flood control) in Colusa County, California, and mining (including copper, lead and zinc mines) in Mexico. There are also materials related to the citrus fruit industry, the Automobile Club of Southern California, and the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Correspondents represented in the collection include: Harry Chandler, John Page Crutcher, Edward Fletcher, Llewellyn A. Luce, John G. Mott, Epes Randolph, Ygnacio Sepúlveda, Henry H. Timken, and William L. Valentine. Businesses with which Henry Workman Keller (1869-1958) was association which are represented in the collection include: the San Isidro Ranch Company, the Thousand Acre Ranch Company, and the San Manuel Mines Company and its subsidiaries.
mssKellerh

XSX Ranch letters

You might also be interested in

XSX Ranch letter

Thousand Acre Ranch - Maps of ranch

Exterior view of ranch house at Cal-Mex Ranch

Thousand Acre Ranch - Inventories (including photographs of ranch buildings)

Thousand Acre Ranch - Buildings

Thousand Acre Ranch - Equipment