Using these Materials
Please contact the Center of Southwest Studies Archives Manager at archives@fortlewis.edu for more information about reproductions and accessing the collection.
Access Restrictions: There are no access restrictions on the use of this collection. The collection is non-circulating but open to the public for use in the Delaney Southwest Research Library at the Center of Southwest Studies.
Reproduction and Copyright: Materials held by the Center may be protected under U.S. and international copyright laws. Reproduction does not constitute a transfer of copyright or publication rights. Researchers are solely responsible for complying with copyright law and for obtaining any necessary permissions for reproduction or publication. The Center assumes no liability for unauthorized use of materials.
Related Materials: In addition to the Fred Kroeger oral history interview mentioned above, the Center has photonegatives in the Durango Herald photonegatives collection, the parade float photo (upper left of the table just below) in the Center's general photographs collection and also numerous postcards of scenes at the Spanish Trails Fiesta from the Nina Heald Webber Southwest Colorado collection.
Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], [Collection Title], [Collection Number], Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado.
Collection Description
Historical/Biographical Note: The Spanish Trails Fiesta and San Juan Basin Rodeo was an annual event in Durango, held at the La Plata County Fairgrounds during the latter part of July and early August. Usually a three-day event, its activities included a parade, three rodeos, horse racing and nightly dances. Various special acts were performed at the rodeos. The rodeo attracted many local and out of state cowboys. It also attracted many tourists to the area. Along with many local people, various dignitaries from around the state were invited to attend the Fiesta as VIPs.
On January 27, 1977, Professor Duane Smith conducted an oral history interview with Fred V. Kroeger (the transcript of this interview is part of the Durango oral history collection at the Center of Southwest Studies), in which Mr. Kroeger recalled,
During World War II, it [the Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo] was pretty much abandoned; it was carried on as an amateur [rodeo] deal. Spanish Trails Fiesta was in the national rodeo association [R.C.A]. They competed with Cheyenne Days and Mile High Days. They brought these people in, had big purses. It was a pretty successful thing. It didn't have to be subsidized by the city or anything. No extra money went into it, it was self-supporting. It was a big deal. Everyone went. They had good facilities, a grandstand and everything they have now. They carried on and kept it going, just the local ranchers, their kids came in and put on a program and it was revived after the War. It went quite well until 1958 or '60, I don't know, it might have been later than that. One year, during World War II, I was the announcer. They just kind of lost interest. Then this other group came in and named it Navajo Trails. They don't bring in the high priced guys like they used to--Casey Tibbs and those guys [cowboys] don't come anymore. He's been here. One of the interesting things that happened in the Spanish Trails Fiesta in racing is where they had the photo-finish. This is where they picked it up, developed it first, where they actually took pictures of the horses as they crossed the wire. That was a development of the Spanish Trails Fiesta. Now they use it every place and no one thinks anything about it.
Today, Fiesta Days (the current name) is still an ongoing thriving annual event in the Durango community; the 59th annual Fiesta Days was July 28-31, 1994. The Fiesta still attracts many participants and spectators to the Durango area.
Arrangement: Series are numbered consecutively. Box numbers start with 1; folder numbers start with 1 in each box. The series are organized from highest hierarchical level to lowest; from most general to most specific. Items within each series are arranged chronologically, unless noted otherwise. The boxes are numbered in one single numbering scheme starting with 1.
Acquisition Information: This collection was the result of a donation to the Center of Southwest Studies from the Durango Area Chamber Resort Association (DACRA) (retrospective accession 2002:03099).
Processing Information: The collection was arranged and described by Fort Lewis College archives student Stephanie Werner in December of 1993 under the direction of Todd Ellison, Archivist. The online inventory was edited by Todd Ellison, 1998 and 2007. Initial html conversion was done by Jesse Davila, September 21, 1998.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series Description
Series# Title
1 Article of incorporation and bylaws, 1935-1961, 2 folders.
2 Minutes, 1936-1966, 3 folders, including one bound volume.
3 Fiesta correspondence, 1946 - 1965, 13 folders. Includes folders of invitations and invitation responses. Arranged chronologically; contents of each folder are in reverse chronological order.
4 Rodeo correspondence, 1949-1961, 8 folders.
5 Rodeo invitations and replies, 1949-1964, 20 folders. This is correspondence with regional, state and local VIPs.
6 Fiesta contracts, 1946 -1964, 8 folders.
7 Rodeo contracts, 1953-1965, 4 folders.
8 Rodeo results, 1952-1953, 3 folders.
9 Liability policies, 1948-1953, 1 folder.
10 Accounting ledgers, 1951-1970 (bulk 1951-1954),1 folder.
11 Entry fee receipts, 1942-1962,1 folder.
12 Judge sheets, 1948, 1 folder. Blank sheets used by rodeo judges.
13 Letterhead, 1949,1 folder.
14 Publicity materials, 1941-1964,10 folders. Programs from the Spanish Trails Fiesta (including the rodeo) and related events from the region.
15 International Rodeo Association newsletter and certificate, 1946, 1956, 1 folder.
16 Rodeo Cowboys Association sports news, 1946, 1954, 1 folder.
17 Newspaper clippings, 1942-1966, 1 folder. These still need to be photocopied and placed into folders for preservation.
18 Photographs, circa 1942-1968, 3 folders.
19 Rubber stamps, 1949,1 folder.
20 Miscellaneous undated forms and other printed materials, 6 folders.
21 County Fairgrounds blueprint, 1948, 1 oversize item (in flat file drawer).
Container list
Box 1
Folder 1: Articles of incorporation and bylaws, 1935
Folder 2: Articles of incorporation and bylaws, Northwest Cowboys Association and International Rodeo Association, 1947-1961
Folder 3: Minutes, 1939 Nov. 14 - 1936 June 29
Folder 4: Minutes, 1953-1963
Folder 5: Minutes, 1964-1966
Folder 6: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1946
Folder 7: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1948
Folder 8: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1949
Folder 9: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1952
Box 2
Folder 1: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1953
Folder 2: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1953
Folder 3: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1953
Folder 4: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1955
Folder 5: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1956
Folder 6: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1958
Folder 7: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1962-1963
Folder 8: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1964
Folder 9: Spanish Trails Fiesta correspondence, 1965
Folder 10: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association correspondence, 1949
Folder 11: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association correspondence, 1954
Folder 12: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association correspondence, 1959
Folder 13: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association correspondence, 1960
Folder 14: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association correspondence, 1960
Folder 15: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association correspondence, 1960
Folder 16: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association correspondence, 1960
Folder 17: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association correspondence, 1961
Box 3
Folder 1: Fiesta invitations, 1952
Folder 2: Fiesta invitations, 1953
Folder 3: Fiesta invitations, 1955
Folder 4: Fiesta invitations, 1956
Folder 5: Fiesta invitations, 1957
Folder 6: Fiesta invitations, 1962
Folder 7: Fiesta invitations, 1963
Folder 8: Fiesta invitations, 1964
Folder 9: Fiesta invitation replies, 1949
Folder 10: Fiesta invitation replies, 1952
Folder 11: Fiesta invitation replies, 1953
Folder 12: Fiesta invitation replies, 1956
Folder 13: Fiesta invitation replies, 1957
Folder 14: Fiesta invitation replies, 1958
Folder 15: Fiesta invitation replies, 1959
Folder 16: Fiesta invitation replies, 1960
Folder 17: Fiesta invitation replies, 1961
Folder 18: Fiesta invitation replies, 1962
Folder 19: Fiesta invitation replies, 1963
Folder 20: Fiesta invitation replies, 1964
Folder 21: Fiesta contracts, 1946
Folder 22: Fiesta contracts, 1952
Folder 23: Fiesta contracts, 1953
Box 4
Folder 1: Fiesta contracts, 1954
Folder 2: Fiesta contracts, 1960
Folder 3: Fiesta contracts, 1962
Folder 4: Fiesta contracts, 1963, 1964
Folder 5: Fiesta contracts, 1963, 1964
Folder 6: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association contracts, 1953
Folder 7: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association contracts, 1960
Folder 8: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association contracts, 1961
Folder 9: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association contracts, 1965
Folder 10: Fiesta rodeo results, 1952
Folder 11: Fiesta rodeo results, 1952
Folder 12: Fiesta rodeo results, 1953
Folder 13: Liability policies, 1948, 1951, 1953
Folder 14: Accounting ledgers, 1951-1970 (bulk 1951 and 1954)
Folder 15: Entry fee receipts, 1942-1962
Folder 16: Judge sheets, 1948
Folder 17: San Juan Basin Association letterhead, 1949
Box 5
Folder 1: Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo publicity material, 1941-1946
Folder 2: Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo publicity material, 1949
Folder 3: Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo publicity material, 1950
Folder 4: Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo publicity material, 1952-1953
Folder 5: Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo publicity material, 1954
Folder 6: Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo publicity material, 1956
Folder 7: Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo publicity material, 1957
Folder 8: Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo publicity material, 1958
Folder 9: Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo publicity material, 1959
Folder 10: Spanish Trails Fiesta and Rodeo publicity material, 1960-1964
Folder 11: International Rodeo Association newsletter and certificate, 1946, 1956
Folder 12: Rodeo Sports News, Rodeo Cowboys Association Inc., 1946, 1954
Folder 13: Newspapers and clippings, 1942-1966 (These need to be photocopied and placed into folders)
Folder 14: Photo-finish horse race photo prints, circa 1954-1955, at least some of them by McKelvey. Many are undated as to the year.
Folder 15: Photographs, circa 1942-1968 (includes photos of the rodeo, rodeo queens, and fairground events).
Folder 16: Photographs and correspondence from Pearl Baker to Thomas McLaughlin, February 15, 1960 (includes photos of the "world's first miniature rodeo, by Hunsaker Pony Farm, Burn Hunsaker, Tremonton, Utah, etc.). 12 photographs.
Box 6
Folder 1: Rubber stamps, 1949
Folder 2: Spanish Trails Rodeo receipt book (used, dated: race entry fees 8/1/52 signed by L. J. Bandeno)
Folder 3: Spanish Trails Rodeo receipt book ((blank forms; not used)
Folder 4: San Juan Basin Rodeo Association entry card (blank forms)
Folder 5: Spanish Trails Fiesta performance agreement (blank forms) (issued by San Juan Basin Rodeo Association)
Folder 6: Spanish Trails Fiesta letterhead envelopes
Folder 7: Official placard cards
| Creator | Spanish Trails Fiesta |
| Dates | 1935-1968 |
| Extent | 2.2 linear shelf feet (approximately 2,000 items, in 84 folders in 5 document cases) |
| This collection is archival records of the Spanish Trails Fiesta and San Juan Basin Rodeo from the years 1935 through 1968. It consists mainly of correspondence, contracts, publicity materials, newspaper clippings, and photographs -- including some photos of the first use of the photo-finish in a horse race, circa 1954. Some of the papers are yellow and fragile, otherwise the material is in good shape. This collection is useful for studying local (Durango, Colorado) history and rodeos. |
| Language | English |
| Collection Identifier | M130 |
| Physical Location | This collection is located at the Center of Southwest Studies on the campus of Fort Lewis College (1000 Rim Dr. Durango, CO). |