LOT John D Kennedy  /  Books - Southwest Culture & History  / 

2

American Cowboy by Dr. Harold MacCracken

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana / Collectibles - Books Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:NA
American Cowboy by Dr. Harold MacCracken
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Published in 1973 by Double Day Publishers. Autographed and dedication by author.
Harold McCracken (1894–1983) was an American writer, explorer, and museum director. He led expeditions in the 1920s tracing the possibility of a long-ago land bridge between Siberia and Alaska.
Dr. Mac was interested in writing from an early age. He entered Journalism School at Ohio State University. After several years, he was advised by his faculty advisor to seek another career. He was not cut out to be a writer. He went on to publish 30 books, became the foremost authority on Western Americana, and founded the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, WY.
He was then living in New York and completing a book on artist George Catlin and was persuaded to transform an empty building donated by Gertrude Vanderbilt-Whitney in 1959 into the spectacular Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming. "I wouldn't undertake it again for all the tea in China," he said, "but I was always interested in challenges. I had friends in New York art galleries, and I knew a lot of collectors because of my interest in western art." He was subsequently honored with the McCracken Research Library, dedicated in 1980. New library facilities were then opened to the public in 1994. McCracken retired from the Buffalo Bill Museum in 1974, and continued to live with his family, within sight of the historical center, until his death in 1983.
I became friends with Dr. Mac in the 70s. I had obtained a Remington painting and sought his expertise. He encouraged me to pursue all things western Americana, not only from my interest, but diminishing supply. Since Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks were accounts of mine, I was in Montana about 30 days a year and always took time to visit him in Cody.
One day we were sitting on his porch, and he took me into his home. He opened a closet. The closet was full of paintings by WR Leigh, Carl Oscar Borg, and Edward Borein. He knew that the artists were frequent visitors and friends of my grandparents in Navajo Country. He invited me to select anything of my choice from the room. I gracefully declined, not wishing to abuse our friendship – despite his insistence. He was a fine man.
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