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Beard (Tyler) Manuscripts and Research Papers
MSA.40
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Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: Tyler Beard Manuscripts and Research Papers
Creator:
Beard, Tyler
Identifier/Call Number: MSA.40
Physical Description:
5.1 Linear Feet
8 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1948-1999
Abstract: Tyler Beard (1954 September 1 - 2007 December 20) was renowned for his expertise on cowboy boots and other aspects of Western
style. Beard and his wife, Teresa, opened a Western apparel, boots, and antiques outfit called "True West" in Comanche, Texas
in the mid-1980s. Between 1992 and 2004, Beard published five books on Western wear, cowboy boots, and Western décor. This
collection contains manuscript drafts and research materials Tyler Beard collected, dated 1948-1999, to write
The Cowboy Boot Book, 1992;
100 Years of Western Wear, 1993;
Art of the Boot, 1999; and
Cowboy Boots, 2004.
Language of Material:
English
.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit
https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.
This collection contains manuscript drafts and research materials Tyler Beard collected to write
The Cowboy Boot Book, 1992;
100 Years of Western Wear, 1993;
Art of the Boot, 1999; and
Cowboy Boots, 2004.
Manuscript materials include book jacket art and mock-ups, hand-written manuscripts, photographs by Jim Arndt, posters, printed
proofs, and review copies.
Research materials, ranging in dates from 1948-1999, include advertisements, audio cassettes, boot and Western clothing catalogs
from such companies as Blucher Custom Boot Company, collected manuscripts, correspondence, magazine and newspaper clippings,
photocopies, photographs, postcards, and a VHS videocassette tape.
Tyler Beard was renowned for his expertise on cowboy boots and other aspects of Western style. Born Barry William Beard on
1954 September 1, in Dallas, Texas, Beard was also known for sporadically changing his name and interests. As a teenager,
Beard played drums in a glam rock band called Max Pageant in Dallas in 1971. He graduated from Skyline High School in 1972
and immediately moved to England and began dealing antiques. Beard returned to the United States a year later and fashioned
himself as both a successful hair dresser and house renovator in New Hampshire. In 1983, Beard married his Dallas girlfriend
Teresa Lynn Skelton, and they soon returned to their home state of Texas.
The Beards bought a home to restore in Comanche, Texas, and started a business dealing Western antiques and clothing under
the name True West. Just after the Beards established True West, they reached great success, becoming the official suppliers
of Western decorative objects for all of Ralph Lauren Corporations's Polo stores, as well as fully furnishing and outfitting
Euro Disney's Old West Town, and television miniseries Lonesome Dove. In 1990, True West also revived the Westward Ho Rodeo
Pattern line of china, originally produced by the Wallace China Company in Los Angeles from 1943-1964.
Tyler Beard was most notable for his knowledge of cowboy boots and boot makers. In 1992, he wrote
The Cowboy Boot Book, and in 1993, followed up with
100 Years of Western Wear. In 1999, Beard wrote another tome
Art of the Boot. Other publications include
Lone Star Living: Texas Homes and Ranches, 2003 and
Cowboy Boots, 2004. Photographer Jim Arndt supplied the images for
The Cowboy Boot Book,
100 Years of Western Wear, Art of the Boot, and
Cowboy Boots.
By 2001, Beard was ready for another change and he sold True West and all of his land and antiques. Beard's wife Teresa passed
away in 2005, and Tyler followed on 2007 December 20.
Tyler Beard Manuscripts and Research Papers, 1948-1999, Autry Museum of the American West; MSA.40; [folder number] [folder title] [date].
Donated by High Noon Western Collectibles, 2000 October 15.
Initial inventory, physical processing, and cataloging by Autry Museum of the American West staff. Additional processing and
finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Project Archivist, 2012 July 5, made possible through grant funding from
the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Blucher Custom Boot Company Records, Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma.
Autry Library has copies of his books
100 Years of Western Wear,
The Cowboy Boot Book, and
Art of the Boot.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Commercial catalogs
Postcards
Cowboy boots
Clothing and dress -- West (U.S.) -- History
Manuscripts
100 Years of Western Wear
Advertisements
Audio cassettes
Videocassettes
Photographs
G.C. Blucher Boot Co