This collection contains the papers of American author, rancher, and cowboy Frank M. King (1863-1953), who served as a columnist and associate editor of the Western Livestock Journal. Includes manuscripts of King's writings about his life and the history of the American West and correspondence, chiefly expressing interest in King’s life in the West, his books, praise for his writing and activism on American Indian welfare issues, and submissions of personal stories.

Frank M. King (1863-1953), cowboy, ranchman, editor, and author, was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1863. King, who was one-quarter Cherokee Indian, went to Texas with his family in 1873, then to Indian Territory. He returned to Texas in 1876, engaging in cattle driving there, and moved to New Mexico in 1879. King’s formal education was extremely limited. He attended a school for two years in El Monte, California in 1880 and 1881 after which he returned to cattle driving in New Mexico and later ran a ranch in Phoenix, Arizona, with his brother Sam King. King finally settled with his wife Sophie Klos King in Los Angeles where he served as the Associate Editor for the Western Livestock Journal, wrote a column entitled “Mavericks,” and wrote books about western folklore and the cattle industry. His book titles include: Wranglin’ the Past (1935), Longhorn Trail Drivers (1940), Pioneer Western Empire Builders (1946), and Mavericks (1947). King died in November 1953 in Los Angeles.

3,932 items in 21 boxes

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