SKU: 14140492863

Chronicles of the Big Bend: A Photographic Memoir of Life on the Border

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Chronicles of the Big Bend: A Photographic Memoir of Life on the BorderAs a young teamster on a pack mule train, Wilfred Dudley Smithers saw the Rio Grande's Big Bend for the first time in 1916, and it captured his imagination forever. For decades thereafter he returned to Texas' last great frontier the great bend of the Rio Grande on the Texas Mexico border chronicling the region and its people in words and photographs. After half a century of photography, Smithers' superlative collection of nine thousand images ended

As a young teamster on a pack-mule train, Wilfred Dudley Smithers saw the Rio Grande's Big Bend for the first time in 1916, and it captured his imagination forever. For decades thereafter he returned to Texas' last great frontier-the great bend of the Rio Grande on the Texas-Mexico border-chronicling the region and its people in words and photographs. After half a century of photography, Smithers' superlative collection of nine thousand images ended up at the University of Texas at Austin, and in 1976 more than one hundred of these were reproduced in Chronicles of the Big Bend, a critically acclaimed work that until now has long been out of print. The years that Smithers chronicled in the Big Bend were sometimes violent ones. Pancho Villa and Chico Cano were among the many "bandits" playing hide-and-seek with the U.S. Cavalry-events Smithers recorded. He was also an eyewitness to liquor-running and smuggling during Prohibition. His principal subjects, however, were the people of the Big Bend: local ranchers, Mexican American and American families, miners, Texas Rangers, and others living simple lives in this harsh and beautiful land. With words and camera Smithers wanted to capture "vanishing lifestyles, primitive cultures, old faces, and odd, unconventional professions. Before my camera I wanted huts, vendors, natural majesties, clothing, tools, children, old people, the ways of the border." He also told his own life story along with that of the Big Bend. There are illustrated chapters on the military, law enforcement, curanderos (healers), liquor smugglers, avisadores (secret-message senders), and the national park. Smithers' word sketches and black-and- white photographs capture the harsh reality and stark beauty, the dust and the mystery of the frontier era of the Big Bend that ended in 1944 when it became a national park. Chronicles of the Big Bend is a rare documentary look at a frontier region as it was known by only a few and as it will never be seen again. It is a deeply personal human portrait of the majestic Big Bend. WILFRED DUDLEY SMITHERS (1895-1981) was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in 1895. He began taking photographs at age fifteen while living in San Antonio, and later worked as a teamster, joined the U.S. Army, operated a photo studio, served as a news correspondent, and helped pioneer aerial photography.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Texas State Historical Assn
Published: 03/15/2013
ISBN: 9780876112618
Pages: 160
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 9.80h x 7.00w x 0.40d
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SKU: 14140492863

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I took a chance hoping for the best and the three piece set was better than expected and WAY more affordable than renting one. Fit my son well, who is about 215lb 6ft tall. A little snug at the belly, but great fit, zipper up fine, came with extra buttons. The material felt of decent quality and looked like a rental. My son got to fit in for his prom at a reasonable cost and good appearance without breaking the bank
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Amazing suit. Ordered an XL for my husband when we got it. Pants were very long and a little big on the waist, so we took them to get tailored for a more fitted look. I don’t like that the “pocket square” is sewn in but, it can be tucked down, so we did that and added our own that matched the tie we ordered separately. Overall, good quality for the price. We have not washed but we do take it to the dry cleaners.
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Please check clothing due to finding the blazer a bit dirty as if someone wore it with Cat hair and dust along with a dead bug and smelling a fishy smell. We ordered in advance to take it to the dry cleaners for additional wash before using. Quality is great material; tie not included be sure to measure before purchasing to avoid any tailoring.
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My husband has a thin frame and struggles to find dress clothes that fit well without breaking the bank. Since the size measurements were very detailed, we decided to take the gamble and hope for the best. This is genuinely the best fitting suit he has ever owned. It looks custom tailored. The material is great quality and the price point is even better. We suggested this suit to our groomsmen and were delighted to see it well accommodated a variety of body types. My husband loved his suit so much we bought him one in another color and had great success with that order as well. HIGHLY recommend this suit set!
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