Acknowledgments

A book project produces a litany of debts, most of which I can never repay, but the many people who provided assistance deserve at least a note of thanks. This project began as a dissertation at the University of Arkansas under Elliott West. Dr. West’s advice, encouragement, and insight helped make this a better book. I had long admired his work from afar, but now that I know him, I have grown to admire his compassion for his students, his high standards, as well as his dedication to his craft, patience, and good humor. He embodies, I think, all the great qualities an educator and intellectual should possess, and it was a great pleasure to work with him.

The University of Arkansas was a great place to study for five years, and I would like to express my deep gratitude for being the first Distinguished Doctoral Fellow in the history department. I hope I can repay the investment. Doctors Charles Robinson, Patrick Williams, and Jeannie Whayne served on my committee and provided insightful comments that strengthened the final version of my dissertation. Dr. Whayne in particular has been a tremendous mentor.

Here at Angelo State University, I benefited tremendously from the support of the history department. In particular, I would like to single out the nearly legendary Dr. Arnoldo de León for graciously reading the complete draft of my manuscript and for suggesting many more active verbs. Angelo State also awarded me a Summer Research Fellowship that enabled me to spend two weeks studying at the L. Tom Perry Special Collections at the Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.

I thank Kim Walters of the Braun Research Library, at the Southwest Museum and Autry National Center, for assistance on Charles Fletcher Lummis. I am grateful for the research grant the Autry National Center provided me as the Visiting Summer Scholar in 2006.

I would also like to thank the staffs at the Denver Public Library’s Western History Collection and History Colorado for help with the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railway. Other archivists who gave generously of their time and expertise include Greg Ames at the Saint Louis Mercantile Library, Peter Blodgett at the Huntington Library, and David Whittaker and the staff at the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University.

Mark Carroll and James Leiker provided excellent comments at the Mid-America Conference on History and the Western History Association Conference, respectively. In addition, several eminent historians kindly answered emails that suddenly appeared in their in-boxes; among them were Sherry L. Smith, Jan Shipps, Quintard Taylor, Carlos Schwantes, and Elizabeth Schlatter. For assistance with photographs, I thank Scott Rook at the Oregon Historical Society, Marilyn Van Sickle at the Southwest Museum, Autry National Center, Kellyn Younggren at the Mansfield Library, University of Montana, and Sarah Hatfield for permission to use photographs of her fascinating ancestor Frank Bird Linderman.

My thanks also to Darrin Pratt, director of the University Press of Colorado, who believed in this project very early on and was willing to offer me an advanced contract based solely on its potential. Thanks to his enthusiasm, I knew I had something worthwhile on my hands. Jessica d’Arbonne, the press’s acquiring editor, has also been a friendly and helpful voice of advice and support throughout the development and production of this work. Cheryl Carnahan did a terrific job of editing the manuscript and correcting some of my more awkward literary efforts.

I would like to thank my parents, Marilyn Owings and Mark Pierce, for helping me in various ways (not just financially) over the years. My dad’s work ethic is an inspiration to me, and my mother has long taught me to explore the world as only a mother can. Both allowed their children to chart their own course in the world. My mother and my sister, Claire Bloodsworth, also put their English degrees to good use by agreeing to read a draft of this manuscript, and they both provided useful insight.

My wife, Mondie, has found herself hopping around the nation like an “army wife,” but she has stayed with me and helped me follow my dream. Meeting her has been one of the greatest joys of my life, and I cannot imagine my life without her. My sons, Cyrus and Darius, have shown me that the world is always fascinating to those who stop to see it. Together they make sure I stay away from my work enough to remain grounded.